The Osceola times., 1881-08-27
THE GUIDES STORY.


Two or three years ago, in the spring
of rs, or thereabouts, was called to
London on business. After this had
been transacted | found myself with
few days to spare before the departure
Of the steamer on which | was to return.
| decided TO make hasiy trip to Paris,
and forty eight hours later, after the
long ride by rail and the dismal passage
Of the English channel, was occupying
rooms at the hotel Magain, in the Fau-
bourg St lIonoie.
Nv steps were first directed toward
the Louvre, the great palace Of painting
and after som. difficulty, occasioned by
my ignorance of Ire ian. uage, at length
reached the place | sought. My inabl-
ity TO make myself understood rendered
me only too ready to engage one of the
guides who hasteLel forward TO solicit
my patronage a. ! turned from the Palace
du Cnrrousel toward one Of the en-
frances. selected au elderly, intell-
gent looking man, and during the two
days OF sightseeing that retained him
had no cause to regret my choice.
After we came out from the Louvre, it
was decided that we should visit in the
Are de Tromphe; and as the route lay
for Ihe larger part through the Champs
Eysees, decided to walk.
Ny guide had proved TO be very in-
telesiing person, and had entertained
me with a great variety of information.
As we crossed the Rue Casiiglione we
were IN full view of the Column Ven
dome, which We were TO visit the next
day, and the guide had remarked that
the ldoment reminded him OF an Incl
dent in bis lie which be would tell me
ii wished to hear it. l sleniied my
willingness, " and he began.
81 have been guide here in Paris for
long time. My father was a guide be-
fore me, and when | was hardly half
through my teens | took charge Of my
first party. From that time | did very
well, and if could judge from the fees
| received, was as satisfactory 10 my
patrons as an older guide would have
been.
"One day was in charge of party,
and was showing them about the 'Palais
Roval, when my first accident happened.
There was gentleman, his wife and
three children In the party, and they
were bent on seeing everything. The
lady looked one way. the gentleman
another, and | managed the chilt rem
much as q swineherder would drive h
pigs.
'The lady was one of those slow, dull
women, who can attend 10 only one sub
iect at time, and who, when they do
change the direction of their attention,
change it with start and a stir thai
gives warning of their movements.
well, We were moving slowly along,
and after going through the Galerle
d'Orleans-ihe one with the glass roof
we passed behind the Theatre francais
and were intending TO visit the Grande
Magazine de Louvre. i was In irOnt
with the children, trying to keep them
fom taking possession OF some canes
that were at shop door. and the father
and mother were stopping to look at a
live turtle in the show window OF res
tauraut.
Suddenly heard a scream behind
me, and turning round, ! saw by the con.
fusion and 10y the brief view | caught OF
man running, that theft had been
committed
II FASTENED back and found my lady
and gentleman in great confusion, and
both calling out in English, which OF
course, nobody understood, TO STOP
thiefv Without momen's delay, ! ran
TO the corner where the thief had dis
appeared, and again was just in time to
see him glide around the front Of the
theatre into Rue Richeieu. ran quick
ly after, at so high rate of speed that |
nearly went under the wheels OF an
omnibus"
Here my companion pointed out one
of these vehicles drawn by three horses,
which, Just at this moment, came thun-
dering past, saying TT was one OF those,
and i was moving slowly at the time, or
| should not he here 10 tell of it. l
could see nathing of the thief, though /
looked carefully up and down the street,
and even inquired at several stores near
by.
$50 was compelled TO give up the
chase, and ! returned to my party breath
less and excited.
"As / had judged, it was the lady who
was the sufferer, and Ipresently gather
ed from her incoherent rawlings that 1t
was her watch that had been stolen. She
was thoroughly reused now, and poured
forth the most sweeping and violent IN
yectives against France and the French.
Nation of rascals,' 'thieving dancing
masters 'obsequious villains and a
dozen other expletives that might or
not, have irritated the crowd that had
gathered, il the remarks had been UNDER
stood.
"Bul all her rage and violence were in
vain. The thief had gone, and with him
the watch; the only thing that seemed
feasible in the way of its recovery. was to
notify the Perfect OF Police, and this we
hahtened TO do. =,
We conducted madame and the chill
iired to the hotel, and went Immediately
10 the office of the Perfect. ! acted as
interpreter, and the gentleman entered
lis complaint. The watch and chain
had both been stolen, the chain having
been broken in the effort. The loss was
more annoyiug because both objects had
heon gifts to .he lady FROM her mother
long since dead, and her husband stated
his willingness to pay literally for their
recovery. But after hearing the details,
The perfect shook his head and expressed
his belief that the gentleman had seen
the watch for the last time. However,
he would do what he could. :,
"As we were going out, an idea seemed
TO strike my patron, and he turned TO