The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-25
Reception Dress

bag and contents about two weeks after
ward. Satchels and pockets were alike
for danger, and again she decided that
the hand was the safest place. She could
remember it there. and It seemed to be
taking care of itself. And it did take
care Of itself most successfully in a chair
in the parlor Of a large hotel for an hour
one day, with people coming and going
all the time. Its various experiences were
teaching it something Of the world.
One day she was on a crowded steamer.
The wind on one sid of the deck became
disagreeable and she changed 10 the other
side. In about half an hour she discov-
cred that She had left her pocket-book
in the other seat. she flew around the
corner, sure that this was the last time
she could lose that p~0cket-boOk. But, no,
there II was. Alovely elderly lady and
her husband We're taking care of it for
her. They were strangers to her, but had
found her name and address inside the
purse.
Then one night this pretty little affair
took q sort Of fendish revenge on her
for her carelessness or Observation-Disclosures,
or whatever it was. She went to a re-
ception, in donning a dress that she had
worn several times, she discovered that
her dressmaker had put q pocket in one
of the back seams. IT was a great sur
prise. "a for ence she would not have
to worry about her pocket-book. She
placed il i'm the pocket, buttoned it in
securely with the blind fastening, and for
once threw off all care of il. While she
and her husband were waiting for their
carriage, one OF the ladies, whom she had
met for the first time that night. came
up in great distress and said. Il have
lost my pocket-bOOk. / put it dow some
where while l was adjusting my hat,
and it Is gone" Her husband volunteered
his services, and she waited patiently
for some time with two or three other
ladies in the hall. All were sympathizing
with the loser. She finally said: Some
one must have thought it was their own
and picked il up" As she spoke she
glanced down at her own lovely pocket
book. il was not hers at all. Hers was
blue and this was black. Hers was
was hers2 And then the thought of
newly-discOvered pocket came to her.
Hers for once was safe, and she had, from
the habit of having a pocket-book In her
appropriated one belonging TO some
one else. She rushed after the loser Of the
pocket-book. She tried to explain, but
never felt that she made her explanation
at all lucid.
Then this pocket-book and its owner
went to Europe. one day she went into
a Kursaal. In one room was a game go
ing on called petit chevoux." IL was a
where people bought a ticket for
cents to see if they could get back
50 80. Sometimes they did and sometimes
Nearly everybody tried, or else
stOpped to see the others try. She be-
came interested in watching the game,
leaned against the railing for some
time. The game seemed very fair, and
She was tempted 70 try IT. People Of
every nationality were there, and first
one and then another tried his luck.
the time she was ready to try the
tickets we're all gone, so she went on
INTO the next room 20 hear some music.
She was gone about ~forty-hve minutes.
her way out she passed the game
tcain. and noticed the crowd had lessened.
Now was her chance Her pocket-book
was gOnci She spoke aloud in her as
enlistment. The man who had charge of
he game said. in very broken English;
is this yours, Madam Il was. There
n what might be called a gambling place,
f It was in America. she had left it on
he rail, and it came back TO her with
Is contents u~ndisturbed.
8
That pocketbook had gone through a
,ood deal, and could endure much. but
here was q limit 10 il. 1t met it's Water
90 In Paris. Without going into details.
{ was snatched from her hand one morn
ng al II o'clock on one OF the most re-
pectable b%oulevards In the city. The
hief was dressed in common blouse and
iaborer's hat. He was captured within
he week. All there was left Of the beau
p~ocketboOk was a new suit of gray,
gray hat, a white shirt. and a red neck
.e. which the man took with him TO
is p~rison-house for eighteen months.
IL would not surprise her II. in the irony
Z fate. the little blu pocketbook came
70 her some time.
TERESA DEAN.