The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-04-13
MY LADY OF THE PURSE

IN an 0SperiolGo covering a period Of
five years. n commercial traveller Is
bound TO witness numerous peculiar
and exciting incidents, II. indeed, no
does not become c~utanslod in some OF
them. lmuko this statement from per-
sonNl knowledge. having passed half a
decade in disposing OF 4 limo OF jowolry
and othcr goods for q we'll known mau.
ufacturing trim.
steamed into Buffalo at0 o'clock ono
delightful summer morning two or
three years ago, and succeeded in put
ting in Il day, which, from 4 business
point OF Wow, was by no means unsnt-
istactory to me. A safc.robbery had
been pcrpetra,cd durin:thc night, and,
as tho victim was II customer OF mine,
did not pay him a visit. understood
his loss was q heavy one. and did not
care to intrudo OH him. ! heard cousid.
cradle about tho robboryin ono why aud
another. and ascertainGd TINT the police
were hard 1T work Oh tho case.
Triiies light rs mir sometimes lead to
momcntous results. That evening,
while strolling leisurely IN the direc.
ton OF tho docks, | noticed 4 womau's
purse lying upon the sidewalk directly
before me. | picked il up aud contin-
ucd my stroll. but | had proceeded
scarcely half n block when | noticed n
younc aud stylishly dressed lady slowly
approaching. Her head was inclined
forward and her eyes were rivetcd on
the pavement. Two thoughts passed
through my mind in an ins;an.-shG
was q handsome and the owner
OF the lost purse.
Pardon mo-" eaid /. raising my hat.
hut may l ask il you have lost any
,hing?"
\ pair OF dark eyes met mine for an
instant, and | bche.d in them n look OF
mingled surprise and expectancy.
Yes" came the reply in n sweet. mo.
Ioiious voice, my purse; l must have
dropped it u short distance up tho
street, it was black
"a description is not necessary" !
interrupted. II AN very happy to be
able to return i: 10 you" And | did 50
as | spoke.
Again those ~lustrous eyes looked full
into mine rs She thanked me graciolsiv.
Then she walked away. leaving ms in as
confused Il state a, If | had Just awak.
ened from n dream.
The next morning l rose early. and
| before breakfast glanced over tho COL
umns OF n morning paper. From them
| cleaned the information that the police
were wholly in the dark on tho subject
OF the robbery, having failed to make
any headwuv whatever in running tho
auiprii &c earth. This was bad news Tor
nc; | had no doubt that tho robbery
cost me n valuable sale. | determined
to call upon my old customer and tender
my sympathy. This was only proper
under the circumstance.
While NJ breakfast my thoughts re-
yerted TO the incident OF the day beio.c.
l was in 4 happy frame Of mind as
Wondered upon the occurrence, and ]
felt in the humor for conversation. l
glanced n. my neighbor across' tho table.
flo wa. a middle-ayod man with 4 thin,
b~e.wniskered face. His eve, were deep
set, rowing and c~Xpressloniess. made
4 pleasant remark to him. but no IN
swered it ungraciously. and soon after
left the table.
Twenty minutes later. entering tho
hotel office, | was treated to n surpriie.
"Say. Hayward" said the clerk, "wha:
have you been up to-"
| looked up in astoniahmcnt and he
continued:
THAT tall fellow with tho black beard
asked me who you wore. lIe sald he
came hero to find 4 quiet retreat; that
| his wife was trying to got Il divorce
from him, and had spies on his track.
| IIe believes you are n OF thcm-'a
confounded, mcddling. detective he put
it,"
"ITe is an idio.," | rctortcd. az know
nothing OF him and his affairs"
II don't think no i, quito right my.
| SELL" coincidci the clerk. aud l dis.
missed tho incident from mind.
On Saturday evening | set out for ri.
a.ara Fails, i%ntendin. to spend tho Sab.
path II, that famous resort.
Just previous to my departure for
Niagara | made inquiry of tho clerk
| concerning the black.bcarded man. aud
found that he had left the hotel with
OIL, taking tho trouble to say goodbye
to anyone. So there was the end OF
him. | thought.
Among travelling men | think It is
conceded that Sunday IL tho dullcstday
OF the seven. With no business TO &C.
cupy his mind, Il mans thoughts nat
urally turn to home scenes. aud before
he is aware OF it no bccomci sad and
lonely. This was my case at Niagara. !
had seen everything worth seeing. and
was Wishing mytcli n thousand miles
away. when. on entering tho little depot
at the top OF the inclined railway. fate
favored tho, and | behold q sight which
caused my heart to give Il great bound.
Passing slowly before an open window
on tho farther side OF the building was
a figure [ could not mistake. All fool
ings OF loneliness forsook mo in an in.
slant, for had found my lady OF tho
lost purse. She was alone, aud | do.
tcrmined to CONT face to face with her,
hoping she might recognize me.
! kept hor in night as sho strollc1
lcisurcly hOro and there among tho
giaut trcos oil tho park. seemingly with
no object in Wow except to while AWAY
tho afternoon. For somo time | TO-
manned in tho background, having nc
opportunity for placing myself In hor
path. Presently s!o duickoncd hoi
pace somewhat. and proccodol in the
direction OF tho entrance. Hero she
was mot by Il man who seemed 10 nntoi
into conversation with hur. | halted
some rods away from tho pair. Tho
mana back wal toward me, but l no
ticed tina. he was tail and weld rcJsnd
| also noticed that Il littlo ring Of poo
pie waH forming around tho two. and
was positive | heard loud words.
haotcnnh to tho spot. Tho central Gr
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