The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1907-08-01
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By HARRIET PRESCOTT SP0FFORD 9
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Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles.)

listed my attention even beyond the
splendid scenes, the beautiful faces,
on the boards. This was where the SOL
der sat, stiff and stately, an old nous
tache, wearing foreign orders over a
threadbare coat, and having by this
side a little figure, whose intent couL-
tenance, underneath its somewhat
shabby bonnet. reflected all the
changes of the play; she leaned for
ward, her chin resting upon her hand,
and in so doing, revealed what was
a singular incongruity of her appear
ance-a bracelet, which must have
been a costly antique heirloom.
l could discover, between the acts,
40 M present who knew anything
of these two people-it seemed impos.
sible to find any means of making
their acquaintance. To all disbeliev-
ers in love at first sight, 1 am a living
contradiction; l dared not trust my
fate to the chances of the street
where l might lose all traces. One
thing alone occurred to me and oc-
Cured again. l felt conscious that
whoever lost such a thing as that
bracelet would use the uttermost eff
fort to regain it; and, with that, plan.
ned my campaign. / forgot all about
the closing tableau, but LETT my seat
and slipped round to a spot where, at
her exit, / should be brushed by the
garments Of this b~ewildering young
stranger, whose name was known
neither to myself nor to any of my &C.
quaintance within the four walls.
1t came at length-the tagging last
scene; then the tumult of applause
leaning on the arm of the old soldier,
she was gently moving by me. There
was only this thing to do-the shade
of Chesterfield will look the other
way, not countenancing, not condemn,
ing. l set my foot on the hem of her
dress, by so much impeding her prog
ress, she put down her hand, with the
loose coils of the bracelet falling over
It, to lift the skirt; but ere she could
collect the fallen folds, the bracelet
had been adroitly slipped off her wan
dering hand, was hidden in my own,
and she passed on. w..
l am not a thief do not uphold a
thief-though, so far, the appearances
are certainly against me. Thus the
| next morning l searched the columns
of lost and found in the early issues,
with some trepidation, be it said, lest,
after all, l had done the work too
well, and should have the theft on my
hands-and surely enough there was
the thing / sought-for who would
lose an object like that and not ad,
vertise it?-and the lucky finder was
to apply at Z Vanderdecken Place
and be handsomely rewarded. / in,
tended to be handsomely rewarded.
To proceed at onc about my new
business would be a mistake; it would
place me at too much a disadvantage;
it would be possibly to miss seeing
her, as a late riser, or as an early
marketer; / waited till high noon,
home in the hope of hearing from her
lost treasure. Meanwhile, / improved
my time by a vigorous investigation
of the mysteries of Vanderdecken
Place, as~certaining that one Gen.
Rochejacqulein resided there, a sol,
der of the ancient regime, who had
removed to this country under the
heavy hand of the emperor's displeas,
ure, had dropped the a~ristocratic DE"
of his surname, the more thoroughly
to democratize himself, which was,
however, an impossible thing, and
with his only child supported a barely
respectable appearance on the rem,
nant of a wrecked fortune.
A servant, who was plainly the only
one, and who must have accompan.
led them in their Punishment, took
my card and inquiries at the door, in
forming me gratuitously, in broken
speech, that mademoiselle had lost
her decoration at the theater the pre-.
ceding night; that she so seldom
went, and 1t was an event SO cher.
ished, that 1t was sad to have it mar,
red by a mishap, and ushered me
herewith into her beautiful presence.
Mademoiselle Jacqueline sat before
the fire. The general-it was the
same old moustache-was %grumbling.
ly reading the Courier des Etats Unis.
The young lady looked up with a
heightened color and expectant face,
rising as she did so, and returning
my bow with a sweeping, old-fashion-
ed courtesy that was as irresistible as
it was demure.
Not to neglect my opportunities, !
made an opening for conversation by
requiring a description Of the lost
bauble, in order to identify 1t.
'Mademoiselle Rochejacquelein,''
said the stiff old general, rising also,
but with as much of a bow as the
obelisk could have given. and using
very tolerable English, is the more
anxious to regain her bracelet, as 1t
was an heirloom-an heirloom"
THAT is" said a voice as musical
as running water, sit was left me by
my mother. She wore It,"
There was already a certain free
friendiiness in her words, although
her manner was polished and distant,
as If she could tell to me the little
fact she would have kept from anoth-
err. have fancied since then that, all
unconsciously, she recognized such
affinity as existed between us. and
would have chosen words more re-
served had the finder been q different