The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1907-08-01
Copyright. by Joseph B. Bowlss.j

contradiction; dared not trust my
fate to the chances of the street
where I might lose all traces. One
thing alone occurred to me and oc
CURED again. felt conscious that
whoever lost such thing az 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 left my seat
and slipped round to a spot where, at
her exit, should be brushed by the
garments of this bewildering 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
and of departure, and in the throng,
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. I 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
1t, to lift the skirt; but ere she could
collect the fallen folds, the bracelet
had been adroitly slipped of her wan.
dering hand, was hidden in my own,
and she passed on.
am not theft do not uphold a
thief-though, so far, the appearances
are certainly against me. Thus the
next morning searched the columns
of lost and found in the early issues,
with some trepidation. be it said, lest,
after all, had done the work too
we'll. and should have the theft on my
hands-and surely enough there was
the thing l sought-for who would
lose an object like that and not ad-
vertise it?-and the lucky finder was
to apply at Vanderdecken Place
and be handsomely rewarded. l in
tended to be handsomely rewarded.
To proceed at once about my new
business would be mistake; 1t would
place me at too much disadvantage:
it would be possibly to miss seeing
her, as late riser, or as an early
marketer; waited till high noon,
since she would doubtless then be at
home in the hope of hearing from her
lost treasure. Meanwhile, l improved
my time by vigorous investigation
of the mysteries of Vanderdecken
Place, ascertaining 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 aristocratic 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 it was an event SO cher
ished. that it 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 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 description of the lost
bauble. in order to identify it.
"Mademoiselle Rochejacquelein. .
said the stiff old general. rising also,
but with as much of a bow as the
obeIisk could have given. and using
very tolerable English. lis the more
anxious to regain her bracelet. as it
was an heirloom-an heirloom"
THAT is" said a voice as musical
as running water. lit was left me by
my mother. She wore it,
There was already q certain free
friendliness in her words, although
her manner was polished and distant
as il she could tell to me the little
70 Ut oh h.,
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 a different
person from myself.
May ask you to describe this ar
ticle?" said again.,