The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1907-08-22
.NJNNaes.Nglla~essll..-~~NSla
Copyright. by Joseph B. Bowles.)

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 coun-
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.
could discover, between the acts,
no one 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, am living
contradiction; | dared not trust my
fate to the chances of the street
where l might lose all traces. One
thing alone occurred to me and &C.
Cured again. felt conscious that
whoever lost such thing as that
bracelet would use the uttermost eff
fort to regain 1t; and, with that, plan
ned my campaign. | forgot all about
the closing tableau, but left my seat
and slipped round to spot where, at
her exit, | should be brushed by the
garments of this bewildering young
az x1yhnua
neither to myself nor to any Of my &C.
QuaintaDce 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. 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 off her wan
dering hand, was hidden in my own,
and she passed on.
/ am not a thief do not uphold
thief--though, SO far, the appearances
are certainly against me. Thus the
next morning I.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
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 adj
vertise it?-and the lucky finder was
to apply at 7 Vanderdecken Place
and be handsomely rewarded, | 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;
1t would be possibly to miss seeing
her, as a late riser, or as an early
marketer; l waited till high noon,
since she would doubtless then be at
home in the hope of hearing from her
lost treasure. Meanwhile, improved
my time by vigorous investigation
of the mysteries of Vanderdecken
Place, ascertaining that one Gen.
Rochejacqulein resided there, sol
der Of the ancient regime. who had
removed to this country under the
heavy hand Of the emperors displeas
ure, had dropped the aristocratic DE
of his surname, the more thoroughly
to democratizs himself, which was
however, an impossible thing and
with his only child supported barely
respectable appearance on the rem
nant of wrecked fortune.
A servant, who was plainly the only
one, and who must have accompan
led them in their Punishment tool
my card and inquiries at the door, in
forming me gratuitously, in broker
speech, that mademoiselle had los
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 1t mar
red by mishap, and ushered m'
Herewith into her beautiful presence
Mademoiselle Jacqueline sat before
the fire. The general--it was tn,
same old moustache-was grumbling
ly reading the Courier des Etats Unis
The young lady looked up with
heightened color and expectant face
rising as she did so, and returnin
my bow with sweeping, old-fashior
cd courtesy that was as irresistible a
1t was demure,
Not to neglect my opportunities,
made an opening for conversation b.
requiring a description of the los
hauble, in. order to identify It,
''Mademoiselle Roehejacquelein,
said the stlff old general, rising alsC
but with as much of bow as tn
obelisk could have given, and usin
very tolerable English, lis the NOR
anxious to regain her bracelet, as
was an heirloom-an heirloom"
THAT is" said a voice as music;
as running water, at was left me b
my mother. She wore it"
There was already a certain FIRE
friendlmess in her words, althoug
her manner was polished and distan
as II she could tell to me the lit
fact she would have kept from anot
err. have fancied since then that, a
unconsciously, she recognized sue
affinity as existed between us, an
would have chosen words more +
served had the finder been differel
person from myself.
MAY l ask you to describe this a
ttnla9" said again