Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1907-08-01
~ saa "a
s w ON BY "A
BRACELET {
ByHARRlET PRESCOTT sPoFFoRD g
5~N,..~>a 1,..~sJt,.}sl
tcoryright. 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 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
singular incongruity of her appear
ance-a bracelet, which must have
been a costly antique heirloom.
I 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 might lose all traces. One
thing alone occurred to me and &C.
Cured again. I felt conscious that
whoever lost such 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 left my seat
and slipped round to spot where. at
her exit, l should be brushed by the
garments of this bewildering young
| stranger, whose name was known
neither to myself nor to any of my ac-
quaintance within the four walls.
It 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 % 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
| 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.
am not thief do not uphold
! 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, I 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 all
vertise it?-and the lucky finder was
to apply at Z Vanderdecken Place
and be handsomely rewarded. 1 in
To proceed at once about my new
| business would be mistake; it would
place me at too much disadvantage;
| it would be possibly to miss seeing
her, as late riser, or as an early
marketer; 1 waited till high noon
since she would doubtless then be at
| home in the hope of hearing from her
! lost treasure. Meanwhile, I 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 emperor's displeas-
ure, had dropped the aristocratic ''De"
/ Ct his surname, the more thoroughly
to democratize himself, which was,
however, an impossible thing, and
with his only child supported 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 nlademoiselle had lost
Ler 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
i VIC LII SCI1Cl olII|lC vas IlO
same old moustaci1e--Tas grunlbling.
lys 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 Identity It.
4 "Mademoiselle Rochejacquelein,'
said the stiff old general, rising also
but with as much of bow as the
obelisk could have given. and using
very tolerable English, is the more
anxious to regain her bracelet, as il
/ was an heirloom-an heirloom
THAT isl said a voice as musical
as running water, ut was left me by
my mother. She wore it,
There was already a certain free
4 friendliness in her words, although
Il her manner was polished and distant
4 as if she could tell TO me the little