Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-07-07
He Took Her
For a Thief
By DANIEL WINSTON
Copyright by American Press Asso-
Ciation, 1911

Perry Atkinson. Immediately dressed
and with pearl stickpin in his crayat,
was waiting on the platform of sea
side station at the height of the sum-
mer season. A number Of persons were
there, some to receive friends. some to
see friends off. all waiting for a train.
When it rolled up to the station At.
kins0n craned his neck with the rest,
ike a turkey gobbler hunting for some
favorable point to fly over a fence.
While thus looking up he suddenly
felt two arms thrown around his neck
and pair Of lips pressed TO his.
Now. at this especial resort. situated
not far from large city, were many
different classes of persons, from the
highest to the lowest. When Atkinson
felt himself in the embrace Of a wo-
man who was a stranger to him the
first explanation Of the situation that
entered his head was that 1t was a
game to relieve him Of his money,
Disengaging himself as quickly as pos
sible, he clapped his hand to his hip,
where he kept his pocketbook. He
was relieved to find the wallet there.
Then he instinctively felt for his pearl
scarfpin, and it was gone!
BY this time the woman who had
embraced him-a girl Of twenty-was
standing looking at him with puz-
zled expression which. as she gaZed,
developed into one Of horror.
"I greatly fear" she stammered,
that have made mistake"
"You certainly have made mistake
IL you take me for fat You hand
out my stickpin mighty quick or I'll
call the police"
At this the girl put on an expression
to describe which language is made
quate. Her face was scarlet; her eyes
flashed alternate indignation and fear.
Then suddenly Atkinson made dive
for her skirt, where he saw his scarf
pin hanging, and caught 1t as 1t was
about to fall to the ground. Putting 1t
in its proper place, he gave the girl a
final glance and was about to turn
away when she said:
'Do you mean to tell me that you
are not Ben Willard"
II don't know the gentleman"
"You are the image Of him." the girl
added, ready to burst into tears.
Atkinson gave her another look as II
undecided whether to apologize or say
something harsh. then walked away
very much disgruntled. While he had
been thus engaged a friend he had
come to the station to receive had es-
capped him. As he walked to the sum-
mer residence where he was staying
he began to see the episode in its true
proportions and to become conscious
of having made a guy Of himself. Be
fore the day was over he regretted not
having apologiZed TO the girl and long
ed for an opportunity to undo what he
had done
The next time Mr.. Atkinson met the
young lady whom he had mistaken for
Il thief he was dancing the cotillion
at one of the cottages" A line OF
lduItS WIS UuNdUtluS lUWdEu Il IIIlc
Of gentlemen, and as the lines met the
first gentleman whlrled away with the
first lady. In the coming line of ladies
Atkinson suddenly espied the heroine
of the stickpin. This in itself was en-
barrassing, but when he counted the
men ahead of him and the ladies
ahead Of the girl in question and dis
covered that she would fall to him for
a partner his heart sank down into the
heels Of his patent leather boots.
When the couples ahead Of them
were reduced TO three Atkinson saw
the girls eyes fixed upon him and
shuddered. He saw by her expression
that she was about to take her re-
venge When all those who had pre-
ceded them had sailed away In the
dance and they stood face to face the
girl turned on her heel, presenting her
back to Atkinson in sight Of all pres
ent, and marched out Of the room.
Atkinson made way for the man