Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1914-07-31
HER HANDKERCHIEF
BY ROBERT BRAcco.

1t was 10 o'clock in the morning on
the sidewalk OF the Toledo.
II beg your pardon, madam, but
this handkerchief belongs to you--"
mo, l do not think So"
"But ! assure you. just saw you
drop it and Immediately picked 1t up
to give 1t to you"
Yes. 1t Is really mine after all.
Thank you very much"
But be careful or you will lose
something else. You carry so many
things in your hands"
The lady did indeed carry a num-
Der OF things. Besides the little lace
handkerchief, not much bigger than a
visiting card and delicately scented
with violets, she wore a costly antique
bag, a parasol and a number of small
parcels neatly tied with colored string.
A black veil lay like dark cloud
about her fair face and golden hair
She never once deigned to look at
the man with her gentle blue eyes
and said in tone which was almost
stern:
Never mind, am used to it."
But II you should happen to drop
anything again may pick it up?"
The lady smiled, but Immediately
seemed to regret it. Then she an.
swered short "No" and walked on
quickly with light steps. The young
man followed with his eyes the tall
slender figure among the crowd. With
out once looking back she stopped at
the show window Of jewelry shop
and then went inside.
Five minutes later she came out
again and walked on quickly as be-
fore. Once more she stopped at the
window of a confectionery. store and
1t seemed to the young man as If she
threw stolen glance in his direction.
He felt himself. irresistibly attracted
by her and still feeling Of respect
kept him from approaching her. She
entered also this store and once more
added another little parcel to her bur-
den.
She walked across the open sunlit
square between the royal palace and
the fountain. The young man fol.
lowed her still, though he was afraid
she might feel offended.
Presently he saw quite plainly some
thing fall from her hand. His heart
beat violently and the blood rushed to
his head. He ran to the spot, saw that
it was the antique bag and as he
picked it up, he said to himself: mo,
1t was not by accident that she
dropped this"
Greatly excited and already enjoy.
Ing the romantic adventure he felt
would follow, he was already choos-
ing the words in which he would ad-
dress her, when she suddenly hailed
cab. jumped into 1t and was driven
away quickly. 49,
He did not give up hope. however.
Opening the bag hs began to see II 1t
might not contain some clue to her
identity and was rewarded by finding
q card case. containing cards on
which was engraved: Lima d'Albert.
Riviera di Chiaia g." An hour later
the young lady received back her bag,
accompanied by the following letter:
A second time have been fortunate
enough to pick up something belong.
Ing to you. Please do not be angry.
It Is not my fault that I so often find
things which you lose in the street
and which you perhaps have not
missed. have not only found your
handkerchief and your bag, but also
the charm Of your eyes and your
voice, but SO as not to make you more
angry, l do not return these. Should
you, however, not permit me to keep
them, search my heart and you will
find them there.
Shortly afterwards the bag was re-
turned to him with this letter:
Shiny bag contained one thousand
lires. II you are not in the habit Of
calling this little amount charm" you
will please search not your heart but
your pocketbook for 1t.
LIMA D'ALBERT.
The count felt deeply hurt, but hi
forgave a woman's foolishness this
unjust suspicion and supposed thai
the young lady had lost the thousand
Tires before she dropped her bag
Then he took from his safe a one
thousand lire bill and Enclosed 1t IL
a second letter which he wrote with &
trembling hand.
Dear Madam am either thief OF
am in love. Choose yourself. Il
! you decide that am thief, swear
out warrant for my arrest and bring
me before a court Of justice, but II
you come to the decision that am ir
love, then accuse me before court
of woman's injustice in which you
may represent your entire sex. In the
first case let jury decide my fate, In
the latter case do it yourself
COUNT LUIGI ADIMARI.
The lady replied:
know you are no thief. 1t does not
follow at all that you are in love, but
simply that you are gentleman.
permit you to see me tomorrow at
in Cafe SerrianO. Do come. LIMA.