Page:A hairdresser's experience in high life.djvu/203

Rh taken a particular fancy to the ring, the day before, called in to get it; on opening the box it was found to be empty. Knowing he had shown the ring to no one but these two ladies, the jeweler caused an advertisement to be inserted in the papers requesting the lady who had been looking at the rings the day before, and had, by mistake, left one on her finger, to return it. The same day one of the ladies came to the jeweler's, acknowledged she had been there with her friend, and, since then, had seen the ring on her friend's finger, who told her her husband had purchased it for her.

The jeweler immediately made arrangements to go with the lady to her friend's house. On their arrival at her house, they sent word that a lady and gentleman were in the parlor, who wished to see her. She soon made her appearance, with the ring on her finger. The jeweler made known his errand, and she surrendered the ring, offering the jeweler, at the same time, any compensation if he would hush the matter up, so that it might not reach her husband's ears. The jeweler was so delighted at having regained possession of his property, that he complied with her wishes, more especially as they were both the wives of wealthy merchants. He was more fortunate than the Misses B., who, at one of their great openings, lost a lace mantle, valued at two hundred dollars, which they never recovered.

I could enumerate many instances of such things, committed by ladies in high life, whom I have known. One lady went to a store, and took away with her laces and ribbons of the value of thirty dollars, thinking herself unobserved—but she had been noticed. Finding she did not return to settle the account, the