Page:Peterson's Magazine 1867 a.pdf/386

 LEMUEL

DRAYTON'S

POCKET - BOOK.

379

attacked him, he could show them the gun and gals allers does. " And here Lemuel felt of his they'd be likely to leave. pocket, and looked at the black-whiskered His money was deposited in his father's old stranger on the next seat. red-leather wallet, and carefully pinned into "Why, how you talk !" said the young lady. the left-breast pocket of his vest ; and every "Do I? Wal, I'm a man of truth, and whatfew moments our hero betrayed the conscious- ever I say I'm in airnest about. I'm a man of ness of being a man of property, by tapping truth, if I be a man of property." the pocket, to assure himself that the wallet "Oh ! so you are wealthy ?" was safe. "Sarting ! or else I shouldn't be a-traveling The cars drew up to the platform, and amid { for pleasure. I've got seventy-five dollars in shouts of well-wishing Lemuel got on board, here, " tapping his pocket. The young lady endeavored to look suitably and plumped down into the first vacant seat impressed, and inquired, " What shall I call which presented itself. He felt of his pocket to see if his wallet was you, sir?" "Lemuel's my name- Lemuel Drayton. And there ; felt of his dickey to see if Mary Ann's embraces had caused it to wilt, and then looked yours ?" around on the passengers . One gentleman, he "Mabel Orne." decided at once, was a pickpocket. There " Mabel ! That's a good deal like a novelcould be no doubt of it. Pickpockets always name. I read one tother day, where the gal's had black whiskers, he had been told, and some name was Mabel ; and she killed two babies rings on their little fingers. This gentleman { and an old woman to git some property. I hope had black whiskers, and a very handsome ring { you hain't like her !" The young lady coincided in his hope. sparkled on his fourth finger. He occupied Lemuel looked at her attentively ; and before the seat in front of Lemuel, and was reading a newspaper. they had traveled many miles together, it Lemuel decided to keep his eyes open for { flashed over him that he was in love. this man, and to feel of his pocket every five "Look here!" said he, placing his arm over minutes to be sure about the wallet. the back of the seat, "why can't you and I At the next station, a very handsome young make a bargain? I hain't engaged, and you lady got in. Lemuel thought he had never hain't engaged, and we're both of us as goodseen such an angel ; Mary Ann Hinks was posi- looking as the next one ; and I've got two cows tively ugly by comparison. Such a stylish, to home-a red one and a brindled one--both gray-hat, with a scarlet feather ; such a very of ' em the master-hands to turn out the butter red-and-white complexion, and such a pair of that ever you seed ! And butter's forty-five saucy, blue- eyes, and such an enormous head cents a pound, and I vum, if you'll have me, of hair-all in curls down over her shoulders. you shall sell all the butter them two cows She paused beside the seat of Lemuel, and { makes, and no questions asked as to where the laid a daintily-gloved hand on the back of the money gets to ! And you shall dress in silk settee. every day, and in satin, too - by jingo !" And "Is this engaged ?” she asked, in a sweet at this stage of his declarations, our hero felt . voice. of his pocket. Lemuel did not quite comprehend her, and He grew pale with dismay, and started to his answered, blushing and stammering like the feet instantly. veriest school-boy, "He's got it !" shouted he ; " stop him ! Catch "Engaged ? Wal, no, I hain't exactly, though hold of him ! don't let him escape ! I knowed Mary Ann Hinks has took quite a shine to me ; he was one of them fellers the minnit I sot and I bought her a bussom-pin last spring of a eyes onto him ! Help me hold him, somebody ! pedlar; but then that hain't nothing." quick!" and he seized the astonished gentle"Of course not," returned the lady. "May man with black-whiskers by the shoulder, and I sit down?" went on shouting and gesticulating. "Seventy-five dollars ! gone like a streak! "To be shure ! Set right down ! don't be afeared of crowding me ! I guess I can stand Sarch him ! I demand that he be turned inside it, if you can. Be you engaged, may I ask ?" out, rite on the spot ! Conductor man, here ! "No," simpered the young lady, stuffing her you jest see after this fine gentleman, if you handkerchief into her mouth. please !" " What's he done ?" asked the conductor. "You hain't? Wal, now, that's curis ! ' Spect " Done ? Hain't I jest told ye ? He's picked yu've had a sight of beaux, though. Pritty