Page:Peterson's Magazine 1867 a.pdf/387

 LEMUEL DRAYTON'S POCKET - BOOK. wwwm ww. my pocket of fayther's red -leather wallet, and Bosting. I'll go back in the next kears that is seventy-five dollars that I sold my colt for! going that way! Conductor, jest you hold up That's what he's done! Sarch him !" a minnit while I git out." Lemuel was informed that he could alight The train reached a way-station, and Mabel got out; but Lemuel was so nearly distracted at the next station, two miles ahead ; and he with the loss of his pocket-book, that he did accordingly did so. The return train came along in a few moments, and by noon our hero not obserye her departure. Quite a crowd had collected around our hero was safely landed in Meadville again. He made his way to his father's house with and the suspected individual, who seemed to take matters very coolly for a person in his lagging steps, and a dejected air generally. condition. Mrs. Drayton was feeding the chickens in the "If the gentleman wishes to search me,' front-yard, when she saw him coming. She said he, "he is at perfect liberty to do so. Go dropped the dough-dish and spoon, and fled to the house in the wildest alarm. on, sir." "Won't you strike me, nor grab hold of my "He's killed !" she cried, pitching head first throat, nor nothing ?" queried Lemuel. into the arms of her husband ; "he's killed, "I'll not molest you, " said the gentleman- and I've seen his ghost ! It's a-coming up the "proceed." road, with them same gray-kerseymeres on that The search was short ; but it developed I spun and wove myself, and the red-vestkit nothing beyond a few papers- a tooth-pick, a that Miss Grant made, and the gun and baled knife with a pearl-handle, and a black pocket- { basket, and all ! Jest as he went away ! Oh, Lemmy! Lemmy !" and Mrs. Drayton seized book containing eight or ten dollars. "Are you satisfied ?" asked the gentleman. the dish-cloth under the impression that it was "Sarting I am ; but it's mighty queer where a handkerchief, and wiped the tears from her that wallet went to!" eyes. Just then Lemuel entered. "The gentleman whom you have just had the "Oh, good gracious marsy ! he's come !" honor of searching, " said the conductor, " is the Rev. Dr. Truffant, of Boston- one of the cried the nervous old lady ; and immediately most eminent clergymen in the place." she dived under the bed, and peeped out from "Oh, my gracious !" cried Lemuel ; "a minis- a hole in the coverlit. ter! Marm would be the death of me, if she "Lem, what are you back for ?" asked Mr. should find out that I called a pickpocket a Drayton. "I've seen enuff of the world! Consarn minister ! I mean a pickpocket a minister ! hanged if I know what I do mean, anyhow. Bosting ! and consarn the whole world intirely ! I'm so flustratimid, I can't seem to tell tother I've had my pocket picked, and I don't keer from which." nothing about nothing !" "It's my opinion, that if you've lost any "Your pocket picked !" exclaimed Mrs. Draymoney, the girl that sat on the seat with you ton, triumphantly. "I said so ! I knowed you has got it," said the conductor. " She looked would ! It was beat into me!" Lemuel threw his hat down on the table, and something like that kind of a character." "She?" exclaimed Lemuel, in profound amaze- out rolled the missing red -leather wallet. ment. "She? why, she was as pritty a gal as "Gracious Peter !" ejaculated he, "it's here! you'd see in an age ; and I was about as good it hain't been filtered ! The gal was an angel, as engaged to her." after all ! Huray ! Hail Columby ! happy land! There was a general laugh at Lemuel's ex- Come, marm, let's have a little dance !" and Lemuel seized his mother around the waist and pense. "You needn't laff !" said our hero, defiantly. swung her about in great glee, upsetting the " I know I never seed her till this morning ; but churning of cream. "I remember it all now, as slick as can be," there's such a thing as love at first- sight———” "Especially when the object is a red-leather said Lemuel. "I was dreadful feared I should wallet, with seventy-five dollars in it, " said the lose my money, and I took it out of my pocket conductor. "It seems the young lady believes and put it into my hat ! Consarned fool ! I guess it's jest as you say, marm, that I hain't in love at first-sight, also. " "Wal," said Lemuel, disconsolately, "the fit to go into these furrin parts. I'll stay to money's gone ; and if she's got it, I'll never home and put my money into the bank, and believe in nobody agin. I wish I was to home marry Mary Ann Hinks. I've seen enuff of the with marm-I don't feel well. I won't go to world!" 380