TOO GOOD A JOKE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 690, 9 July 1875, Page 3

TOO GOOD A JOKE.

It raine.l hopelessly. The clouds came down in sheets and sluices. Monsieur do H , an ‘elegant “ of the first water,” found this second water too .wet for him. He was islanded under another man’s portico, and not a public vehicle near. Suddenly round the corner comes a plain citizen, housed under a protecting canopy of blue cotton and whalebone ; but under this enviable umbrella, walking alone. A thought seizes Monsieur de H . lie rushes to the citizen’s side, and seizing him affectionately by the arm, commences the eager narration of atouching train of events. Not giving his astonished listener time to respond, he hurries him along, sharing his umbrella, of course, as he goes, and clinging closely to his side, and vociferating the confidential communications till they arrive at the boulevard. He stops at a cafe, and then, for the first time apparently, takes a surprised look at the face of his umbrella lender. i Overwhelming apologies—had wholly mistaken the person—thought it was his most intimate friend—begs ten thousand pardons—and dodges into the inside of the coffee house. But the fun was to be in the telling of the story. To a convulsed circle of delighted fellow-dandies Monsieur de H was telling of his adventure, when, by chance, placing his hand upon his heart, he missed the usual proiuboranoe in his vest pocket. The valuable gold watch was gone. In his close clinging to the apparently plain citizen the gay joker had hugged a pickpocket, and “ consequence was ” subsequently was not fond '■' of his joke-.