Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1885-05-29

spirit when at laSb VIC ntOuu NPcA
the pier, declining my proifered arm
with a toss of her head, and |
finally marching off by herself to
little distance, after giving me my in
struetions as to having the baggage
properly packed again after beng
opened.
oJust at mat moment an official OF
some authority apparently passed close
to me. I touched him on the arm.
"I)o you see that lady in the sealskin
sacoue and black satin bonnet over
there 2 I said. 4 don't want to be
mixed up in the matter myself, but l
think it would be worth your while to
look after her.
ssThe man stared at me for moment,
then thanking me he disappeared IN the
direction of the main building.
sI thought he had either ignored or
forgotten about my trust, and, indeed,
was rather congratulating myself that
he had done so, for I had already re-
pented of my intentions OF frightening
nv wife. when saw an official step up
to her. and politely touching his cap say
few words in low tone. she looked
surprised, and glanced in my direction,
but apparently not noticing me IN the
crowd, she followed the man into the
Custom House.
"Now she was in for 1t. felt very
sorry indeed for my wife. 1 had hardly
realized before what a very unpleasant
operation it must be to be searched. 1t
was really a cruel thing OF me to have
subjected her to such an ordeal, even Il
sbe had been a little obstinate and an
noving. and it was scarcely cOnsoling to
reflect that she would certainly never
forgive me if she should by any chance
discover that I was the suthor OF her
misfortune. On the whole, it hardly
seemed quite as amusing as l expected
| it would be.
'However. it was consoling to know
that she had nothing upon her, and per-
hans thew would not trouble her very
much after all, while it certainly would
he rather triumph for me. l woulc
ask her with the utmost Indifference OF
manner where she had been and Wha'
kent her so long. Then if she we're un
happv and distressed I would eondol'
with her unmerited disaster, and lnslnu
ated how fortunate I was that l ha'
prevented the possibility OF her haVlnl
ANYTHING contraband upon her; what sh
would have done if she had, etc. II, OF
fine contrary. she was disposed to brazel
il ont. 1 should have no scruples IN ex
ercising nv undoubted right to elacu
late. Il told You so, with such additions
INSTRUMENTATION as might sugges
themselves that I had not been foe
enough to let her have her own way.
"Sbe was so long in returning that
began to be a little alarmed. Sewers
IDEAS occurred to me. Perhaps she wa
ashamed to face me. Perhaps she ma
been so overcome by the lndlgnlty
which she had been subjected that 81
might have tainted.
81 became very persistent in m
curiosity, and, forgetting my fear
compromising myself in the matter,
rnshed off toward the Custom House
"Tbe great hall of the building vi
: almost empty, most of the personag
, having got through their examlnatic
and departed whittier they were bonn.
7 looked around in search OF Mrs. 10
s inson. and at that moment l caug
Q siobt of the revenue officer to whom hi
; first pointed her out.
HE came over to me with an EXPIRE
: sion of satisfaction on his lace.
"q can't tell you how much oblige
we are to you, sir, he began. "
. haven't had such prize for some tin
Two hundred pounds worth OF lace
tba varv least calculation.
! s. 'What?' I exclaimed, while &C
. nerspiration seemed tostart ont OF eve
y more. 'WhatP Do you mean that lady
! WsWas an old hand, undoubtedly S
y WHY she brazened it out till the en-
n Talked about writing to the Times, a
ar her husband being an American OF pc
lion. and all the rest OF it. But L.
T bless YOU, sir, we knows EN-. 1 j
' turned her over to one of our ladies, q
"a ale found the lace wrapped round |
body, Just the same as par we naDA
II here a fortnight ago.
n "sAnd the lady'-I found strength
10 last to stammer.
II "tOh. she's safe enough in the jail
IL tb;s time. I reckon. The magistrate
it sitting Just now and my men took
h right over, and no doubt she VIII nj
Q, been committed at once.
le
The rest of Robinson's story was
/, intellipible. but gathered from 1t t
O. n took him one weeks hard work and
Of fine influence he could command In u
IN don To rescue Mrs. Robinson from
n consequences of her folly and his stu
av practical Joke, And could easily
nd derstand, after hearing the tale,
n friends anxiety to have as little tC
ed with the Customs officials as might
No and still better could l appreciate d
ne Robinson's ominous silence Whene
th the subject was mentioned, Whlie
way in which she would purse up
~ lips on such occasions made me II
- that if she he'd had enough OF SIN
ror olinq her husband had probably G.
~ Ia the same conclusion In regarC
- practical Jokes. And I thought,
=. tbat on the whole I would rather
~ week in iail myself than be the mel
- however innocent, OF causing Mrs.
ore inson to undergo the experience;
~ least if 1 had to live with her Tor
zen length OF time afterward.
er, And yet when got home ana toic
lad wife the story, her sympatnies were
nal with the lady, and she would not a.
Il the Justice Of my 'served her right.
asst And now she is looking over
shoulder and insists on my expires
g. nv opinion that she would not have
, at haved like that, anyhow. And l dc
use really believe she would.
ice Adding, however, like q true Woi
md .rBut I think he was a brute, all
still same"