The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-07-04

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and had plenty of time to get a little |
out of temper myself by the time we
reached the pier. Still, 1 should have
been more than appeased by the vision
of my wife's suffering, but to my as
tonishment when she did arise up the
companion ladder, she was positively
radiant. She had taken the utmost
pains with her personal appearance,
and managed somehow never knew
how-to fight down the least traces OF
her nausea.
"She was very cool, however, to me
-reproachful and indignant, thought,
at my suggestions about the custom
house business. 1 had alluded once or
twice to the female searcher arrange
ment, and that article in the Daily
NewS was still running in my head.
"She did not speak to me for some
time, as we stood watching the boat
made fast to the pier, and when she
did her first words showed that was
right in my idea of what was in her
mind.
"'Perhaps you think, Henry she
said with a glance of inefable scorn,
that look the sort OF person who is
likely to be subjected to personal
search?'
Il don't know what possessed me,
but there flashed upon me all in a mo-
ment the idea of giving her lesson
determined that she should have such
a fright as would eflectually destroy
for her any romance which still lin
gered around the smuggling business,
and at the same time would enable me
to pose as the sagacious husband, who
by proper exercise of his authority
had prevented her from being placed
in very serious position.
1.-THE idea would have flown as
quickly az it came, had not my wife
insisted in abiding to the subject again
and again, and had she not displayed
most Independent spirit when at last
we stood upon the pier, declining my
proffered arm with toss of her head,
and finally marching off by herself to a
little distance, after giving me my in
structions as to having the baggage
properly packed again after being
opened.
Just at that moment an official of
some authority apparently passed close
to me. | touched him on the arm.
"'Do YOU see that lady in the seal
skin sacque and black satin bonnet
over there?' l asked. 4 don't want to
be mixed up in the matter myself, but
| think it would be worth your while to
look after her.
The man stared at me for a mo-
ment, then thanking me he disappeared
in the direction of the main building.
81 thought he had either ignored OF
forgotten about my trust, and, indeed,
was rather congratulating myself that
he had done so, for had already re-
pented of my intentions of frightening
my wife, when | saw an official step uE
to her and politely touching his cap say
a few words in low tone. She looked
surprised and glanced in my direction
but apparently not Seeing me in the
crowd, she followed the man into thu
Custom-hor.e.
Now she was in for it. felt very
sorry indeed for my wife. | haC
hardly realized before what very un
pleasant operation it must be to b.
searched. 1t was really cruel thin!
of me to have subjected her to such al
ordeal, even if she had been a little oh
stinate and annoying, and it wa
scarcely consoling to reflect that sh
would certainly never forgive me if sh
should by any chance discover that
was the author of her misfortune. o.
the whole it hardly seemed quite a
amusing as | expected it would be.
However, it was consoling to know
that she had nothing upon her, AM
perhaps they would not trouble he
very much after ALL while it certainl
would be rather a triumph for me.
would ask her with the utmost inditlel
ence of manner where she had bee
and what had kept her so long. The
if she were unhappy and distressed
would condole with her unmerited dis
aster, and insinuate how fortunate
was that had prevented the possibilit
of her having anything contraban
upon her; what should we have done
, she had, etc. If, on the contrary, sh
5 was disposed to brazen it out, | shoul
have no scruples in exercising my III
r doubted right to calculate: i tol
4 you so, with such additional self-cor
t CALCULATIONS as might suggest then
r selves, that had not been fool enoug
D to let her have her own way.
S "She was so long in returning that
a began to be a little alarmed. Sever;
n ideas occurred to me. Perhaps 81
was ashamed to face me. Perhaps 81
L had been so overcome by the indignit
q. to which she had been subjected tn;
e she might have tainted.
: 81 became very persistent in my c.
riositv, and, forgetting my fear of cor
# promising myself in the matter, IrushC
n off toward the Custom-house in scare
D of her.
+ The great hall of the building WI
c almost empty, most of the personag
It having got through their eXaminatiC
h and departed whittier they were boun
}, l looked around in search of Mrs. Ro
o inson, and at that moment l caug
sight of the revenue officer to whom