Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-05-29

her head, finally marching OH by her
self to little distance, after giving
me my instructions as 10 having the
baggage packed again after being
opened.
"Just at that moment an official of
some authority apparently passed
close to me. touched him on the
arm.
"'Doyou see that lady in the seal
skin sacque and black satin bonnet
over there?' said. i 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 mo-
ment, then thanking me he disappear
ed in the direction of the main build
ing.
81 thought he had either ignored or
forgotten about nay trust, and, indeed,
was rather congratulating myself
that he had done so, for l had already
repented of my intentions of frights
ening my wife, when / saw an official
step up to her, and politely touching
ing his cap say few words in low
tone. - She looked surprised, and
glanced in nay direction, but apparent
ly not seeing me in the crowd, she
followed the man into the Custom
House.
Now she was in for it. felt very
sorry indeed for nv wife. | had sard>
ly realized before what very un-
pleasant operation it must be TO be
searched. 1t was really cruel thing
of me to have subjected her to such
an ordeal, even if she had been little
obstinate and annoying, and it was
scarcely consoling to reflect that she
would certainly never forgive me If
she should By any chance discover
that | was the author of her misfor-
tune. On the whole, it hardly seemed
quite as amusing as | expected it
would be.
"HoweYer, it was consoling to know
that she had nothing upon her, and
perhaps they would not trouble her
very much after all, while it certainly
would be rather a triumph for me. L
would ask her with the utmost indif-
ference of manner where she had been
and what had kept her SO long. Then
if she were unhappy and distressed |
would condole with her unmerited
disaster, and insinuate how unfortun-
ate it was that / had prevented the
possibility of her having any thing
contraband upon her; what should We
have done if she had, etc. If, on the
contrary, she was disposed to brazen
it out | should have no scruples in
exercising my undoubted right to
calculate. 4 told you so, with such
additional self congratulatio.s as
might suggest themselves, that | had
not been fool enough to lot her have
her own way.
''She was SO long in returning that
| began To- be little alarmed, Several
ideas occurred to me. Perhaps she
was ashamed to face me. Perhaps she
had been 50 overcome by the indignity
to which she had been subj ected that
she might have tainted.
Il became very persistent in my
curiosity, and forgetting my fear of
compromising myself in the matter, |
rushed off toward the custom hous e
in search of her.
"The great hall of the building was
almost empty, most of the personages
having got through their examination
and departed whittier they were
bound. | looked around in search of
Mrs. Robinson, and at that moment
caught sight of the revenue officer to
whom I had first pointed her out.
ole came over to me with an ex-
preston of satisfaction OH his face
L can't tell you how much oblig
ed we are to you, sir, he began. We
haven't had such q prize for some
time. Two huadred pounds worth
Of lace at the very least calculation. ;
"'What?' exclaimed, while cold
perspiration seemed to start out of
every pore. 'What2 Do you mean
that lady
Was an old hand, undoubtedly,
sir. Why, she brazoned it ont till
the end. Talked about writing TO the
Times. and her husband being an
American OF position, and all the rest
of it, But Lor' bless you, sir, We
knows 'em. l just turned her over to
one of our ladies, and she found the
lace wrapped round her body, just the
same as couple we nabbed here a
fortnight ago.
And the LADY, found strength
at last to stammer.
"'Oh, she's safe enough in the jail
by this time, reckon. The magis-
trate is sitting now, and my men Just
took her right over, and no doubt she
will have been committed at once
The rest OF Robinson's story was
little unintelligible, but l gathered
from it that it took him a weeks hard
work and all the influence he could
command in London to rescue Mrs.
Robinson from the consequences of
her folly and his stupid practical joke.
And l could easily understand, after
hearing the tale, my friends anxiety
to have as little to do with customs
officials rs night be; and still better
could | appreciate Mrs. R2blnson's
omlnouS silence whenever the sub
ject was mentioned, while the way in
which she would purse up her lips on
such occasions made me thiuk that if
she had had enough of smuggling,
her husband had probably come to
the same conclusion III respect to
practical jokes. And | thought, too,
that on the whole would rather be
a week in Jail myself than be the
means, however innocent of causing
Mrs. Robinson to undergo the exper-
isuce; at least if l had to live with
her for any length of time afterward.
And yet when | got home and told
my wife the story her sympathies
were all with the lady, and she would
not admit the justice of my served
her right"
Aud now she is looking over my
shoulder and insists upon my express
ing my opinion that she would not
have behaved like that, anyhow. And
l do not really believe she would.
Adding however, like true wom-
an, But think he was brute, all
the same"
Lincoln and Dixie.
Washington Letter.
Popular Southern airs have been
played in the Executive Mansion and
grounds ever since they were written.