The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1885-09-05
ROBINSON'S WIFE.
A Custom-House Sketch by a Man
of Experience.

I was going to write story without
a moral to it, but my wife says the
thing can't be done, and so, to please
her, am going to commence this by
remarking that Honesty is the best
policy" My wife says that the fellow
who wrote that had tried the other
thing first, and that was exactly the
case with the man whose story am
going to tell you just as he told it to
me.
We had made friends, after the fash
ion of ocean travellers, on recent vow
age across the Atlantic; had smoked
more than one cigar together pacing
the deck of the steamer, and had CON
doled with each other over the short
comings of our respective room-mates
though had we roomed together we
should probably have found even more
fault with each other. And now we
were approaching the stage in which
mutual condolences and the COMPARE
son OF experiences were the order of the
day.
&Ao WO AOALO0 VIC <AllCI1GuH SuOTG
the conversation notunnaturally turned
upon that topic so familiar to ocean
travellers the contents of our various
snapedimentG and the steps we respect
lively proposed to take in reference to
the approaching visit of the Custom
house officials.
well" said I, "'Honesty is the best
policy, after all. Itcertainly gives the
least trouble, Besides, have con-
scientious objection to swearing falsely
anyhow, and l confess il seems to me
that you can not avoid either lying or
declaring what you have. And, indeed,
l never have any trouble. l declare,
and once in awhile have to pay. NV
conscience is clear, and / believe if I
were to reckon up my outgoings in du-
ties they would not equal what many
OF my friends who cross less often spend
in fees to the officials -
Mr. Robinson-that wasn't his name,
and my wife says surely might think
of something better to call him than
that-Mr. Robinson, / say, looked
rather distressed at the turn the con-
versation was taking.
He addressed me next in a tone of
almost pathetic solemnity:
''Brown, my dear fellow''-Brown
isn't my name either, but let it pass
"Brown, my dear fellow, take nv adj
vice and let the Custom-house people
alone"
l looked at Robinson little curious-
ly. Had the notion affected his reason,
or was that last cocktail which that |
hospitable fellow Jones insisted in
pressing upon us while ago little |
too-toop
'Im sure | am agreeable" at last I |
"but it's hardly question
Of choice. It's rather in their option
they'll let us alone, isn't itp''
Robinson looked neryously around
IS though afraid of being overheard,
and then whispered in tones of awe.
intensity:
For Heavens sake, Brown, don't
ct her know that told you!'
was about to remark in a tone of
houghtless levity that, considering
lie had not so far confided ANYTHING to
ne, should hardly be in a position to
llVulge his secret, even if so inclined.
3ut restrained myself, from an in
tinctive feeling that there was some
hing more behind, and only re-
marked:
by hey' ] presume you mean Mrs.
aobinson?"
Just soI' he replied. "She would
lever forgive me if she knew that I had
But you haven't told me-" expos
,alated:
Light fresh cigar was the an
wer, land let's sit down here under
he shelter of the cabin, and will tell
'ou why l never see certain brave
'tficer without a cold shudder.n
1--WE were on our wedding trip. Mrs.
robinson and /, in the spring of 49,
veil, Mrs. Robinson doesn't like me to
ay how long we have been married,
mt it is several years ago. At that
ime travelling in Europe was hedged
bout with many difficulties from
which now tits, thank Heaven, com
'aratively free, Passports were to be
provided, and what not; and, in short.
was the end and object of every
'etty principality--this was before sc
ND sovereign princes were as plenty
IS blackberries in mid-Erope--to
make 1T as unpleasant as possible for
my traveller not properly accredited TO
iis or their Serene Highness.
However, this has little or nothing
o do with my story, which relates ex-
slusiyely to my experience with the
@pstom-house officials, except it be TO