Huntsville gazette., 1885-07-04
determined that she should have such


a fright as would effectually 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.
"The idea would have flown as
quickly as it came, had not my wife
insisted in alluding to the subject again
and again, and had she not displayed
a most independent spirit when at last
we stood upon the pier, declining my
profered arm with toss of her head,
and finally marching off by herself to q
little distance. after giving me my in
structions as to having the baggage,
properly packed again after bein.
opened.
"Just at that moment an official Q
some authority apparently passed clos
to me- l touched him on the arm.
"'Do you see that lady in the sea
skin sacque and black satin bonnt
over there?' I asked. L don't want
be mixed up in the matter myself, bit
l think it would be worth your while o
look after her.
''The man stared at me for a ND
ment, then thanking me he DISAPPEARED
in the direction of the main building
81 thought he had either ignored or
forgotten about my trust, and, indeed,
was rather congratulating myself that
he had done so, for l had already re-
pented of my intentions of frightening
my wife, when saw an official step up
to her and politely touching his cap say
a few words in a low tone. She looket
surprised and glanced in my direction
but apparently not seeing me in TIE
crowd, she followed the man into TIE
Custom-house.
Nov she was in for it. I felt very
sorry indeed for my wife. l had
hardly realized before what very un-
pleasant operation it must be to be
searched. It was really cruel thing
Of me to have subjected her to such an
ordeal, even if she had been little OBJ
stinate 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 misfortune. On
the whole, it hardly seemed quite a
amusing as l expected it would be.
"Howeter, it was consoling to know
that she had nothing upon her, and
perhaps they would not trouble he-
very much after all, while it certainl,
would be rather triumph for me. |
would ask her with the utmost indiffer-
ence of manner where she had been
and what had kept her so long. Then
if she were unhappy and distressed l
would condole with her unmerited dis
aster, and insinuate how fortunate it
was that l had prevented thepossibility
of her having anything contraband
upon her; what should we have done il
she had, etc. If. on the contrary, she
was disposed to brazen it out, should
have no scruples in exercising my un-
doubted right to calculate: i told
you so,' with such additional self-con-
gratulations as might suggest them
selves, that I had not been fool enough
to let her have her own way.
begsshh she ~ was Be 50 4g I4hg Il aaHsd aTstHSs5dnng hat
ideas occurred to me. Perhaps she
was ashamed to face me. Perhaps she
had been so overcome by the indignity
to which she had been subjected that
she might have tainted.
81 became very persistent in my Gu
riositv, and, forgetting my fear Of COM
promising myself in the matter, / rushed
off toward the Custom-house 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.
l looked around in search of Mrs. Rob
inson, and at that moment l caught
sight of the revenue officer to whom ]
had first pointed her out.
s'He came over to me with an expires
sion of satisfaction on his face.
"'I can't tell you how much obliged
we are to you, sir, he said. we
haven't had such prize for some time.
Two hundred pounds worth of lace al
the very least calculation
.What?' l exclaimed, while colo
perspiration seemed to start out O.
every pore. What? Do you mean thai
lady
".Was an old hand, undoubtedly, sir
Why, she brazened it out till the end.
Talked about writing to the Times, and
her husband being an American OF po-
sition, 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 fortnight ago.
'''And the LADY, found strength
at last to stammer.
"'Oh, she's safe enough in the jail
by this time, reckon. The Magistrate
is sitting now, I'D 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 unintelligibfe, but l gathered
from it that it took him weeks hard
work and all the influence he could
command in London to rescue Mrs.
Robinson from the consequences of hel
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 Off.
cials as might be; and still better could
r opnraoiafc Mr. Rahipcon,c or,,;nouc