The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1893-08-26

! Thought OF Cinderella and hel
magical Transformation.
| The day was one OF the hottest
! OF September. yet the old lady was
wrapped in an elegant sealskin gar
ment that reached nearly to her feet
Under this saw the folds OF hand
some black satin dress. A rich
bonnet on her head and light kid
| gloves completed her costume.
The old man looked as IL he had
just come from the hands OF one OF
the most fashionable London tailors
lie was dressed In cnople.e new
suit Of clothes. costly ovcrcoat and
! silk hat
But the greatest change in APP.
pearance was In the four daughters
Hitherto they had been long, slim
girls; now they were quite round and
plump Their dresses were plain but
rich; and handsome hats shaded
their faces, which were. however.
thin and, II anything. still paler than
before.
As soon as the ship was in her
b,rth and every thing was made
secure, | came down from the bridge,
and standing near the gangway,
watched the baggage as IL was car
ried on the dock. 1t SO happened
that 1t was piled up not far from the
foot OF the gangway, so that l had a
good opportunity to sec the result Of
the examination.
The mysterious family had already
gone ashore with the other passen-
gers. and now stood near a collection
OF trunks. bags and bundles OF rugs,
waiting an officer to examine their
luggage.
l was well acquainted with the
senior inspector, who was stationed
but few steps from the gangway.
Occasionally he looked up and smiled
as the men came to him with the re-
port Of their work.
A few moments later an official ap-
preached the strange family and
asked for the keys of their trunks,
which the old man had not produced
He thrust his hand into his pocket
and drew out the keys. The officer
took them, fitted them to the trunks,
threw open the lid of one after an
other, lifted the contents, ran his
hand through them; in short, made
the usual examination.
In the meantime the attention of
the senior officer had been drawn in
that direction. lie turned and faced
the group. carefully scrutinizing its
members while the examination was
in progress.
When all had been opened, the
lids were closed and marked by the
inspector, who then reported that
nothing contraband or dutiable had
been found. smiled as heard the
report. At that moment the eyes of
tho senior officer met mine. no.
ticed "a peculiar expression on his
face.
Advancing toward the party, the
inspector told the old man to 90
to the Office occupied by the custom
house officials. My curiosity was
excited. ] left the ship. went down
the gangway and stood few steps
distant, watching the proceedings
The old mans countenance turned
a grccnish-white as he looked in the
direction indicated. The old lady
trembled and seemed scarcely able To
stand; while the four girls were white
and terror-stricken, They followed
the superintendent into the office,
and the door closed behind the whole
party.
The old man was requested to step
into one OF the examining rooms.
while the mother and daughters were
taken in charge by q female searcher
and conducted into another.
After about half an hour the trem-
bling woman and her daughters re-
turned to the main Office. The fe-
male searcher followed. and, going
up TO tho table in the center of the
room. placed small valise upon it
in front OF the appraiser.
At almost the same moment the
old man appeared, accompanied by
an officer. The officer placed on the
table a small package inclosed in
brown paper
The Office was now filled with peo-
Pile, many OF whom were passengers
from the ship. They had perceived
that the queer family were suspected,
and had remained behind to see the
"fun." The appraiser rose from his
chair, went up to the table and
opened the valise. Every eye was
upon him as he drew forth its gilt.
tering contents and spread them out
before il.
Swiss, French and English watches.
chains, both long and short. brace
let's, rings and jewelry Of every de-
scription lay sparkling in tho sun
light. The brown paper package,
upon being opened, disclosed about
six thousand dollars worth of unset
diamonds. These were found con
cealed in the clothing OF the old
man.
The total value OF the goods was
estimated TO be nearly $1,000.
A loud laugh rang through the
room at the expression Of dismay on
the old mans face. There was little
sympathy for him. but the position
of the poor old lady and her dauph-