Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-05-17

came up 10 them and said, In very fair
English, ''The ladies are fond Of laceY"
Their hearts sank within them
"Rather," p" they conceded
"And TO carry 1t ON the bonnet is
convenient manner Of avoiding the du-
ty"
They were undonei
''But we are wearing itP' scTeeched
Annora Melissa painted
"Mesdamos, I admire your ingenuity,
but such an amount Of new lace cannot
be passed even on your bonnets Two,
three, five meters" he won't on, meas
uring the unlucky lace with his eye,
"fchu, hounce, etc. So many francs or
/ confscate it"
"En voiture, sill vous plaitp' was
heard
The sum demanded by the officer add
ed to what they had paid in purchase
would have made the lace the dearest
that ever was bought They tore off
their bonnets, pulled out innumerable
pins, set free the fchus. founces, etc.,
put them into the officers hands and
ran to their seats. Out Of breath and
out Of pocket they were most unhappy.
Successful cheating Is one thing but
unsuccessful cheating is another and
causes sharp pangs of conscience
"Too badp cried Melissa as the train
moved ON 1--WE ware entitled to what
we wore" p"
ut was that German" F" said Annora
"He understood English He heard
what we said He told the official Oh,
a man may grin and grin and be a vii
laipp
They groaned over their misfortune
The first time the train stopped the vii
lain entered their compartment still
grinning They glared at him, but be
still grinned They took refuge In ST.
lepoe he began to speak.
Ladies, he said in Londonese Eng.
lish, Il was very sorry to have to incur
your displeasure. but folt that it was
my duty to report You at the douane
You had innocently told me all about
the lace on your bonnets, and for the
credit Of our country, for the sake of
English honesty, was constrained to
point out your bonnets to that official.
Can you forgive me9'
NO." said Annora.
But Melissa thought that, notwfth-
standing his wicked cruelty, there was
something very pleasant iRhis smile
II entreat your forgiveness, ladies;
more, I humbly ask favor"
"Sir?" exclaimed Annora
miss Wylie, Miss Annora Wylie"-
the presuming wretch had seen their
names on their luggage, even their
Christian names-''you will confer a
great favor on me If you will tell me
your address"
AnnoTa Redeemed; Melissa blushed.
Perhaps he was ashamed Of the cruel
part he had played and was about to
offer an apology; perhaps their brave
and gentle endurance Of misfortune had
touched him; perhaps their charms had
SO won upon him that he wished to see
more Of them, with view to-their
suppositions broke of rapidly.
Annora looked at Melissa, and Melissa
looked at Annora Then the elder sister
spoke. "We live at 113 Angelina gar
dens, Edwin square, South Kensington,
s. W."
The stranger made note Of the ad-
dress Melissa was ON the point Of ask
ing his name when he said abruptly,
"You shall hear from me-" Then he
discoursed on the country through which
they were passing, after which he buried
himself in a Figaro and talked no more.
At the next stoppage he said brusque
"Good morning, ladies, "and left the
compartment. and they saw no more OF
| him.
There was a considerable fiutter In the
breast of Melissa, who was Of roman
tic turn of mind, and who could only
imagine one reason why this stranger
should want her address. She still be-
heved that he was German who spoke
English remarkably we'll, and she had
seen that he was not a gentleman; she
therefore made up her mind to refuse
the offer of marriage which no doubt he
would shortly make.
Arrived in Angelina gardens, the
Misses Wylie were occupied in arrang-
ing the household, and couple of busy
days were spent by them. On the third
day after their home coming they re-
ceived by the same post parcel and q
letter Annora opened the carefully tied
and sealed parcel, while Melissa read
the letter. Having read it once to her
self, she next read 1t aloud to her sister:
MBsDAMEs-I felt myself under a very great
obligation to you the other day at Blandain.
am very thin man, but I was swathed round
with hundreds of yards Of fine Brussels lace
and thought that the best way Of drawing
| the attention Of the custom house officers from
myself was to draw IL to you. 1t was purely in
self defense that directed the raid on your
honnets. Having been the cause Of the loss OF
your lace, wish TO make you due compensa-
ton, and / beg leave to send you some finer
lace than that which you lost. am obedfent-
| lyyours. YoUR STOUT FRLLow TRAVELLER.
Melissa took possession Of black
lace founce and Annora Of dozen yards
Of white lace and lace edged handker.
chief. and they quite forgave the stout
German for his cruelty and for his stout
ness r. Bayard Harrison in Strand
Magazine.