The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1894-07-25

France they have to pay on all their
new Brussels lace at the French Gus
tom House. And many English wo-
men pass through France on their
way from Belgium to England, be-
cause they prefer the short passage
from Calais to Dover to the longer
one from Ostend.
The Misses Wylie we're charming,
middle-aged ladies, fond of travel,
fond of dress, fond of lace and very
bad sailors. They had been excur-
sioning in Germany, had come down
the Rhine and had spent week in
Brussels. More attractive than the
field of Waterloo and more fascinating
than the Musee Wiertz was the Gal
erie st. Hubert. Miss Melissa Wylie
could not resist the white Brussels
lace; Miss Annora Wylie could not
resist the black Each of the ladies
bought; led on. by the tempter, in
the shape of seductive shop woman,
the Misses Wylie bought lace fchus,
lace collarettes, lace by the meter.
Day by day they added to their stock.
At length it was necessary to make
for England and to pass through that
dreadful France, with its protective
duties. Then they realized their po-
sition. How about the lace?
"'We cannot conscientiously say, :"
remarked Miss Melissa, "that we have
'rien declarer' (nothing to declare),
because this lace is dutiable.
''And we dare not risk packing it, {"
returned Miss Annora, "because they
might take it into their heads to ex-
anime our box -"
"How can we get it through"
mused the elder sister.
''We must get it through" de-
clared the younger sister.
Presently Annora exclaimed: 81
have 1t I'VE will wear it | No duty
is paid on what one is wearing.
Eyes, yes" said Melissa, "but how
can we wear it? The white will get
soiled and the black torn in travelling.
Besides, if it looks unnatural, as it
would ON our dresses and mantles, the
officials will be sure to notice it,"
at would not look unnatural on
our bonnets, said Annora.
They set to work to decorate their
bonnets with the lace. They mingled
white and black, fichu and hounce, in
the most skilful manner, and though
the bonnets looked somewhat over
done, yet they carried the lace, and it
was probable that the male eyes of the
Custom House officials would not
notice anything abnormal.
The Misses Wylie rejoiced in their
cleverness. They sat in the train on
their way to France with clear con-
sciences aud light hearts. They had
rien a declarer-nothing dutiable. In
the compartment with them was only
one other passenger, stout man, Of
good-hnmored aspect, evidently from
his extreme habby stoutness and his
extreme good humor, middle-elass
German. Now, Germans who under
stand English are very sociable with
their English fellow-trayelers. As
this German did not address the
Misses Wylie, they felt sure that he
did not understand English, and they
talked freely to each other,
81 suppose, said Melissa, "that my
bonnet looks all right? 1t does not
strike the eyes as being too much
trimmed, Ell, Annora?"
'Well, " said Annora, laughing, "it
is too much trimmed for good taste,
but then on this occasion you have
bad taste. What about mine?"
"Oh, quite artistic, "a study in black
and white, as the artists say"
The ladies laughed together, full of
glee at their coming triumph over the
Custom House officers. The German
wore the tatuous grin affected by peo-
pie who listen to a language which
they do not understand.
At last the train slowed into Blan-
dain station, the frontier. Out jumped
the Misses Wylie with their hand bag
gage. They calmly awaited the ap-
proaoh os the officers. Out numbered
the German with his iatuous smile.
He sauntered up to one of the chiefs
of the douane.