The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1894-07-25
"Rion deolaror, said both ladies.

bacco; sp1rits), the officer ran OH.
"Rien, rien," said the Misses Wylie.
The man said nothing more, and the
ladies, expecting the cry of "Et vol
ture, sill vous plait ~ felt extremely
happy.
But at that moment the official to
whom the German had been speAk.
ing came up to them and said, in very
fair English; ''The ladies are fond of
lace2"
Their hearts sank within them,
Rather" they conceded.
And to carry it on the bonnet is
q convenient manner of avoiding the
duty"
They were undonel
"But we are wearing it," screeched
Annora. Melissa painted.
"Mesdames, l admire your ingenuity,
but such an amount OF new lace can
not be passed even on your bonnets.
Two, three, five meters" he went on,
measuring the unlucky lace with his
eye, "fchu, founce, etc. So many
francs or / confscate it,
cen voiture, sill vous plait !" was
heard
The sum demanded by the officer
added to what they had paid in pur-
chase would have made the lace the
denrest that evor was bought. They
tore off their bonnets, pulled out in.
Vulnerable pins, set free the fchus,
founces, ETC., put them into the Of
ficer's hands and ran to their seats.
Out OF breath and out of pocket, they
were most unhappy. Successful cheat.
ing is one thing, but unsuccessful
cheating is another, and causes sharp
pangs of conscience.
"Too bad !" cried Melissa rs the
train moved on. "We were entitled
to what we wore.
'It WAS that German" said Annora.
"He understood English. He heard
what we said. He told the official.
Oh, man may grin and grin and be
villain !"
They groaned over their misfor
tune. The first time the train stopped
the villain entered their compart-
ments still grinning. They glared at
him, but he still grirned. They took
refuge in silence. He began to speak:
Ladies'" he said in Londonese
English, "I was very sorry to have to
incur your displeasure, but felt 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 me?"
"No," said Annora.
But Melissa thoughtsthat, notwith-
standing his wicked cruelty, there was
something very pleasant in his smile.
81 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
great favor on me if you will tell me
your address.
Annora reddened; Melissa blushed.
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 ut Melissa, and Mel
issa looked at Annora Then the elder
sister spoke. '.We live at 1l3 An
gelina gardens, Edwin Square, South
Kensington, S. w"
The stranger made a note of the adj
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 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 considerable futter in
the breast of Melissa, who was of ro.
mantle turn of mind, and who could
only imagine one reason why this
stranger should want her address. She
Sblll b6llSN0N buub NC WAS OSIAioh
who spoke English remarkably well,
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, tho
Misses Wylie were occupied in arrang-
ing the household, and couple of
busy days were spent by them. On
the third day after their homecoming
they received by the same post par
eel and letter. Annora opened the
carefully tied and sealed parcel, while
Melissa read the letter. Having read
it once to herself she next real it
aloud to her sister:
Mesdames l felt myself under a very
great obligation to you the other day at
Bandain. am very thin man, but l 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 1t to you. 1t was purely in self-de-
fence that 1 directed the raid on your bon
nets. Having been the cause OF the loss Of
your lace, wish to make you due compen-
sation, aud | beg leave 10 send you some
! finer lace than that which you lost. am,
ooediently yours,
YoUR STOUT FELLow-TRAvELER.
Melissa took po session of a black
lace fiounce and Annora of a dozen
yards of white lace and a lace-ed"ed
U -