The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-05-16

Their hearts sank within them
Rather" they conceded
'And to carry, it on the bonnet is q
convenient manner of avoiding the du-
y."
They We're undone!
"But we are wearing it'll" soreeched
Annora Melissa painted
"Mesdames, I admire your ingenuity,
but such an amount of new lace cannot
be passed even on your bonnets Two,
three, five meters" he went on, meas
uring the unlucFy lace with his eye,
"fchu, flounce, etc. So many francs or
confiscate it.
cen voiture, sill vous plait'' 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 innumerabls
pins, set free the fichus 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 badr' cried Melissa as the train
moved OH. 1--WE were entitled to what
we wore. -
ut was that German" said Annora-
''He understood English. He heard
what wo said. He told the official Oh.
o man may grin and grin and be vii
lainr
They groaned over their misfortune
- ~.
lain entered their compartment, still
grinning. They glared ut him. but no
still grinned. They took refuge in ST.
lence. He began to speak:
Ladies'" he said in Londonese Eng
lish, 81 was very sorry to have to incur
your displeasure. but felt that it was
my duty to report you at the dounne
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 thought that, notwith-
standing his wicked cruelty, there WIS
something very pleasant in his smile
II entreat your forgiveness, ladies;
more, humbly ask favor"
"Sir?" exclaimed Annora.
Miss Wylie, Miss Annora Wylie'-
the presuming wretch had seen their
names OH their luggage, even their
Christian names-''you will confer
great favor on me if you will tell me
your address. F"
Annora roddene,L 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 20 see
more of them, with view to-their
suppositions broke off rapidly
Annora looked at Melissa, and Melissa
looked at Annora Then the elder sister
spoke. I'VE live ut lib Angelina gar
dens Edwin square, South Kensington,
S. w"
The stranger made note of the nd
dress Melissa was on the point of ask
ing his nar.c when he said abruptly,
You shall hear from me. " Then he
discoursed Oh the country through which
they were passing. after which ho buried
himself in Figaro and talked no more
At the next stoppagc he said a brusquc
Good morning, ladies, and left the
compartment, and they saw no more of
him.
There was q 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
licvcd that he was German who spoke
English remarkably we'll, and she had
seen that he was not gentleman; she
therefore made up her mind to refuse
the offer of marriage which no doubt he
would shortly make.
Arrived i'll Angelina gardens, the
Misses Wylic We're occupied i'll arrang-
ing the household. and compile of busy
days were spent by them. On the third
day after their home coming they re-
ccivcd by the same post parcel and
letter. Annora opened the carefully tied
and sealed parcel, while Melissa read
the letter Having read it once to her
self She next read it aloud to her sister:
MEspAMl.s felt myself under very great
obligation To you the other day Mt Blandai in.
am II very Hin man, but was swathcd 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 H.
self defense that directed the raid on your
bonncts. Having been the cause of tic loss of
yonr lace, wish to make you due com pcnsn-
ton, and beg leave to send you some finer
lace than that which yon lost. am obedicn,-
lyyours, IoUR STOUT FELLOW TRAVELLER.
Melissa took possession of black
lace flouncr and Annora of dozen yards
of white lace and lace edged handker-