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

In the city or Brussels Il great deal OF
very pretty lace is exposed for sale.
English women admire this lace and
buy it If they go straight from Bel
GUM to England, they can take it home
without having to pay any duty. but if
they pass through France they have to
pay on oil their new Brussels lace at
Che French custom house And many
English women pass through France on
their way from Belgium to England,
because they prefer the short passage
from Calais to Dover to the longer one
from Ostend.
The Misses Wylie were charming,
middle aged ladies' fond of travel,
fond of dress, fond of lace and very bad
sailors They had been eXcursioning i'll
Germany, had come down the Rhine
and had spent week in Brussels. More
attractive than the field of Waterloo
and moro fascinating than the Musee
Wiertz was the Galeric ST. Hubert.
Miss Melissa Wylie could rot resist the
white Brussels lace; Miss Annora Wy
lie could not resist the black. Each of
the ladies bought; led on by the tempter,
I'm the shape of n seductive Shop WON
y
lace collarettcs lace by the meter. Day
by day they added to thcir stock
AT length it was necessary to make
for England and to pass through that
dreadful France With its protective du-
ties Then they realized their position.
How about the lace?
eve cannot cunscientiously say, "
remarked Miss Melissa, that we have
rien dcclarer nothing to dcclarc>
because this lace is dutiable. -
'And we dare not risk packing it, "
returned Miss Annora, because they
might take it into their heads To- exam.
inc our boxes
GLOW can we get it through" iaused
the elder sister
1--WE must get it trough declared
the younger sister.
Presently Annora exclaimed: II have
1t! We 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
soilcd aid the black torn in travelling.
Besides, if it looks unnatural, us it
would on our dresses and mantlos, the
officials will be sure to notice it.
''It would not look unnatural on our
bonncts said Annora.
They set to work to decorate their
bonnets with the lace They mingled
white and black, fichu and founce III
Che most skillful manner, and though
the bonnets looked somewhat ovcrdonc,
yet they carried the lace, and it WAS
probable that the male eyes of the Gus
tom house officials would not notice
anything abnormal.
The Misses Wylic rejoiced il their
Cleverness- They sat in the train TN
their way TO Franco with clear con
sciences and light hearts They h:d ricn
a Misunderstanding dutiable. III the
compartment with them was only one
other passenger, Il stout man OF good
humored aspect, evidently, from his eX-
treme fiabby stOutnesS and his extreme
good humor, Il middle class Gcrinen
Now, Germans who understand English
arc very sociahlc with their English fell
1oyT travellers. As this German did not
address the Misses Wylie, they felt sure
chat he did not understand English. ard
they talked freely to each Other.
II suppose, said Melissa, "llat NY
bonnet looks i'll right? 1t does no, strike
eiit w 'ES btiiS wv iiu'ii iliIl!lt'i.
ell, Annora:"
"Wcll, " said Annora, laughing, lit
is TOO much trimmed for good taste, but
then on this occasion you have lad taste.
What about minc?"
"Oh, quite artistic, IA study in black
and white, us the artists say"
The ladies laughed together, full OF
glee at their coming triumph over the
custom house officers. The German wor,
the fatuous grin affected by people who
listen to "a language which they do not
understand.
At last the train slowed into Blandail
station, the frontier. Out jumped the
Misses Wylie with their hand baggage
They calmly awaited the approach O
fhe officers. Out numbered the German
with his fatuous smile. He saunteret
mp to one of the chief of the douane.
"Rien declarer, said both ladies'
"'Eau de cologne, dentelles, tabac
spiritueux" cologne water, lace, to
Bacco, spirits), the officer ran off.
''Rien. rien," said the Misses Wylie
The man said nothing more, and tn
1adies. expecting the cry Of, SET vol
Sure, sill vous plaitp' felt extremel.
happy.
But at that moment the official t
aghom the German had been speaking