The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-05-28
THAT STOUT MAN.

In the city Of Brussels a great deal o,
very pretty lace is exposed for sale.
English women admire this lace an6
buy it. II they go straight from Bel.
GUM to England, they car take it home
without having to pay any duty, but il
they pass through France they have tt
pay on all their new Brussels lace al
the French custom house. And many
English women pass through France OF
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 in
| Germany, had come down the Rhine
and had spent a week in Brussels. More
attractive than the field of Waterloo
and more fascinating than the Musee
Wiertz was the Galerie st. Hubert.
Miss Melissa Wylie could not resist the
white Brussels lace; Miss Annora Wy.
lie could not resist the black. Each OF
the ladies bought; led ON by the tempter,
in the shape of q seductive shop WON
an, 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 it's protective du.
ties. Then they realized their position.
How about the lace? sa
1--WE cannot eonscientiously say, >
remarked Miss Melissa, that we have
rien q declarer nothing to declare
because this lace is dutiable."
"And we dare not risk packing ii, ;
returned Miss Annora, because they
might take it into their heads to exam.
inc our boxes"
How can we get it through?'' unused
the elder sister.
"We must get it throughr' declared
the younger sister.
Presently Annora exclaimed: II have
It'll We will wear it! No duty is paid
on what one is wearing"
eyes, yes" said Melissa, but how
can we yea it? The white will get
soiled and tho black torn in travelling.
Besides, if it looks unnatural, as iii
would on our dresses and mantles, the
officials will be sure to notice it. "
"It would not look unnatural ON ou1
bonnets, " said Annora. 4
They set to work to decorate then
bonnets with the lace. They mingled
white and black, tichu and founce, in
the most skillful manner, and though
the bonnets looked somewhat overdone,
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 Wylie rejoiced in their
cleverness. They sat in the train on
their way to France with clear con.
sciences and light hearts. They had rien
q Notwithstanding dutiable. In the
compartment with them was only one
other passenger, a stout, man Of good
hundred aspect, evidently, from his ex-
IRENE iabby stoutness and his extreme
good humor, q middle class German.
| Now, Germans who understand English
are very sociable with their English fell
low travellers. 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.
II suppose" said Melissa, that my
bonnet looks all right? tdoes not strike
the eyes IS being too much trimmed,
eh, Annora?''
well" said Annora, laughing, sit
is too much trimmed for good taste, but
then on this occasion you have bad taste.
What about miner"
"Oh, quite artistic, "a study in black
and white, as the artists say"
The ladies laughed together, full oi
glee at their coming triumph over the
custom house officers. The Germanwore
the fathous grin affected by people wEc
listen to q language which they do not
understand.
At last the train slowed into Blaadain
station, the frontier. Out jumped the
Misses Wylie with their hand baggage.
They calmly awaited the approach Oh
the officers. Out Numbered the German
with his fatuons smile. He sarlnteEgd
mp to ii Of the chief Of the doua1ae.
"Rien a declarer, 4 said both ladies'.
"Eau do cologne. dentelles, tabac,
lspiritueUxn cologne water, lace, 10.
bacco, spirsrsD. the officer ran off.
rRien, rien, said the Misses Wylie.
The man said nothing more, and ths
ladies, expecting the cry Of, ct Vol,
ture, sill vous plaitl'' felt extremely
happy.
But mt that moment the Official u
! whom the German had been speaking