The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-05-20
THAT STOUT MAN.

In the city Of Brussels great deal OF
very pretty laco is exposed for SALE
English women admire this lace and
buy it. Ii 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 all their now Brussels lace at
the 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 in
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 tho Galcrie st. Hubert.
Miss Melissa Wylic 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 seductive shop wom-
an, the Misses Wylie bought lace tichus,
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 du-
tics. Their they realized their position.
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 tslso it into their heads to exam
inc our boxes. -
''How can wo get it through" unused
the elder sister.
eve must get it throughp' declared
the younger sister.
Presently Annora exclaimed: 81 have
it'll We will wear It'll 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 tho black torn in travelling.
Besides, if it looks unnatural, as it
would On c. dresses and mantles, the
officials win be sure to notice it,
''It 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 flounce, in
the most sl1illful manner, and though
the boilnots looked somewhat overdone,
yet they carried tho 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
a declarer-nothing dutiable. In the
compartment with them was only one
other passenger, a stout man of good
humored aspect evidently, from his ex-
treme fiabby stoutness and his extreme
good humor, middle class German.
Now, Germans who understand English
are very sociable with their English fell
low travellers. AS this German did no;
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 oil right? 1t does not strike
the eyes as 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"
sob, 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 fatuous grin affected by people who
listen to language which they do not
understand.
At last the train slowed into Blandain
station, the frontier. Out jumped the
Misses Wylie with their hand baggage.
They calmly awaited the approach of
the officers Out numbered the German
with his fatuous smile. He sauntered
up to one of the chief of the douane.
''Rien declarer - said both ladies.
Eau dc cologne, dentelles, tabac,
spiritueux" COLOGNE water, lace, to-
bacco spirits), the officer ran of.
''Rien, rien," said the Misses Wylie.
The man said nothing more, and the
ladies, expecting the cry of, ''Et vol
ture, sill veus plait!' felt extremely
happy.
Bat at that moment the official to
whom the German had been speaking
came up to them siiu ss4I.., Ia Wy l., -
English, The ladies are fond of lace?'
Their hearts sank within them.
"Rather. they conceded
And to carry 1t on the bonnet is a
convenient manner of avoiding the du-
T."
They were undoreI
"But'we are wearing itl'' screeched
Annora, Melifsa parted