Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-07-31


!: nv they go straight from
AF Belgium to England they
70 ~ can take it home without
having to pay any duty; but if they
pass through France they have to pay
on all their new Brussels lace at the
French Custom House. And many
Englishwomen pass through France on
their way from Belgium to England,
because they prefer the short passage
from Calcis 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 excursion
ing in Germany, had come down the
Rhine, and had spent week IN
Brussels. More attractive than the
Field Of Waterloo, and more fascinat-
ing than the Musee Wiertz, was the
Galerie St. Hubert Miss Melissa
Wylie could not resist the white Brus-
sells lace; Miss Annora Wylie could
not resist the black Each OF the
ladies bought lace led on by the temp
ter, in the shape of seductive shop
woman, the Misses Wylie bought lace
fchus, lace collarettes, lace by the
metre. 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
duties. Then they realized their posi-
tion; how about the lace?
''We cannot conscientiously say"
remarked Miss Melissa, THAT we have
rieu a declarer, because this lace is
dutisble."
"And we dare not risk packing it, "
returned Miss Annora, "Decause they
might take it into their heads to ex-
anime our boxes.
"How can we get it through?'
mused the elder sister.
"We must getit through" declared
the younger sister.
Presently Annora exclaimed, 81
have it We will wear it No duty
is paid on what one is wearing"
''Yes, yes" said Melissa, "but how
can we wear it? The white will get
soiled and the black torn in travelling.
Besides, if it looks unnatural, as it
would on our dresses and mantles, the
officials will be sure to notice it."
''It would not look unnatural on our
bonnets," said Annora.
They set to work to decorate their
bonuets with the lace. They mingled
white and black, fichu and founce, In
the most skilful manner, and though
the bonnets looked somewhat over
done, yet they carried the lace, and
it was probable that the male eyes OF
the Custom House officials would moi
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 declarer, nothing dutiablo. In
the compartment with them was only
one other passenger, q stout man OF
good aspect; evidently, from
his extreme fabby stOutness aud his
extreme gool humor, a middle-c'ass
German. Now, Germans who under
stand English are very sociable with
their English fellow 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.
81 suppose, said Melissa, "that my
bonnet looks al rightf 1t does not
strike the eye as being too much
trimmed, ca, Annora?"
"Well," said Annora, laughing, cit
is too much trimmed for good taste,
but then on this occasion you have bad
taste. What about mine?"
ooh, quite. artistc; "a study in
white and black, as the artists say" r"
The ladies laughed together, full Of
glee at their coming triumph over the
Custom House officers. The German
wore the fatuous grin affected by peo
pie who listen to Il language which
they do not understand.
At last the train slowed into Blan
dain Station, the frontier Out
jumped the Misses Wylie with their
hand baggage. They calmly waited
the approach of the officers. Out
numbered the German with his fatuous
smile. He sauntered up to one of the
chiefs of the douane.
''Ren declarer," said both ladies.
eau de Cologne, dentelles, tabac,
spiritueux-" the officer ran off.
"Rien. rien," said the Misses Wy
lie.
The man said nothing more, and
the ladies, expecting the cry OF "En
voiture, sill vous plait |" felt extreme
ly happy.
But at that moment the official to
whom the German had been speaking
came up to them and said, in very fair
English, "rhe ladies are fond of lace?"
Their hearts sank with them.
"Rather," they conceded.
"And to carry it on the bonnet is a
convenient manner OF avoiding the
were undODe