Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1896-09-10
THAT STOUT GERMAN.
NY =. BAYroRD HARRISON.

In the city Of Brussels great deal OF
very pretty lace is exposed for sale.
English women admire this lace and buy
1t. If they go straight from Belgium to
England they can take 1T home without
having to pay eny duty; but if they
pass through France they have to pay
on all their new Brussels lace at the
French custom house. And many Eng
ish 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 excursionng in
Germany, had come down the Rhine,
and had spent week in Brussels. More
attractive than the Field of Waterloo,
and more fascinating than the Musee
Wierh, was the Galerie st. Hubert.
Miss Melissa Wylie could not resist the
white Brussels lace; Miss Annora Wylie
could not resist the black. Each of the
ladies bought lace; led on by the tempt
er, in the shape of n seductive shop
woman, the Misses Wylie bought lace
fichIs, lace collarettes, lace by the
meter. Day by day they added to their
stock.
Atlength twas 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?
''Wc cannot conscientiously say" re-
marked Miss Melissa, that we have
rien declarer, because this lace is duti-
able"
sand we dare not risk packing it,"
returned Miss Annora, because they
might take it into their heads to ex-
anime our boxes"
"How can we get it through?" unused
the elder sister.
eve must get it through!" declared
the younger sister.
Presently Annora exclaimed: 81 have
It! We will wear it! No duty 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, il it looks unnatural, as it
would on our dresses and mantles, the
officials will be sure to notice it."
ut 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, fischu and flounce, in
the most skilful 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 declarer, nothing dutiable. In
the compartment with them was only
one other passenger, stout man OF
good-humored aspect; evidently, from
his extreme flabby stoutness and his ex-
treme good humor, middle-class Ger
man. Now, Germans who understand
English are very sociable with their
English fellow travellers. AS this Ger
man did not address the Misses Wylie
they felt sure that he did not unde-
rstand English, and they talked freely
toeach other.
81 suppose" said Melissa, "that my
bonnet looks all right? 1t does no,
strike the eyes as being too much
trimmed. ell, AnnoraW
"Well," said Annora, laughing, at is
too much trimmed for good taste, but
then on this occasion you have bad
taste. What about mine?"
"Oh, quite artistic; "a study in black
and white as the artists say"
The ladies laughed together, full ol
glce at their coming triumph over the
custom house officers. The German
wore the fatuous grin affected by peo
pie who listen to language which they
I. do not understand.
At last the train slowed into Blan
dain station, the frontier! Out jumped
the Misses Wylie with their hand bag
gage. They calmly waited the approach
of the officers. Out numbered the Ger
man with his fatuous smile. He saun'