The daily morning Alaskan., 1903-04-18
THE LITTLE
 LACE SMUGGLER
toriginSll

Belgium. wus coming to Americn. She was advised by Q business acquaiut- ance 10 put several hundrad dollarn which she had saved beyond Der pas sage money into the ,beauttfh hee made fin her city and carry f. with her to New York. If she could get t through the custom house free of duty. she would add considerably to her It. tle capital She was Informed that nothing one wears is dutiable There fore after purchasing some white and black lace she set about decorating her clothing with it ln such fashion that it would not likely be noticed by the GUS tom house officials With the black lace she trimmed her mantle putting on' or course. profuslon. while the white was made Into fiounces on her dreEs be meath.
 Gretchen crossed the ocean in the sweet summer time, when h wac de- lightful Co slt on deck and watch the green waves. the guile and the blue heavens far ashore by day and the star ry dome by night. Besldea the moon was at the full and. beginning with the twilight rose later every evening. Gretchen was alone, but young man. an Invalid. on the first day out sat in his steamer chalr near her and formed her acQualnmnce. Though the weather was warm. he was invariably wrapped in an ulster. He told Gretchen that he had dropsy.
 Gretchen. lonely herself understood more perfectly the feelings Of this young man. who was not only unHt- tended. but ill She therefore devoted herself to him. Every morning at 10 o'clock when the weather was hne-and it was fne throughout the yOyage-she would place the young man's chair for him in a sheltered nook, cover him with rugs. talk Co him, read to him and in every way in her power contribute to bis comfort. The invalid seemed pro foundly grateful for these attentions. When she put pillow under bis hedd' be would look into her eyes what Wah more than gratitude. He regretted that be could make no return for her atten- ton except help to improve her Eng linh. which was very imperfect It is but natural that with the language of love passing between. for Gretchen was becoming attached Co her charge, they should get on rapidly with mere commonplace expressions The young man had had a good education 10 the public schools and seemed quite ambi- tious to succeed in life. This made 0retchen's heart bleed for him. She would wrap his ulster more closely about him. and he would look up with that grateful, languid smile SO touch ing in an Invalid.
 When they approached New York, Gretchen began 10 be worried about her lace. She crayed sympathy and confded her secrct to her friend. He rcassured her by telling her that if she would so ashore with him be would look out for some Of the officials whom be knew and each try to distract ther attention from her oT. lf they noticed her superauous nnery, perquade them to let her go unmolested She gladly accepted his ofrer and wsrH the ship was docked SyppOrted lim. si.l wrap- pc,l ia his ulst,s, down the Esugplank.
 "Walt here d moment" he sald, and | win see 1T can fiud a friend among tbese customs oficcrs"
 The invalid approached an inspector aud said Co him;
 'Whut Is there ln it for me 4 put you on to woman who ia smuggling laceT'
 The officer arranged that he should receive the value cf such information and the two approached Gretchen.
 ''Ihere she is." sald the invalid. and the officer forthwith turned pOor GTet- chen over tU woman who searched her thoroughly and cOnhscated every yard of her precious lace. This was nothing tO Gretchen compared with the shock the mans treachery caused her. She left the dock weeping. But it was not for her little savings. lt was for the image she had set up in her heart, which had been 30 roughly broken.
 The next day Gretchen received Q card at her boarding house with the name upon it Ot Charles Turner Whit man" She had never heard of such person and thought there must be some mistake. However. she went down Into the parlor, and who should be there but the invalid. but an Invalid no longer. His chalky complexion bad become ruddy his step was quick aud strong. his whole appearance cheery. As soon as Gretchen saw him abe turn ed to leave the room, but he caught her and brought her back.
 Wait. little sweetheart, till explain. When we went ashore yesterday had ou me a small fortune u lace. My legs. body and arms were wrapped with it. If | succrcdcd in getting it iu without ronfsrutiun. it would be the last of several such efforts and complete the amount | drtrruincd Co make brtOrc Iis.uu,iuuus practice which l cor. dially detrst No Surer way of passing ;hc officials unsupported could be de visrd than directing their attention to some one else. four few yards were nothing Co the hundredh 1 had on me. Yor were kind to me on th" trip. and you have been the means Vt my com