Connecticut western news., 1910-01-20


 ness than this. To think that she had brought her bag home with her when all the time
 1 Flying footsteps, fiarhing eyes, a gold bag flung into his lap! There. Jim- mie-crazy, crazy boyr' exclaimed triumphant voice. Now will you be good?'
 The very bag-the very-cobwebs filled the bishops brain fer moment. [ "I-I-don't sec" he stammcred. "Wait a minute. will you?' Then he in his turn fled upstairs and went to his bu- reau drawer The very bag! It took him some time to get his bearings. to summon up courage to go down to that lighted room and to tEe reproach- full giances of those blue eyes. But 1 the bishop was a good sport, although I the brilliancy of his sermons was sometimes open to criticism. Down to the dining room he bravely walked and laid the bag beside it's duplicate. Aline looked and looked and looked again. Then her haughtiness was that of tragedy queen:
 James, explain! Did you think you had my bag? And where did you get ! it?"
 The bishop was silent He was ab- 1 scntmindedly comparing the dupli- cates. Aline's had her monogram on the framework; the other had only initials, M. NJ. R." He repeated it over and over to himself, as if 1t were a favorite refrain. Then he knew that his day of judgment had come.
 "I stole itr'
 "Whcre. James?"
 ''I saw you on Main street this morn ing"-his tone was of the yet un- shriven monk-"I followed you into i Pierces to ask you to walk down to i the Grants with me, saw your bag 1 lying on the counter beside your muff, and I-took it.'
 What for?"
 "Why, just to-to''-the bishop was growing extremely nervous under the steady gaze cf those questioning blue eyes-"v!S', my dear, to-hang it all, Aline! Haven't you any imagination? Can't you imagine why?"
 Certainly nOt-and l don't propose to try The idea of a bishop stealing his Wife's purse, even trying to give her a moments fright for any reason at all, Is something for which there can be no possible explanation and which i don't even care to think about. But ! do say this-I think when n biSho2 stoops to those dreadful things it is time for his wife to leave him"
 High tragedy was written all over the little lady's face as she folded her arms, arched her eyebrows and looked sternly at her writhing husband. Then a sudden change of expression swept over her mobile face. James" she said, did you really and truly do it for the good of your poor black sheep? Did you steal your wife's purse to save her soulT
 Silence.
 James,
 Still silence while the bishop twirled a lock of hair furiously between his thumb and forefnger.
 James, answer me"
 The bishop turned appealing eyes to hers-so hard, so cold-and as their eyes met something happened. Laugh 
 elfland overcame the dignified bishop and his wife. Words were impossible. Anger was a thing of the past. EXpia. nations needed not to be made. Peals of laughter met and mingled across the table. Aline was the first to re- cover sufficiently to speak.
 Let's see whose 1t is" she. said. And the bishop handed it to her, while wiping his eyes with the other. z M. NJ. B. H'mr' muttered Aline. Then, opering the bag, she held aloft q visiting c&rd. James" she shrieked, ''it is mothCrsr'
 His mother-in-laws The bishop was speechless-this time with horror. Aline was an only child, her mother ever on the watch lest he should let the winds of life blow too strongly on her child. He never could face her after a situation like this. She was always severe on his clerical ideas. And now this!
 What can I do?' His tone was that of a suppliant, and Aline thoroughly enjoyed his misery.
 Do? she said. There are several things you can do, and you will nave to do one of them quickly, or mothc: will be here asking my advice about what she can do to recover it. Father gave it to her on their last aunivcr- sary, and she will be frantic at having lost it. By the way, 1 don't see why you didn't see her in the shop"
 Neither do l. Now tell me what to do."
 Aline held up her plump hand and counted off fingers as she spoke: Way No. 1, messenger boy sent to leave it at her door, with no explanation, note or card-sprit too cowardly for biSl- op to resort to; way No. ?, send at once to Pierce's, saying you found it faIsehood unworthy of your ideals; way No. 8, take it to her yourself and own up to your methods of improving her child's character"
 Silence. The bishop looked down cast, Aline roguish. Well, James," she said at last,