The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1910-04-21
OOOOOOOOOOOOO OOCOOOOOOOO
The Bishops
Experiment
A Story of a Lost
Pin.
By KATE Y. DUNNE.
By KATE Y. DUNNE.
Copyright. 1910, by American Press
Association.

"But, my dear, you are all wrongr
exclaimed the bishops wife, looking
reproachfully over the coffee urn
which had hidden her piquant face
from her husbands adoring glance
81 wasn't careless 1t was the washer
woman. If you must blame somebody
James, blame her. OF course / didn't
mean to leave a pearl pin-and espe
cially one you had given me--in my
laundry bag"
That afternoon as he was walking
briskly down Main street to make a
parish visit in the distance he saw
Aline's blue hat and shining hair. His
heart had habit Of beating faster al
the sight Of her slender, dainty figure
and that afternoon she looked even
more attractive than usual to him
among a crowd Of commonplace wom
en-. He hurried to catch up with her
but she, too, was walking fast and had
turned into Pierces department store
before he was near enough to Join
her.
He went in, too, and secured a van
tage point some feet away, where he
waited until he should have a chance
to slip into space next to her.
AS he waited he noticed her gold
bag laid on the counter beside her
muff, out of her direct line of vision
Still the old habit! An idea flashed
into the bishops mind. Object lessons
often accomplish what all the lectures
in the world fail to do
Quietly and quickly he laid an arm
on the counter, swept 1t along the
glass unnoticed by the mob Of women
surging toward the bargc.n Mecca
ahead. He was not seen. His hand
touched the bag, closed over it, drew
it to him, dropped 1t safely into his
pocket.
Was he pickpocket or bishop?
He certainly felt like the former
Never had he felt 50 abject, so crimi-
nally miserable, as when he pushed his
way out of that shop, for to carry out
his object lesson necessitated giving
up that anticipated companionship on
his walk. SO he went on out and down
town alone, wondering why the police
did not take him by the arm, why no
one pointed the finger Of scorn, while
that wretched gold thing was glitter
ing so brightly in his pocket.
His parochial visit was not pleasant;
his walk was not pleasant: nothing
was pleasant. He was obliged to eat
a solitary lunch, as Aline had rounded
out her shopping expedition by lunch.
Ing at her mothers. Even the tele.
phone bell did not ring, as he half ex.
pected 1t might Nothing happened
and he and that bag seemed to be the
only occupants Of that quiet house.
Allne reached home just in time to
dress for dinner Then he had q visitor,
who detained him until the last mo.
ment so he had no chance for sight
OF Aline until he found her at the
table.
He had pictured her distrait wor-
ried, had planned 1t all--what she
should say and he should answer and
what the result would be-but the best
laid plans of mice and men gang aft
agley, and he was disappointed. Aline
was simply radiant, hesitating, having
put on the blue dress he was so fond
Of and looking just as she had looked
in those days when she had first lured
him from sermons and from services
by the magic of her charm.
She had seen old friends by chance,
had lunched with group of favorite
aunts and cousins who had made much
Of her and had found just the desired
bit of lace at that sale. The day had
been Il success from start to finish
"You didn't lose your purse, did
your The bishop felt impelIed final
ly to jump into the ditch of his own
digging. Allne looked her astonish-
ment.
lose my purser she said. "Why,
no, Of course, | didn't! What a fun.
ny question, James! Just because
lost that pln-or, rather, it lost itself
you needn't think | am going to lose
everything else own"
Are you sure you have your purseY
The bishop was obviously perplexed
at her answer
Jimmie" she said, Il am going to
send for an alienist. You certainly
have softening of the brain. My purse
is up in my bureau drawer at this very
moment"
The bishop was growing excited.
"Go and look for It," he interrupted.
81 know it is not there"
Aline was staring at him with mark.
ed wonder In her blue eyes. Jim
mie, listen" she said, emphasizing her
words by tapping the table with the
end Of Il spoon. MY purse is In my
drawer, where l put 1t when came
home unless you have stolen it."
Perhaps | have" The bishops face
was a study in crimson, and he spoke
in a loud, dictatorial way. Go and
get It,"
Aline's eyes filed with tears, She
had never heard her husband speak
in that way before. She was hurt and
little frightened though she would
not show it.
Certainly" she said in very digui-
fled tone, sweeping ont Of the room,
leaving the bishop as hewildered as he
was excited. He was beginning to
feel badly that she was about to be so
shocked, but surely there was never
more glaring example of her carelesS
ness than this. To think that she had
brought her bag home with her when
all the time
Flying footsteps, flashing eyes n cold