The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-09-08
The Bishops
Experiment
A Story of a Lost
Pin.
BY KATE r.. DUNNE.
BY KATE r.. DUNNE.
Copyright, 1910, by American Press
Association.


reproachfully over the coffee urn.
which had hidden her piquant face
from her husbands adoring glance.
Il wasn't careless. It was the washer
woman. If you must blame somebody,
James, blame her. OF course 1 didn't
mean to leave pearl pin-and espe-
c1ally 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 at
the sight of her slender, dainty figure,
and that afternoon she looked even
more attractive than usual to him
among crowd Of commonplace wom-
en-. He hurried to catch up with her,
but she, too, was walking fast and had
turned into Pierce's 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
muf, 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 it along the
glass unnoticed by the mob of women
surging toward the bargain Mecca
ahead. He was not seen. His hand
touched the bag, closed over it, drew
it to him, dropped it safely into his
pocket.
Was he pickpocket or bishop?
He certainly felt like the former.
Never had he felt SO 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
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 it might. Nothing happened,
and he and that bag seemed to be the
only occupants Of that quiet house.
Aline reached home just in time to
dress for dinner. Then he had a visitor,
who detained him until the last mo-
ment, so he had no chance for a sight
OF Aline until he found her at the
table,
He had pictured her distract, wor-
ried, had planned it 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,
mad 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 success from start to finish.
You didn't lose your purse, did
you? The bishop felt impelled final
~ to jump into the ditch Of his own
digging. Aline looked her astonish-
ment.
lose my pursev' she said. "Why
no, of course, I didn't! What a fun
ny question. James! Just because l
lost that pin-or, rather. it lost itself
you needn't think 1 am going to lose
everything else own
"Are you sure you have your purse p"
The bishop was obviously perplexed
at her answer.
Jimmie" she said, II 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
II know it is not there .
Aline was staring at him with mark
ed wonder in her blue eyes. "Jim-
mic, listen" she said, emphasizing he1
words by tapping the table with the
end of a spoon. my purse is in my
drawer, where l put it 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
a little frightened. though she would
not show it.
Certainly" she said in very digni-
fed tone, sweeping out Of the room.
leaving the bishop as bewildered as he
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