Connecticut western news., 1910-01-20
The Bishops
 Experiment A Story of a Lost
 Pin. By KATE Y. DUNNE.
By KATE Y. DUNNE.

But, my dear. you are all wrongw exclaimed the bishops wife, looking :epToachfulIy over the coffee urn, which had hidden her piquant face from her husbands adoring glance.
 I wasn't careless. It was the washer woman. If you must blame somebody, James, blame her. Of course 1 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 at 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 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 huff, out of her direct line of vision. Still the old habit. An idea flashed into the bi ~op's mind. Object lessons often accomplish what all the lectures i 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 abiect, 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 net 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 ill 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 dstrait, wor- ried, had planned 1t all-vhat 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 hGd first lured him from sermons ard from services by the magic of her charm.
 She had seen old friends by chance, had lunched with a group of favorite uunts and cousins who had made much of her and had found just tho desired bit of lace at that sale The day had ! been q success from st;rt 60 G:i~N.
 You didn't lose your purse, did y0u?" The bishop felt impelled final ly to jump into the ditch of his own digging. Aline looked her astonish- nent.
 Lose my purser' she said. Why no, of course, 1 didn't. What a fun ry question, James! Just because I lost that pir4-Or, rather. it lost itself :ou needn't think l am going to lose everything else 1 own.''
 Are you sure you have your purse?" 1 The biShap was CJTiously perpleNcd at her answer.
 Jimmie" she said, "I am going to send for an alienist. You certainly have softening of the brain. My purse is up in my bureau drawer at this 7ery 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 i cI wonder in her blue eyes. Jim
 mic, listenr' she said, emphasizing her lords by tapping the table with tho tld of a spoon. My purse is in my drawer, where l put it when 1 came home unless you have stolen it."
 Perhaps T have" The bishops face was a study in crimson, and he spoke in a loud, dictatorial way. "Go and get it."
 Aline's eyes filled with tears. She had never heard her husband speak i1 that way before. She was hurt and ! little frightened, though he would rot show if
 "Certainly." she said in a very digni~ fled tone, sweeping out of the room, u