HE WAS SORRY HE SPOKE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5882, 7 October 1885, Page 4

HE WAS SORR Y HE SPOKE .

A Belgian bridegroom being about to| start for Paris on his honeymoon .tour, was! informed by his' bride that'shel thought of! concealing several thousand francs' worthi of lace about her, hoping by its sale^to 1 pay the cost of'their journey. The bride-) groom was not smitten with this frugal! project, and pointed out that there were' Custom House officers and a femalo! searcher at Ercqueliaes, who were ,sorao-! times struck with an unaccountable fancy, for examining passengers' pockets.' This, he stud, being a timid man, and his bride, | to humour him, promises to give , up h^r, play ; but, of course, she secreted tho luce all the sume, without telling him anything about it. As the train op-* proached thy French frontier the husband 1 reflected that if his wife were not searched; his fears would be mocked at ns having been groundless, and he would start, on! -hia marriage career with his, prestige j imparied. This was not desirable, but! rather was }t essential that he should from: the very outset assert his infallibility ; so when the train stopped at Ercqueliaes, und -tho passengers alighted, the Belgian bridegoom left his bride's side for a moment, aud sailing up to v Custom House officer, * whispered,' " I think if you Bearch that lady yonder you may find some lace." TIIO officer winked, and tho happy bride was accosted with an invitation to walk into the female searcher's room. She' turned pale and tottered, but was led away, and tivo minutes later dismal sounds of hysterics wero heard. Then tho officer re-apponrcd, and said to the horrified huabiiud, "'Thiiuk you, air, it is a good capture. The lady will be tuken to prison, and half tho fine will go to you."