A lesson for wives A gentleman holding a high official position in the courts of law h ii paris during the long vacation went in company win wih his wife on a tour of pleasure in belgium after atter having traveled through this interesting te country they were returning home by the railway tb the P husband with his mind quite a at X rest like a man blessed with an untroubled conscience while the lady felt that uncomfortable sensation which arises from the recollection of some imprudence or ora a dreadin dread adif of some approaching danger ahei they were near the front frontier ler ier the lady could no longer restrain her hex uneasiness leaning towards her hex husband she whispered to him 41 have lace in my portmanteau take it and conceal it that it may ma y not be seized cl what as a smuggler exclaimed the husband wit with a voice between astonishment an affright it is beautiful M malines affa n 8 lace and cost a great deal replie 1 ji the lady winve we are not quite ne near the custom house hasten a and ann N conceal it it is impossible jl X cannot do it said said sald the gentleman on the contrary it is very easy was the reply the lace will rt in the bottom of your hat bat Y bit do you recollect rejoined the gen tieman inthe the position I 1 occupy 1 but recollect 0 said the ofiel wife there is not an instant to lo io seand this lace cost me 1500 fr francs 4 nes m 60 during the conversation the train rapidly approached the dreaded station imagine the consternation of the worthy magistrate who had always been in the habit of considering things with calm and blow slow deliberation thus unexpectedly placed in a position so go embarrassing and so critical overcome and perplexed by his difficulties and losing all presence of lindhe mind he allowed his wife to put the lace in his hat bat and having placed it on his head heal he forced it down almost to his eare care and then than resigned himself to fate at acthia this station the travellers trav ellers were invited to come out of the carriage and to walk into the room where the customhouse custom house hoube agents were assembled the gentleman concealed his hia uneasiness as best he could and handed banded his passport with an air of assumed indifference when his position as a judge became known the officials of t the 0 customhouse custom house immediately hastened to tender their respects and declared they considered it quite unnecessary to examine the luggage la belled with the thu name of one who occupied such a high and important situation in the stafe never had bad the magistrate more sincerely valued the respect attached to his position and if a secret remorse for a moment disturbed his hia mind at least llast he breathed more freely he recollected the danger had passed alid arid and that the violation of the revenue laws he bad committed would escape discovery with this comfort comfortable abl abi e assurance and while a severe examination was passing on the property of other passengers the head bead of the customhouse and the commander of the local gendarmerie gendar merie merle having heard of the arrival of BO so distinguished a per person sori sorl came to offer him their respects to their profound saluta the judge responded by im jm mediately med fately raising hisham his hat with tho the utmost politeness could he be dc da less but alas in his polite obel r sance BO so rapid and BO so volun voluntary larv lary he had forgotten the contents of hi IA hat bat he had scarcely raised it from his head bead when a cloud of lace rushed out covering him from head ta t foot as with a large marriage veil what language can dese deec describe ribe Tibe the confusion ot the detected amu smuggler gieri giery the despair of the wife the amusement of the spectators and the as ast f ment of the custom customhouse house off meers officers at the scene the offense offence was too public to be overlooked ea with many espre expressions anions of regret on the part of the authorities the magistrate was detained till the tho matter master should be investigated ex exi