Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1871-10-06

very pretty, but the one called Mary L
| thought was particularly a pleasant
young lady, and instinctlvely desired to
prolong our walk that we might be bet
ter acquainted.
Having reached the street in which L
dwelt, turned to Miss Mary, and said,
~ live in this street, and as | see you
are going further, you are welcome to
the use of the umbrella, for it is but a
step to my residence. You can return
it at your leisure. Good day."
And leaving them with the umbrella,
which [ knew they would never return,
for I purposely did not give them my
address, / ran home, congratulating my
self at having so pleasantly disposed of
my pest.
Somehow or other, Mary's eyes were
always in my mind, and l should al
most have forgotten about the old UNI
brella, if it were no. for the remem-
brance of her sweet face. After while
[ came to the conclusion that | had
actually fallen in love with Mary; but
who was Mary, and where to find her l
did not know. And then | began to
wish had given my address, that the
umbrella might have been returned to
me.
All this took place in march. Months
passed, and never came across either
Mary or the umbrella. How | wished
for a glimpse of either | cannot tell
you; but | did-awful.
During September | was down at my
friend Wyndham's place, on the sea
coast for week or two; and one day
he and l were out fishing in a yacht,
but noticing storm coming up, we
thought we had better put into the bay
until it cleared up again.
The sky in the west was already black
with the rushing clouds advancing up
the zenith, and as we passed the Point,
on our way in, we noticed boat con-
tanning some parties still fishing, per-
fectly unconscious of the rising storm,
for the trees obscured the western sky,
and overhead was still clear. Wyndham
called my attention to them.
"Good graciousr' exclaimed ], "there
is my umbrellap'
"Wherel" said Wyndham.
"Why, there, in that boat, Wynd-
ham," said I. sI must see the people
in that boat, come what may"
And, turning the yacht around, we
sailed toward them. But we had to
sail round considerable distance and
in the mean time the people in the
boat had evidently noticed the coming
storm, for they were pulling up their
anchor.
The UMBRELLA was sure it was mine
still remained elevated, so could not
see who was beneath it, but my heart
boat little excitedly, for [ hoped it
would be Mary.
We had nearly reached them when
the windy forerunner of the storm struck
the boat, and the next moment it was
overturned, and | saw two ladies and
three men struggling in the water, one
of them clutching tightly to the um-
brella, whose strong ribs actually made
sort of balloon of it, and buoyed her
up, while the wind carried her away
from the others.
"WyndhamT shouted [, "you pick
up the others, and I'll look after this
one."
And tearing off my boots and coat, |
sprang into the water, and swan rapidly
toward her, the wind ct the same time
carrying her toward me. She was terri
bly, frightened, but, seeing me, she seem
ed to take little courage, and exclaim-
ed: "Save me, sir! Oh, what shall [
do?''
Without regarding her questions, |
grasped her under the arms, and told
her to let go the umbrella, and trust
herself to me.
"Now,'' said l, "don't touch me, and
we are all right"
And being an excellent swimmer, [
padded along with my feet, pushing her
in front OF me with my hands, the um-
brella in the meantime taking a journey
into the air.
All this took less than two minutes;
and [ saw with pleasure that Wyndham
had been equally prompt, and had res
cued the other lady and two of the gen.
tlemen-the other of them having swan
ashore-and was now sailing toward us,
the wind carrying him with fearful ve-
locity.
Haul down those SAIL" he cried to
the men, or we'll pass them"
The men were equal in promptitude,
and the sails came down the mast and
tapped over the side, nearly upsetting
the yacht, but at the same time imped-
ing its speed, so that both the lady and
1 were easily pulled aboard. Of course
she tainted after the danger was over,
| and, of course, she proved to be Mary
of the umbrella and, of course again, |
had the pleasure of making her ac
quaintance, which, of course, | did not
fail to improve; and, of course, | fell
more in love than ever.
Well, things were in this state for
some weeks, and at last / thought the
time had come when l would know my
destiny from her lips; so telling Wynd-
ham was going away for stroll to
take few sketches-things knew he
abominated-I just walked off to Mr..
Graham's house-that was Mary's father
hoping to meet her alone.
Taking shady wood path which led
| up to the rear of the house, | stalked
along for some distance, thinking of
what | was about to do, when, happen
ing to glance up, | noticed on the rocks
of the shore my inevitable cotton um-
brella expanded in all its glory.
The umbrella haunted me then, and
l presaged evil from its appearance,
but, nevertheless, | went toward it,
thinking, of course, that the wind and
the tide sthad driven it ashore, which
they had, but not just there.
There it lay, wide open, its top toward
me, and when l reached it, | seized it
by the projection of the stick and lifted
it toward me.
By Jove when / think of the result
] always wonder how | got through it
all for, as | lifted the umbrella, what
| was behind and under it was revealed
and there. comfortably seated on the