The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1872-05-11
THE UMBRELLA GIRL.
BY L. A. MARIA CHILD.

BY L. A. MARIA CHILD.
A young girl, the only daughter of a
poor widow, removed from the country
to Philadelphia to earn her living by
covering umbrellas. She was very
handsome, with glossy black hair, large.
beaming eyes and clips ikewet coral. -
She was just at that susceptible age
when youth is ripening into woman
hood, when The soul begins to be per-
vaded by "that restless rrinciple--Rhic
impells poor humans to seek perfection
| in union
| At a hotel near the store for which
she worked, an English traveller called
Lord Henry Stuart, had taken lodgings.
He was strikingly handsome man,
and of princely carriage. As this dis.
tlngulshed stranger passed to and from
the hotel, he encountered the umbrella
girl, and he was attracted by her I'M
common beauty. He easily traced her
to the store, where he soon after went
to purchase an umbrella This was
followed up by presents of flowers, chats
by the wayside, and invitations to
walk or ride, all of which were grateful
ly accepted by the unsuspecting rus
tic; for she was as ignorant of the dam
| gers OF city as were the SQUIRRELS of
her native fields. He was merely play-
ing game for temporary excitement.
She with head full of romance, and a
heart melting under the influence of
love, was uncOnsciously etl1angering
the happiness Of her whole life.
Lord Henry invited her to visit the
public gardens on the Fourth of July.
In the simplicity of her heart she be-
l1eved all his t1atterirg professions, and
considered herself his bride elect; she
therefore accepted the invitation with
innocent frankness. But she had no
dress tit to wear on such public occa.
sion, with a gentleman of high rank.
whom she verify supposed to be her
destined husband. While these
+h"r,tyLt@ v1vcu III mIIIu, ueI eve
was unfortunately attracted by beau
tlful piece of silk belonging to her EN-
| ployer. Could she take it, without be
ing seen, and pay for it secretly when
she had earned money enough The
temptation conquered her ia a moment
OF weakness. She concealed the silk,
and conveyed it to her lodgings. 1t
was the first thing she had ever stolen.
and her remorse was painful She
would have carried it back, but she
dreaded discovery. She was not sure
that her repentance would be met in a
spirit of forgiveness
On the eventful Fourth of July she
came out in her dress. Lord Henry
complimented her upon her elegant ap-
pearnnce, but she was not happy. On
their way to the gardens, he talked to
her IN manner which she d1dnot COM
prehend. Perceiving this, he spoke
more explicitly. The guileless young
creature stopped, looked in his face
with mournful reproach, and burst
into tears. The nobleman took her
hand kindly, and said ssMy dear.
are you an innocent girl 2"
Z" [ am, am, she replied, with con.
vulsive sobs. "Oh what have / ever
done, or said, that yon should ask me
such question 2"
The evidently sincerity of her words
stirred the deep fountains of his better
nature :" Ii you are innocent said
he, "God forbid that 1 should make
you otherwise. But you accepted nv
invitations and presents so readily, that
L supposed you understood me. ="
What could l understand said
she, expect that you intended to
make me yonr wifes"
Though reared amid the proudest
distinctions of the rank, he felt no in
cllnatlon to smile. He blushed and
was silent. The heartless convention.
alitles OF the world stood rebuked in
the presence of aflectionate SIMPLICITY
tie conveyed her TO her humble home.
and babe her farewell with thankful
! CONSCIOUSNESS that he had done no ir
retrlevable injury to her future pros
poets. The remembrance of her would
be to hun as the recollection of last
year butterflies. With her, the wound
was deep. In the solitude Of her cham
Der she wept in bitterness of heart
over her ruined air castles. And that
dress which she had stolen to make an
appearance betting a bride Oh
what If she should be discovered! And
would not the heart of her poor wild
owed mother break if she should ever
know that her child was a thief2
Alas her wretched ferboding prov
ed too true. The silk was traced to
nef' she was arrested on her way to
the store, and draggad to prison. There
she refused all nourisbment and went
necessarily. On the fousth dav the
Keeper called on Isaac T. Hopper. and
informed him that there was a vonno
girl IN prison who appeared to be inter
~ f1endless, and determined to die nv
starvation. The kind-hearted Friend
Immediately went to her assistance
He found her lying on the floor of her
cell, with her face buried in her hands
sobblng as if her heart would break
de tired to comfort her, but could oh.
tain no answer.
Leave us alone" said he to the
Keeper Perhaps she will speak to
me, If there is no one to hear When
they were LETT alone together. he put
back the hair from her temples, laid
his hand kindly on her beautiful head.
and said IN soothing tones: INV
child. consider me as thy father. Tell
me all thou hast done. If thou hast
taken this silk, let me know all about
1t L will do for thee as would for
my own daughter; and / doubt not
that | can helm thee ont of A., l.ac1