The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-04-14


Tho umbrella was not returned. 1t
became a thing Of the past.
Now the state of feeling between
Miss Armstrong; two cavaliers was
anything but cordial. To say that
they avoided each other in q mild
description. They assisted on being
apart. Instead of having Q social
cigar together, they, whenever they
spent an evening in, sat apart in
moody unapproacbability. Toward
spring matters grew still worse, and
Mr.. Kennedy became oblivious Of his
former friends existence. He, more
over, ceased going to No. 8 entirely,
and to Mr.. Courtenay's amazement
appeared to have made up his mind
to dissipation. Probably this did not
agrco with his health, for toward the
middle of March he became invisible
for several days, and it was reported
that he was i'll. So it happened that,
one windy March evening, neural
gia and loncsomencss conquered pride,
and he sent messenger 10 know if
Courtcnay would come over.
Courtcnay was really shocked at
the change in his friends appearance,
and was so cordially sorry for him
that Mr.. Kenncdy's reserve utterly
relaxed.
You're a good fellow, Courtenay +;
but it isn't neuralgia altogether that
is using me up. There arc things
worse than neuralgia, by George
His hearer replied: OF course-of
course there are
There's nothing resumed the in
withdrawing in the world, and I
hopo nothing in the next, as bad as
womcnp
'Women?' echoed his surprised
companion.
They are tho Enthusiastically
FGcorge I never saw woman who
had a heart. Did you?'
Mr. Courtcnay wondered wildly
whether the lady across the street
possesses one; but he only said,
vaguely:
"A rather strong statement
Mr.. Kennedy nodded grimly.
You'll come to my conclusion
you're on the way to it now. You
have been ever since that confoundcd
umbrella matter. l say old fellow,
I've great mind to save you from
yourself. Eh? 2
L do not follow you. But go ahead
by all means
ga month ago." resumed Mr.. Ken
nedy, solcmnl y-'just month ago
to-nighL-I went over 10 Number 8 10
make a call. Frankly, went more
than that-to ma lie declaration /;
and I had every reason to think I'd be
accepted, if smiles and bushes and
all that are signs. We went into the
conservatory 10 look at the stars,
ond / then and there made fool Of
myself, and made q declaration at
the same time. 1 was standing in
draught staring at tho sky-1 know
that's the way 1 60. this neuralgia
and when had finished, and stood
there, feeling that life or death de-
pended O. her answer, what do you
think she said?'
Mr. Courtenay responded, in strange
ly mufflcd torres. that he hadn't an
idea.
Give a guess!
II can't. Go ahead"
"Shc said and 1 could havo sworn
she was laughing: why Mr.. Kennc.
dy, don't you know I've made vow?
I'm going TO marry some one.' L
gasped out: 'WhoT 'Tho person
who returns my umbrella. Con-
found umbrellas l. finished Mr.. Ken
nedy, savagely kicking the table leg.
Mr. Courtenay's face, surrounded by
wreaths of tobacco smoke, was
very solemn indeed. 1t was more
solemn still the next morning at the
brcakfas!-table For almost y week
it was as delorous as the weather,
and not once did she sit IN bis accus-
toned place at the front window or
call at No. g.
"Frank," he shouted one morning
across the hall, "lend me your umbrelc
Ia, will you? I can't find either OF
mine"
There was o sound of rummaging
in Mr.. Kcnncdy's apartment; then
an umbrella came flying across tho
passage and landed on the door-mat.
you'd better loose it some where
down town, growled the owner. l
never want 10 see it again.
In q similar gloomy mood, Mr.
Courtenay began 10 perambu!ate the
rainy and muddy streets. Whether
bis state of mind made him desper-
ately careless and oblivious of his
fellow pedestrians is uncertain. AT
any rate, he camo 10 violent contact
with n truck man, and was sent Stag
gering bIindIy back into a doorway
bv tho force Of the conclusion. AS
for the umbrella, it looked like a
wretkcd vessel, for three of its ribs
were Eroken, and the stick, minus
the handle, pointed protcstinSIyl up.
ward. The handle was still clutched
lin Mr.. Courtncy's hand, but chat TOO
seemed suddenly 10 have become rick
cty. AS he tossed it angrily against
the wall it fell back disjolnted, and
a little roll Of papers tumpled at Mr.
Courlenay's very feet. Fore once
lin his life, and only once, the latter
individual was betrayed into using
his friend Kennedy's expression, "By
George"
lie did not go down town, but re-
turned home and shut himself up I'll
after dinner.--At seveu o'clobk be