The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-05-31
THE UMBRELLA GIRL.

Door widow, removed from the cOun-
try to Philadelphia to earn her living
by covering umbrellas. She was very
handsome, with glossy black hair large
beaming eyes and clips like wet coral
She was just at that susceptible age
when youth is ripening into woman
hOod-when the soul begins to be
pervaded by''that restless principal
which impels poor humans to seek per-
lection in union
At a hotel. near the store for which
she worked, an English traveller, cal
led Lord Henry Stuart, had taken
lodgings. He was a strikingly hand
some man, and of princely carriage.
AS this distinguished stranger passed
to and from the hotel he encountered
the umbrella girl, and was attracted
by her uncommon 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 gratefully accepted by the
unsuspecting rustic; she was as lgno-
rant of the dangers Of a city as were
the squirrels of her native fields. lie
was merely playing game for tenn
pOrarv excitement. She, with head
full of romance, and heart melting
under the influence of love, was un-
consciously endangering 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
believed all his fiattering professions
and considered herself his bride elect
she therefore accepted the Invitation
with innocent frankness. But she had
no dress fit to wear on such public
occasion, with gentleman of high
rank. whom she really supposed to Dc
her destined husband. While these
thoughts revolved in her mind, she
was unfortunately attracted by
beautiful piece of silk belonging to hel
employer. Could she take it withou
being seen, and pay for it secretl.
when she had earned money enough
The temptation conquered her III
:, moment of weakness. She concealed
: the silk. and conveyed it to her lodg
! ings. 1t was the first thing she ha'
:. ever stolen. and her remorse wa
. great. She would have carried it bac
but she dreaded discovery. She wa
not sure her repentance would be me
in spirit of forgiveness.
On the eventful Fourth of July sh
: came out in her new dress. Lor
Henry complimented her upon he
/. elegant appearance. but she was nc
happy. On their way to the garden
q he talked to her in a way she did nc
= comprehend. Perceiving this h
y spoke more explicitly. The guileles
4 Young creature stopped, looked int
:, his face with mournful reproach an
burst into tears. The nobleman too
y her hand kindly. and said:
K MY dear. are you an lnnocel
J. girl!'' ;.
=, =, Il am. am !''she exclaimed wit
20 convulsive sobs. ssOh! what have
- ever done or said. that you should as
= me such strange questions!
The evident sincerity of her wore
20 stirred. the deep fountains of his be
70 ter nature.
10 If YOU are innocent. said he.''Gt
al forbid that / should make you othe
at wise. But you accepted my lnvlt
IN tions so readily that | supposed Y
T understood me.
% .sWhat could l understand, sa
y. she. Except that you intended In go
. faith. to make me your wife
"a Though reared amid the proude
:" distinctions of rank. he felt no incliT
=, ton to smile. He blushed and W
10 silent. The heartless conventional
of the world stood rebuked In t
va presence of affectionate slmphclt
IL He conveyed her to her home. a
. babe her farewell with thankful &C
I'D seriousness that he had done no
10 retrievable injury to her future pr
no poets. The remembrance OF i
" would be to him as the remembran
nd of last years butterflies. with n
in the wound was deep. In the solltu
Iaa of her chamber she wept in blttern'
ra. of heart over her ruined alr-castl
~ And that dress which she had stol
~ to make an appearance beflttlng
ed bride! Oh! what if she should
!. a discovered Would not the heart
her poor widowed mother break
her she should ever know that her en-
nv. was a thief! Alas her wretched 10
The silk y