Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-01-17

Twigs
1t had been agreed that [ should
escort Mary Jane to the halls of Twig.
1t was a fine night apparently, but /
took my umbrella 1t was a new one.
surmounted by an alligator's head in
German silver Fervently | invoked
Jupiter Pluvius to befriend me, and
hoped that Johnson would leave his UNI
brella at home.
it was less than ten minutes walk,
but there was time enough to show
little preliminary tenderness, if not to
put the grand question itself. With an
artless girl like Mary Jane it was best
to approach such a subject by de-
grees.
"'Twas such a night as this" said
softly, g when you and l, Mary Jane,
trod the grassy turf beside that muir
muring brook"
80, [ remember she exclaimed,
laughing in her guileless way. Il know
what you are going to say. That was
the time you fell over the stile, running
away from the bull. And your nose
was done up n sticking plaster, you
know; and you scratched my face with
it, sir"
L had forgotten that circumstance;
bat what did it matter?"
" Yes, Mary Jane, [ said passiOnately
" And why did my nose Scratch your
face. Because my lips were seeking
that paradise which now"
" Good evening, Miss Bowles."
1t was Johnson. l saw his grin in the
moonlight, and-confusion. he had
brought his umbrella.
There was little dancing at Twigs,
but | had no pleasure in it. My mind
was full OF Johnson's umbrella. 1t
came before my diseased vision like
Macbeth's dagger. I clutchcd at it, and
I had it not
Time wore on. | stood at the win
dow alone, and looked at the weather
Heavy clouds obscured the moon.
Heavy drops began to fall Then the
temptation had me in its grip.
. His umbrella" [ grasped. "I-Tll
hide it."
T." It's a-going to be nasty night after
all, said hated voice at my elbow.
" | belive only you and | have brought
umbrellas. There'll be an awful scrim-
age for cabs. Luckily we haven't far to
walk"
He was grinning moro than ever, but
he could not have heard me. A cab
would not suit him, of course He
wanted to walk home with Mary Jane,
slowl VERY slowly, so that-frenzy !
would do the deed would throw his
umbrella
go, Sam, do take me down to re-
freshments! [ asked Mr., Johnson, but
he has forgotten me-"
She looked up into my face so be-
witchingly that my heart thnmped as if
it were door-knocker in the grasp of a
demon pOstman. He knew she was
thlrstlng for claret-cup, and yet he left
her. Careless brute What husband
he would make Whereas in me-in
me-she would find
" Mary Jane [ whispered, as we left
the giddy crowd that stood around the
liquids, 8 Mary Jane, may l see you
homer
" If you are a good boy perhaps you
may. But here's Mr.. Johnson, and I
owe him dance"
He took her away, but she looked
back at me with a smile. [ really never
saw such q artless girl in my life.
And now, to make assurance doublv
sure, crept up stairs to the room where
the umbrellas had been left. The gas
was out and the window open. The
melancholy voices Of divers cats seemed
to protest against the crime, but my
nerves were firm. I could see nothing.
No matter. knew where my enemy
had put his umbrella. CROPPED for it.
| grasped it by the terruled end Just
then fOot-step startled me. | rushed
to the window and dropped the hateful
thing into the black abyss below. There
was q splash. | felt sardonic iov. He
had brought his umbrella for fear of
rain. Well, it might do its duty in the
waterbutt
listened. All was quiet. The next
room was in darkness. There could be
no one there. [ went down to the re-
freshment-room, drank glass of wine,
cllatted a while with Mrs Twig, and re-
covered my self-possession. Then [
sought Mary Jane. Johnson had Just
crossed the room to her whenI entered.
Suddenly she was seized with violent
lit Of coughing. | ran for a glass of
water. When returned the coughing
became worse than ever. Yet that I'M
feeling monster, Johnson, grinned till I
thought the corners Of his mouth would
meet IN the nape of his neck.
When | asked if she felt better. Mary
Jane went off again; and presently the
cough was so bad that she had to leave
the room. [ remarked to Johnson that
! 81 10 hoy-o ao,,cl,+ Il
he coughed. No doubt she had been
out on the balcony with him to see
whether the rain had ceased. But wait
a little, my grinning friend
Every body was now going away.
With a tiendish delight | saw Johnson
walk up stairs to get his hat and coat
and his Ha ha [ waited till he
came down. He was perfectly cool,
and-did my eyes mock me ?-he had
IN his hand an umbrella | could not
see the handle, but of course it was
mine. The fellows impudence stagger-
ed me. tore up in the room above.
There was no umbrella there. It aeas
mine.
[ went down, resolved to make an ex-
ample of Johnson. He stood in the
hall, lelsurely putting on his gloves.
Excuse me-" l said calmly, "but
you have got my umbrella"
." ! think not" he replied, with his
everlasting grin.
But YOU have, sir. There can be no
mistake about it. Pray is your UNI
brella-handle an alligator's head in
Germ-in solid silver?"
& | think not, " said Johnson, coolly.
He held up the umbrella.
1t was not mine
:. am Ol1ifa ready San, What, IL >