The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1878-03-15

freshments! asked Mr.. johnson, but
he has forgotten me-"
She looked up into my face 80 bewItch-
ingly that my heart thumped as if it
were a door-knocker in the grasp of g
demon postman. lie knew she was
thirsting for claret cup, and yet he left
her. Her. Careless brutel What a
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, Mary Jane, may l see you
homer"
"If you are q good boy perhaps you
may. But here's Mr.. johnson, and
owe him a dance"
He took her away, but she looked
back ut me with smile. really never
saw such an artless girl in my life.
" And now, to make assurance doubly
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. | could see nothing
No matter. I knew where nv enemy
had put his umbrella. / grooped for it.
! grasped 1t by the ferruled end. Just
then a footstep startled me. IIushed to
the window aud dropped the hateful
thing into the Mack abyss below. There
was q splash. l felt sardonic Joy. He
had brought his umbrella for fear of
rain. Well, it might 90 its duty in the
waterbutt.
I listened. All was quiet. The next
room was in darkness There could be
no one there. / went down to the re-
freshment-reom, drank n glass of wine,
chatted q while with Mrs. Twig, and re-
covered my selfpOssession. Then l
sought Mary Jane. Johnson had Just
crossed the room to her when / entered.
Suddenly she was seized with a violent
fit of coughing. / ran for glass of water.
When I returned the coughing became
worse than ever Yet that unfeeling
monster, johnson, grinned till thought
the corners of his mouth would meet in
the nape of his neck.
When | asked il she felt better, Mary
Jane went off again and presently the
cough was 50 bad that she had 10 leave
the room. | remarked TO johnson that
she must have caught cold and then 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
Everybody was now going away.
With a fiendish delight / saw johnson
walk upstairs 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 staggered me. | tore
Il -.
umbrella there. 1t acas mine
I went down, resolved to make an ex-
ample of johnson. He stood in he hall
leisurely putting on his gloves.
Excuse me-" l said calmly, but
you have got my umbrella"
{" think not" he replied with his
everlasting grim
- But you have, sir. There can be nc
mistake about it. Pray is your um-
brella-handle an alligator's head in Germ
in solid silver p
81 think not" said johnson, coolly.
He held up the umbrella.
II was not mine
81 am not quite ready, Sam. What's
the matter? Oh, DEAR And Mrs.
Twig says she has lent every umbrella
she has. Are You sure you brought it ?
Oh, thank you, Mr.. Johnson Good
night Sam Mr.. johnson will see me
home. 1t isn't raining much, and you
won't get wet if you run all the way"
| don't know whether l got wet or not
For that matter, / don't know how l got
home. l believe the Twigs thought
had been drinking too much. Perhaps
had, or how could I have thrown the
wrong umbrella out of the window. 1t
was found some weeks later, and, when
it was brought 20 me in PUPPY condition
by young TWig. who Is the smallest Of
wags, he suggested that 1 should adopt
waterbu and umbrella as a crest.
johnson did propose to the little
B0wles' during that walk home. They
are married now. That umbrella bust
ness remained a mystery, but / am still
Convinced Of the artlessness of Mary Jane.