Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1878-03-09

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murmuring brook"
ooh, remember she exclaimed,
laughing in her guileless way. 81 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 upin sticking-plaster, you know; and
you scratched my face with 1t, sir %
hal forgotten that circumstance
but 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.'
II was Johnson. cav his grin in the
moonlight, and confusion--he had
brought his umbrella.
There was a little dancing at Twig's,
but had no pleasure in it, My mind
was iullof johnson umhrella. It came
before my diseased vision ike Mscbeth's
dagger | clutched at it, and / had II
nOt,
Time wore on. / stood at the window
alone, and looked out at the weather
Heavy clouds obscured the moon. Heavy
drops began to fall. Then the tempta-
tion had me in its grip.
His umbrella" i ga'ped, "E-Tll
hide it."
It's going to be nasty night, after
al! said hated voice at my elbow.
+" | believe only you and have brought
umbrellas. There'll be an awful scrim.
mage for cabs. Luckily we haven't far
to walk"
He was grinning more 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
slowly very slowly, so that-frepzy 1!
| would do the deed. ! would throw his
umbreha-
"Oh, Sam, do take me down to re-
freshments! | asked Mr.. johnson, but
he has forgotten me"
| She looked up into my face so bewitch-
ingiy that my heart thhmpe6. as if it
were door-knocker in the grasp'ot a
demon postman. lie knew she was
thirsting for claret cup, ard yet'Ke left
her. Her. Careless brute What a
husband he would make Whereas, in
mc--in me-she would find--
Mary Jane" Whispered, rs we left
the giddy crowd that stood around the
liquids, " Mary Jane. may | see you
homer -.
"If you are a good boy perhaps you
may. But here's Hr. Johnson, and |
owe him a dance"
He took her away, hut she looked
back at me with a smile. | really never
saw such an artless girl in my lie.
And now, to make surance dOubly
sure, | crept up stairs to the room where
the umbrellas bad 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. l knew where my enemy
had put his umbrella. grooped for it.
| grasped it by the ieruled end. Just
then q tootstep startled NE. Irushed to
the window and dropped the hateful
| thing into the black abyss below. There
was splash. felt sardonic Joy. lie
had brought his umbrella for lear Of
rain. Wei, il 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-Ioom, drank a glass of wine,
cbatted a while with Mrs Twig, and re-
covered my selfpOssession. Then |
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 ] returned the coughing became
worse than ever. Yet that unIeeliDg
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 eff again and presently the
cough was so bad that she had to leave
the room ! remarked to johnson that
she must have caught cold and then be
.coughed. No doubt she had been out
on the balcony with him to see whether
the rain had ceased. But wait little,
my grinniDg friend
Everybody was now going away.
With fendish 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 bad in his
hand an umbrella! ! could not see the
handle, but of course it was mine. The
fellows impudenCe staggered me. | tore
up into the room above, There was no
umbrella there. 1t was mine
| went down, resolved to make an ex-
ample of johnson. He stood in the hall,
leisurely putting on his gloves.
Excuse me-" said calmly, "but
you have got my umbrella"
" | think not" he replied with his
everlasting grin! -
Z" Bat vOu have, sir There can be no
mistake about it, Pray is your UNI
brella.handIe an a!ligatOr's head in Germ
i'm solid silver
a think not" sad johnson, ceolly,
He held up the umbrella.
1t was not mine
Il am not quite ready, Sam. What's
the matter? Oh, dear And Mrs.
Twig says she has leDt every umbrella
she has. Are you sure you brought it ?
Oh, thank you, Mr.. johnson Good
mig ght Sam Mr., Johnson will see me
home. 1t isn't raining much, and you
won't get wet il you run all the way"
| don't know whether got weter not
For that matter, | don't know how lgot
home. | believe the Twigs thought |
had been drinking too much. Perhaps
had, or how could / have thrown the
wrong umbrella out of the window. 1t
was found some weeks later, and, when
it was brought to me ina pulpY condition
BY young Twig, who is the smallest Of
wags, he suggested that | should adopt a
water.butt and umbrella as crest
johnson did propose to the little
BowIes" during that walk home. They
are married now That umbrella busi.
uess remained mystery, but l am still
convinced of the artlessness of Mary Jane,
I'll - oaoo,l ,kNr,,