The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-01-17


Thought YOU were sweet that way?"
"Perd- o, no, not at all There's
my omnibus. By-by"
Going to propose when he took her |
home from Twig's! By all the powers,
he should not take her home from |
Twig'sl
1t had been agreed that should escort |
Mary Jane to the halls of Twig. 1t was
a fine night apparently, but l took my
umbrella. 1t was a new one, sur
mounted by an alligator's head in Ger
man silver. Fervently / invoked Jupi
ter Pluvius to befriend me, and hoped
that johnson would leave his umbrella
at home.
1t 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 subject by degrees.
"'Twas just such night as this" I
said, softly, "when you and /, Mary
Jane, trod the grassy turf beside that
murmuring brook"
80, | 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, rum
ming away from the bull. And your
nose was done up in sticking-plaster,
you know; and you scratched my face
with it, sir!"
/ had forgotten that circumstance;
but what did it matter?
"Yes, Mary Jane" l said, passion
ately. "And why did my nose scratch
your face? Because my lips we're seek
ing that paradise which now"
Good-evening, Miss Bowles."
1t was johnson. l saw his grin in
the moonlight, confusion he had
brought his umbrella.
There was a little dancing at Twig's,
but / had no pleasure in it. My mind
was full of Johnson's umbrella. 1t
came before my diseased vision like
Macbeth's dagger. l clutched at it, and
/ had it 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
temptation had me in its grip.
"His umbrellaw l gasped. "I-Tll
hide it."
" It's going to be nasty night, after
all" said hated voice at my elbow. II
believe only you and / have brought
umbrellas. There'll be an awful scrim-
mage fer 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-frenzy
would do the deed. / would throw
his umbrella
40, Sam, do take me down to refresh
ments! | asked Mr.. johnson, but he
has forgotten me-"
She looked up into my face so be.
witchingly that my heart thumped as il
it were door-knocker in the grasp of q
demon postman. He knew she was
thirsting for claret-cup, and yet he left
her. Careless brute! What husband
he would make Whereas in me-ir
me--she would find
"Mary Jane," 1 whispered, as we lef
the giddy crowd that stood around the
liquids, Mary Jane, may l see yor
homeW
"If you are good boy perhaps yol
may. But here's MIR. johnson, and
| owe him dance"
t He took her away, but she looked
/ back at me with smile. / really nevel
saw such an artless girl in all my life.
: And now, to make assurance doubly
5 sure, crept up stairs tothe room wher,
/ the umbrellas had been left. The ga
! was out and the windows open. TIL,
t melancholy voices of divers cat
: seemed to protest against the crime, bu
I nv nerves were firm / could see moth
{ ing. No matter. / knew where m,
{ enemy had put his umbrella I gropel
: for it. grasped it by the feruled end
t Just then a footstep startled me.
. rushed to the window and dropped tn
1 hateful thing into the black abyss be
low. There was splash. felt a sar
e donic joy. He had brought his um
n brella for fear of rain. Well, it Nigh
0 do its duty in the water-but!
;. listened. All was quiet. The mex
v room was in darkness. There could b
i no one there. l went down to the re
t freshment-room, drank glass of wine
/ chatted while with Mrs. Twig, and re
e covered my self-possession. Then
l. sought Mary Jane. johnson had jus
IS crossed the room to her when I entered
Suddenly she was seized with violer
e fit of coughing. l ran for glass {
a water. When returned the coughin
became worse than ever. Yet that III
a feeling monster, johnson, grinned till
thought the corners of his mouth woul
d meet in the nape of his neck.
When 1 asked if she felt better, Mar
m Jane went off again; and presently tt
At cough was so bad that she had to lea,
IS the room. / remarked to johnson tn
oh 81 hax md fho,
* coughed. No doubt she had been Of
Iy on the balcony with him to see wheth
Il the rain had ceased. But wait a littl
my grinning friendl
Everybody was now going ava
st With a fiendish delight 1 saw Johns,
e. walk up stairs to get his hat and co
came down. He was perfectly cool, al
IN did my eyes mock me?-he had in h
IN hand an umbrella! l could not see t
handle, but of course it was mine. t
ne fellows impudence staggered me.
was no umbrella there. 1t aoas mine I!
nv went down, resolved to make an e
to ample of johnson. He stood in t
nd hall, leisurely putting on his gloves.
Excuse me-" / said, calmly, {" b
I'M you have got my umbrella.
ed "I think not" he replied, with l
ny everlasting grinl
on But you have, sir. There can be
re. mistake about it. Pray is your u
at brella an alligator's head in Germ
m solid silverY
m, 81 think not" said johnson, cool
,rt He held up the umbrella.
,at It was not minel
az am quite ready, Sam. What's t
I'd, matter? You can't find your umbrell
lat v, dear! And Mrs. Iwlg says she
/ lent every umbrella she has. Arc y
,ut sure you. brought 1T? y, thank W
ed MIR. johnson. Goodnight, Sam; 4
in johnson will see me home. 1t is
If. raining much, and you won't get wet
ON YOU run all the wav."