Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-06-27

Two days later appeared an advertise.
nQnt in tho 4osuId fn khio ofEant.

Two days later appeared an advertise.
ment IN the Herald to this effect:
OST, on Tuesday last, on an
IL Eighth Avenue car, at O'Clock
Black Alpaca Umbrella, with orna-
mented ivory handle. The finder will
be rewarded il it is returned to No. 8
- Street.
HIM = said Miss Mary Armstrong, as
she glanced over this paragraph in the
mornings paper; 'that'll never bring
back the umbrella
In the bachelor apartments across the
street the advertisement was differently
| commented upon. Mr.. Frank Kennedy,
who had been tilted back In his arm
chair, when his eye fell upon it, sudden
ly sprang to his feet with an excIama-
ton.
BY George, I'll win that wager =
| i wonder he continued, apprehen.
sively, If Courtenay III see it? I'll bor-
row his morning paper, for fear he will.
Why, what royal road to an introduc-
ton this is! I'll take an umbrella any
umbrella-my own would answer the
description-nO, by GEORGE! it's too
much worn out, and I'd be ashamed of
| it-and go over and present myself.
/ Courtenay III be furiOus-ha! ha By
George, though, how did this umbrella
get SO shabby? I've only had it four
weeks. I'll 60 buy new one, black al.
paca, with carved ivory handle, and
introduce myself to Miss Armstrong
with that. l feel that box of cigars al
ready in my pocket.
Mr.. Kennedy walked across the hall
and tapped thrice, each time louder,
- 70
| swer, he called through the key yh0le.
No reply. Mr.. Kennedy shook the
door, then hailed the chamber maid.
where's Mr. CourtenayY
Gone down town, Sir, half an hour
ago.
Gone down town! The deuce he has!'
mu ttered Mr.. Kennedy, searching dis
tractedly for hat and gloves. I say = to
the chamber er-maid-sWhere's the near
est umbrella store?
Right round the corner
Run out and buy me an umbrella,
will you? There's good soul! Take
this bill. and keep the change. and get
me black alpaca umbrella (ladies' size,
remember that) with an ornamented
ivory handle. Understand?'
All right, Sir"
And hurry-dov
The maid vanished, and Mr.. Kennedy
began to make himself Irresistible as far
as haste would allow. He met the re
turning chamber maid at the door, in
spected the umbrella in the hall, and
then triumphantly marched across the
street. He rang the bell, inquired. con-
fidentIy for Miss Armstrong and was
ushered in. With umbrella still in hand
| he walked into the parlor, but was ar.
rested and stricken speechless almost on
the threshold by the sight of his chum.
Ellis Courtenay, who, also holding IN
umbrella in hand, occupied an easy
chair by the table. Mr., Courtenay was
dressed with suspicious nicely, and the
umbrella he had was apparently new.
The two occupants of the parlor faced
each other in blank surprise which. in
Mr.. Courtenay's case, changed to amuse-
ment, AS for Mr.. Kennedy, after ut-
tering explosively his favorite BY
George? p he subsided into a chair. and
began. feebly.
sHow-how in
sSh! Some ones comingu
Miss Armstrong, opening the parlor
door, had to hide her face behind her
handkerchief for moment ere she could
advance with requisite gravity. Her
two knights of yesterday were consid-
ably embarrassed, but managed to pre-
sent themselves, their excuses, and their
umbrellas.
by GeorgeP finished Mr.. Kennedy;
being on the car, you know, I felt, as 1
might say, interested, you know
I'm much obliged to you, Pm sure.'
And this isn't the umbrella?'
Pm sorry to say, it isn't
NJ Co,rfopou rcoo tn
Il should have been glad to have re-
turned you your umbrella he said, po
litely. 'As it is, I can only hope it may
be restored
sAs do myself, I assure yOu,' Miss
Armstrong responded. Not for the
UNI bl elias sake, but for the sake OF fifty
dollars and some photograph proofs,
which were screwed in the handIe.'
'Eh! By George!
Constraint was forgotten in the sud
den surprise created by this statement.
Before half an hour had passed the three
were quite at ease together. They pass
ed from speculation about the fate of the
umbrella to the weather, and to locality
and season, to amusements and to music
When they left, it was with the under
standing that there might be future
visits.
However, neither OF the young gen.
tlemen had his cup OF satisfaction full
to the brim, because of the other. Not
sentence did either utter as they cross,
ed the street. In the upper hall of the
boarding house at last Mr.. Kennedy
broke silence.
Il say, Courtenay, when did you see
that advertisement
About eight this morning. was the
laconic response, as the one addressed
fumbled with his key.
And you went down town said
Il always go down down
"Oh, pshaw! Don't be 30 high and
mighty. You went down town and
bought an umbrella! Oh, no, no, no y
And Mr.. Kennedy's voice grew fainter
as he retired into the depths of bis dres
sing room. Presently he emerged there
from, and shouted across the hall:
We'll, We neither of us won the cigars.
Both got introduced the same minute,
by George! Let's go halves on box
All right responded Mr.. Courtenay,
and shut the door, soliloquizing. as he
strolIed to the front window and gazed
| - the nnnn.itn sAo If f,r