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

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ever since that confounded umbreIl
matter. / say, old fellow, I've a grea
mind to save you, as the preachers say
from yourself. Eh?
Il don't follow you. But go ahead, b
all means.
A month ago, resumed Mr.. Kennedy
soIemnly, ijust month tonight, I wen
over to Number 8 to make q CALL
Frankly, went for more than that-t
make declaration; and I had ever,
reason to think I'd beaccepted, If smile
and bushes and all that are again. Mis-
Armstrong was alone, and was playinl
some sentimental thing or other on tn
piano; aud, by George! how sentimen
tai felt myself! It makes me sicl
now to think of it. We went into tn
conservatory to look at the stars, and
then and there made q fool of myself
and made declaration at the SAM
time. was standing in draught star
ing at the sky-I know that's the way
got this neuralgia-and when I hat
finished, and stood there feeling that lifi
or death depended on her answer, wha1
do you thidk she said?
Mr.. Courtenay responded, In strange.
ly muff1ed tones, that he hadn't an idea
Give q guess y
i can't. Go ahead
She said, and I could have sworn sht
was laughing, why, Mr.. Kennedy
don't you know I've made a vow? I'm
going to marry some one.' Igasped out
Why? The person who returns my
umbrella Confound umbrellas! y finish.
ed Mr.. Kennedy, savagely knicking thf
table leg.
Mr.. Cour.enay's face, surrounded by
wreaths of tobacco smoke, was very SOL
emn indeed. 1t was more solemn still
the next morning at the break fast-table
For almost week it was as dolorous as
the weather, and not once did he sit in
his accustomed place at the front wins
dow or call at No g.
Frank he shouted one morning
across the hall, lend me your umbrella,
will you? 1 can't find either of mine.
There was sound of rummaging in
Mr.. Kennedy's apartment then an
umbrella came flying across the passage,
and landed on the door mat.
You'd better lose it somewhere down
town. growled the owner. Il never
want to see it again.
In similar gloomy mood, Mr.. Court
enay began to perambulate the rainy
and muddy streets. Whether his state
of miad made him desperately careless
and obliviOus of his fellow, pedestrians
is uncertain. At any rate, he came in
violent contact with q truckman, and
was sent staggering blindly back into a
doorway by the force of his concussion.
AS for the umbrella, it looked like q
wrecked vessel, for three of its ribs were
broken, and the stick, minus the handle,
pointed protestingly upward. The ham
die was still clutched in Mr. Courtenay's
hand, but that too seemed suddenly to
have become rick ETY.. AS he tossed it
angrily against the opposite wall it fell
back disjointed, and a little roll of pa.
pers tumbled at Mr.. COurtenay's very
the latter individual was betrayed into
using his friend Kennedy's favorite ex-
preston, By George!'
He did not go down town, but return
ed home and shut himself up till after
dinner. At o'clock he might have
been seen crossing Street, with a
disreputable looking umbrella in his
hand, which just held together, aud that
was all. Bearing this, he entered Miss
Armstrong; presence, and answered
her merry inquiry as to where he had
been the last week, briefly.
I've been finding your umbrella
Here it is.'
Somehow it took great while for
Miss Armstrong to understood how it
bad come about. She was freshly amaZ-
ed every five minutes to think that ''her
identical umbrella" had been all this
time in Mr.. Kennedy's possession, Just
across the street. And to think, besides,
that she had taken Mr.. Kennedy's UNI.
brella on the horse-car It was the very
strangest thing that ever happened, and
she must go straight and tell mamma all
about it.
But you have not done your part, in
terposed Mr.. Courtenay. You said the
finder would be suitably rewarded
For returning a aUhole umbrella
Thanks will pay for broken one,' re.
piled Miss Armstrong, saucily.
DO you think SO? But you have to
keep your vow besides, said Mr. Court
enay, with perfact gravity.
She looked at him with wide-eyed
surprise, then flushed and faltered as
she asked
What vow?'
ITO marry the person who returned
your umbrella
oh! was the Mortified response. Did
Mr. Kennedy
Speaking of Mr.. Kennedy, that indi-
vidual was interrupted as he was light
ing his first cigar on the following morn
ing by tap at the door, at which ap-
peared Mr.. Courtenay holding an um.
brella.
Miss Armstrong returns your um-
brella with thanks, and apologies fol
having unknowingly exchanged with
you. You have had hers four months
and unfortunately broke it yesterday
when you lent it to me. She'd like you
to accept the contents of the handle Of
hers, and she insists on your taking this
photograph. 1t is no more than right
siuce you've carried the proofs about sc
long. Old fellow he added, breaking
into long repressed laugh, you'll have
to be content with the photograph.
She's promised the original to me-