Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1884-06-19
THE CAPTAINS UMBRELLA.

pfettlest Shi va tho
gallant captain fell desperately in love
with her. He went home in the bright
mistiness of an early summer morning
in a high fever OF excitement, for he be-
heved that Miss Bracegirdle viewed him
with considerable favor.
The next afternoon he went to call ON
her. She seemed TO him even more
beautiful in the daylight, and in a sim
ple dress he became momently more
and more in love. And now he fancied
that not only Miss Bracegirdle, but her
mother, regarded him with kindly eyes.
In that case he had but to so in and
win. He resolved so TODD. and left the
house so full of his passion and his
thoughts that he forgot-his umbrella!
This was no unusual circumstance. Cap
tain Fortescue was given 10 forget
ting his umbrella, and leaving it in a
handsome cab or any other convenient
place.
Thus it happened that this which he
had o left was the only one he pos
sessed. The next day he knew Miss
Bracegirdle was going to an afternoon
fete at the Botanical Gardens. He in
tended TO meet her there. But II was
showery thunderous weather, and he
felt that to visit the Botanical Gardens
without an umbrella would be danger
Gus and difficult. Besides, an umbrella
is often admirably useful during the
progress of a love affair.
He had learned by accident that the
Bracegirdles we're going oHt shopping
in the morning. He determined, there
fore, TO call and ask the housemaid to
give him his umbr lila. This seemed
exceedingly simple but luck was against
/ Captain Fortescue. The maid who had
admitted him on the day before had
this very morning departed in a four
wheeled cab. with two boxes on the top
of it, her month" being up" 4 new
maid had taken her place-oneo of a less
smiling disposition than the last.
Il called here yesterday afternoon, "
said the captain, "and left my umbrella;
will YOU let me have it?"
Something in the sterness of the eyes
which were upon him made him falter
before he had said the last word Of his
request: il suddenly occurred TO him
that he might find it a little difficult to
prove the umbrella in question was in
deed his own.
"No, thank you,r said the maid 1--WE
had enough of that at my last place.
I'm not going to get into trouble
here. Better take an honest trade,
young man" With which piece Of
advice she shut the door in Captain
Fortescue's face, leaving that officer
astonished, quenched and crestfsllen.
He went straightway and bought a new
umbrella. Armed with this and adj
mirably attired in other respects, he
went to the Botanical Gardens, where
he met Mess BIacegirdle, who seemed
more beautiful, more charming and
more gracious than ever.
As soon as he seemed at all decent he
called again, feeling very contented with
himself and his fate. But when he
asked whether Mrs. Bracegirdle was at
home, and the stern maid eyed him for
a silent, awful instant, his spirits fell
strangely.
"She is not, said the maid, and shut
the door with an abruptness that gave
him q singularly disconsolated feeling,
When, about an hour later, the la
dies came in, and the maid brought
them some tea, she said TO Mrs. Brace
girdle:
IF you please, ms'am, that young
man has been here again who came one
day with the umbrella Dodge. he
asked if you we're at home-of course
he knew you were not-and | suppose
he had some plan for getting into the
house, but | shut the door in his face
and would not listen"
"That's right, Eliza said Mrs.
Bracegirdle. Never give them a
chance TO get inside the hall. There,
been too much of that stealing of coats
and umbrellas in this neighborhood; II
never would happen with a sensible
housemaid. Master Harry leaves hi,
things hanging in the hall, so that il
would be quite easy TO carry off q coat
or umbrella If you left the man there
alone only for a minute. III he is 50
impudent as TO come again, the moment
You see who IL is shut the door.
The next afternoon was Mrs. Brace.
girdle's day 'at home" Captain For.
tescue had not intended to go then; III
wanted the lovely Miss B~racegirdle tc
himself, not surrounded by a crowd Of
admirers. But as he had not been able tc
see her the day before ne determined tc
brave the crowd, and he content il he got
but one smile all his own. And so he pre-
sented himself once more at Mrs. Brace
girdles door, this time knowing hen
TO be within. But when ii was opened
and he c~onfidentialIy framed tn,
phrase not as a query, but as an asser
ton, Mrs. ~Bracegirdle at home? q ane
proposed immediately to enter, tn,
maid said shortly. mo, she is not, and
lrickly shut the door upon him.
No words Ear describe his feelings.
He stared blankly at the handsome door
well shut and firm, that suddenly had
| closed upon him and separated hin
from his love. What conld this awf I'm
I thing mean? Had Mrs. BracegirdI,
heard something-false, of course. ant
uttered by some other base admirer o.
her daughter-which had made her tax,
this cruel step? 1t was Impossible tc
knock again and ask; it was ridiculou,
TO stand staring at the door. He turned
descended the steps and walked dowr
the street.
} Before he had gone half way he met /,
hated rival, a very nice fellow. whom h,
had only begun 10 hate in the last tire,
or four days, since he had noted tina
Miss Bracegirdle sometimes gave hin
very charming and encouraging chances
Captain Forteseue walked on slowly
!, and listened for the confident rat-a-tat.
tat OF his rival. He heard il, lingeret
and looked back. The door was opened
and the visitor instantly admitted.
The unhappy man who had beer
turned away from that same entranc,
sighed heavily, and went away down N.
sunny street, hanging his head. He toll.
himself that it would be only a fool, or
mailman, who could pretend TO mis-
understand so plain a refusal az this
/. Perhaps il was mean. Eind1v n.