Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-06-20
THE CAPTAINS UMBRELLA.

ST captain i Oftesclle danceu l0r the DeSt
part of one happy evening with the
.prettiest girl of the season. And the
gallant captain fell desperately in love
with her. He went horne in the bright
mistiness of an early summer morning
in high fever of excitement, for he be-
ieved that Miss Bracegirdle viewed him
with considerable favor. g. ~ q.
The next afternoon he went to call on
her. She seemed to him even more
beautiful in the daylight, and in a sim
pie 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 go in and
win. He resolved so to do. 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 to forget
ting his umbrella, and leaving it in q
handsome cab or any other convenient
place.
Thus it happened that this which he
had now 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 it 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 love affair.
He had learned by accident that the
Bracegirdles we're going out shopping
in the morning. He determined, there
fore, to call and ask the housenaid to
give him his rmbr ella. This seemed
exceedingly simple but luck was against
Captain Fortescue. Tie maid who had
admitted him on the day before had
this very morning departed in a four
wheeled cnb with two boxes on the top
Of it, her "month" being Cup" A new
maid had taken her place--one of a less
smiling disposition than the last.
Il called here yesterday afternoon, p"
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; it suddenly occurred to him
that he might find it a little difficult to
prove the umbrella in question was in
deed his own.
emo, thank you" said the maid; five
had enough of that at my last place.
Tn 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 crestfallen.
{ He went straightway and bought Y new
umbrella. Armed with this and adj
mirably attired in other respects, he
went to the Botanical Gardens, where
he met Mess Bracegirdle, who seemed
more beautiful, more charming and
more gracious than ever.
T As soon as he seemed at all decent he
- CSCllCt lCC11u$3 ely SpAtSAtCs1 "ioIl
himself and his fate. But when he
asked whether Mrs. Bracegirdle was at
home, and the stern maid eyed him for
silent, awful instant, his spirits fell
] strangely.
ttShe is not" said the maid, and shut
the door with an abruptness that gave
him singularly disconsolated feeling.
When, about an hour later, the la
dies came III, and the maid brought
them some tea, she said to Mrs. Brace
@girdle -
@5#spsi'H you please, ma'am, that Young
man has been here again who came one
day with the umbrella dodge. He
asked If you were at home-of course
he knew You We're not-and I. suppose
he had some plan for getting into the
house, butt shut the door in his face
and would not listen" o..
ssThat's right, Eliza" said Mrs.
Bracegirdle. Never give them a
chance to get inside the hall. There's
been too much Of that stealing of coats
and umbrellas in this neighbour od it
never would happen with a sensible
honsemaid. Master Harry leaves his
things hanging in the hall, SO that it
would be quite easy to carry off a coat
OF umbrella if you left the man there
alone only for minute. II he is so
inpudent as to come again, the moment
I you see who it is shut Che door.
The next afternoon was Mrs. Brace
qirdle's day at home" Captain For
tescue had not intended to go then; he
wanted tho lovely Miss Bracegirdle to
himself, not surrounded by crowd Of
admirers. But as he had not been able to.
see her the day before he determined to
brave the crowd, and be content if he got
hut one smile all his own. And so he pre-
sented himself once more ut Mrs. Brace
oirdle's door, this time knowing her
to be within. But when it was opened
and he confdentially framed the
phrase not as q query, but as an 5asser-
ton, Mrs. Brac egirdle at home ?" and
80 proposed Immediately to enter, the
maid said shor tly, No, sheis not, Z and
quickly shut tile door upon him.
5s' No words can describe his feelings.
1 He stared blankly at the handsome door,
well shut and firm, that suddenly had
closed npon him and separated him
! from his low hat COULD this awful
thing mean Had Mrs Rracegirslle
heard something false, .of course, and
inferred BY some other base admirer of
4 Her daught which had made her take
this cruel step2 It was impossible to
knock again and ask !; III was ridiculous
rs stand staring at the door. He turned,
scendad the steps and walked down
Sfhn ntrefst &s5