The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1884-08-01
A CAPTAINS UMBRELLA.

Captain ForteSeue danced for the
best part of one happy evening with
the prettiest girl of the season. And
the gallant Captain fell desperately in
love with her. He went nome in the
bright mistiness of an early summer
morning in high fever of excitement,
for he believed 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
simple dress; he became mOmentarily
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. Captain Fortescue was
given to forgetting his umbrella, and
leaving il in a hanson cab or any other
convenient place. Thus it happened
that this which he had now left was the
only one be possessed. The next day
he knew Miss Bracegirdle was going to
* tA4tNAhOOh ANAt ~ N-C AtNtAtAAli tH1l-
dens. He intended 10 meet her there.
But il was showery, thunderous weather.
and he felt that to visit the Botanical
Gardens without an umbrella would be
dangerous and difficult. Besides, an
umbrella is often admirably useful
during the progress of q love affair.
He had learned by accident that the
Bracegirdles were going out shopping
in the morning. He determined, there
fore, to call and ask the housemaid to
give him his umbrella. This seemed
exceedingly simple, but luck was
against Captain Fortescue. The maid
who admitted him on the dav before
had this verv morning departed in q
four-wheeled cab with two boxes on the
top of il, her month being ''up."
A new maid had taken her place-one
of less smiling disposition than the
last
Il called here yesterday afternoon.
said the Captain, land left my UNI
brella; will you let me have it?i
Something in the sternuess 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 little diff
cult TO prove that the umbrella in ques-
ton was indeed his own.
mo, thank you,' said the maid:
i've had enough of that at my last
place. I'm not going to get into trouble
here. Better take to an honest trade.
young man" With which piece of ad-
vice she shut the door in Captain For
tescue's face, leaving the officer aston
ished, quenched and crestfallen. He
went straightway and bought a new
umbrella. Armed with this. and ad-
mirably attired in other respects, he
went TO the Botanical Gardens, where
he met Miss Bracegirdle, who seemed
more beautiful, more charming and
more graceful than ever
As soon as seemed at all decent he
called again, feeling very contented
with himself aud 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.
'-She is not said the maid. and shut
the door with an abruptness that gave
him singularly diseonsolate feeling
When, about an hour later. the ladie.
came IN and the maid brought then
some tea, she said TO Mrs. Bracegirdle
IF you please, ma am, that young mar
has been here again who came one dal
with the umbrella dodge He asked i
YOU were al home-of course he knew
YOU were not and / suppose he ha'
some plan osEetting into the house
but / shut the door in his face ano
would not listen.
.That'sright, Eliza. said Mrs. Brace
girdle, never give them a chance Z
get inside the hail. There's been to-
much of that stealing of coats and um
brellas in this neighborlood; it neve
would happen with a sensible house
maid. Master Harry leaves his thing
hanging IN the hall, SO that it would b
quite easy to carry off a coat or um
hrella, if you left the man there alon
only for minute. II he is SO impuden
as to come again, the moment you Sc
who it is shut the door
The next afternoon was Mrs. Brace
girdle's day Eat home" Captai
Fortescue had not intended to 90 then
he wanted the lovely Miss Bracegirdl
TO himself, not surrounded by crow
of admirers. But as ne had not bee
sble to see her the day before he deter
Hmined TO brave the crowd, and be con
tent if he got but one smile all his own
And so he presented himself once NOR
at Mrs. Bracegirdle's door. this tim
knowing her TO be within. But wts
it was opened, and he conhdeD.l
framed the phrase. not as query, bu
an assertion: Mrs Bracegirdle q
homer" and proposed Immediately I
enter, the maid said. shortly: .'No. sh
is not" and quickly shut the door npo
him.
No words can describe his feelings
Hestared blaukly atthe handsome door
well shut and firm, that suddenly ha
closed upon him and separated hir
from his love. WHIST could this awfu