McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-07-03
THE CAPTAINS UMBRELLA.


Captain Fortescue 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 home in the bright
mistiness of an early summer morning
in a high fever of excitement, for he be.
lieved 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.
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 90 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 forget
ting his umbrella, and leaving it in a
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
lBracegirdle 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.
Do had loo rpod Inv oooidop< <bof fbo
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 simply; but luck was
against Captain Fortescue. The maid
who had admitted him on the day be-
fore had this very morning departed in
four-wheeled cab, with two boxes on
the top of it, her ssmonth" being cup"
A new maid had taken her place-one
of a less smiling disposition than the
last.
s'I called here yesterday afternoon"
said the captain, sand left my umbrella;
will you let ne 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 little difficult to
prove the umbrella in question was in
deed his own.
mo, thank you," said the maid;
-ssI've 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 crestfallen.
He went straightway and bought 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 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 silent, awful instant, his spirits
fell strangely.
ssShe is not,' said the maid, and
shut the door with abruptness that
gave him singularly disconsclated
feeling.
When, about an hour later, the ladies
came in, and the maid brought them
some tea, she said to Mrs. Brace
girdle:
ssH 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 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
chance to get inside the hall. There's
been too much Of chat stealing of coats
and umbrellas in this nelghborhood; it
never would happen with sensible
housemaid. Master Harry leaves his
things hanging in the hall, so that it
would be easy to carry off coat CT
umbrella if you left the man there alone
for a minute. If he is so impudent as
to come again, the moment you see
who it is shut the door,"
The next afternoon was Mrs. Brace
;girdle's day sat home" Captain For
tescue had not intended to go then; he
wanted the 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 but one smile all his own. And
so he presented himself once more at
Mrs. Bracegirdle's door, this time
knowing her to be within. But when
it was opened and he confdentialiy
framed the phrase not as query, but
as an assertion, ssMrs. Braceglrdle at
homer" and proposed immediately to
enter, the maid said shortly, 'sNo, she
is not" and quickly shut the door upon