The Dickinson press., 1884-06-21
THE CAPTAINS UMBRELLA.

part of n 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 o 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 q sim
pie dress; he became momently more
and more in love. And now he fancied
that not only Miss B%racegirdle, but her
mother, regarded him with kindly eyes.
In that case he had but to go 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 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
B%racegirdle 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 a love affair.
He had learned by accident that the
B~racegirdles We're gong out shopping
in the morning. He determined, there
fore, to call and ask the housemaid to
give him his umbralla. 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 Cup" A new
maid had taken her place-one of a less
smiling disposition than the last.
1T called here yesterday afternoon
c1lSA Ia SslNsiuS LIN IL 0iADASAAte:
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.
"No, thank you," said the maid; GIVE
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 o.
advice she shut the door in Captain
Fortescue's face, leaving that Office,
astonished, 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 Mess Blacegirdle, who seemed
more beautiful, more charming ant
more gracious than ever.
AS soon as he seemed at all decent liz
called again, feeling very contented Will
himself and his fate. But when liz
asked whether Mrs. Bracegirdle was a
home, and the stern maid eyed him 70,
a silent, awful instant, his spirits fel
strangely.
"She is not" said the maid, and shu
the door with an abruptncss that gave
him a singularly disconsolated feeling
When, about an hour later, the Ia
dies came i'll, and the maid brough
them some tea, she said to Mrs. Brace
girdle:
'If you please, ma'am, that young
man has been here again who came on
day with the umbrella dodge. HI
asked if you were at home-of cours
he knew you were not-and I suppos'
he had some plan for getting into til.
house, but 1 shut the door in his fac
and would not listen"
"That's right, Eliza" said Mrs
B%raccgirdle. "Never give them
chance to get inside the hall. There
been too much Of that stealing of coat
and umbrellas in this neighborhood; i
never would happen with a sensibl
housemaid. Master Harry leaves hi
things hanging in the hall, so that i
i. would be quite easy to carry off a Goa
y or umbrella if you left the man Their
alone only for a minute. If he is s.
impudent as to come again, the momen
you see who it is shut the door.
The next afternoon was Mrs. Brace
girdle's day Eat home" Captain For
tescue had not intended to go then; h
: wanted the lovely Miss Bracegirdle t
himself, not surrounded by q crowd O
admirers. But as he had not been able t
see her the day before he determined t
brave the crowd. and be content if he 90
but one smile all his own. And so he pre-
scented himself once more at Mrs. Brace
girdle's door, this time knowing he
to be within. But when it was opene
and he contidentially framed til
phrase not as a query, but as an ASSET
tion, "Mrs. Bracegirdle at home" an,
proposed Immediately to enter, tn
maid said shortly. ono, she is not" an
quickly shut the door upon him.
No words can describe his feelings
He stared blankly at the handsome door
we'll shut and firm, that suddenly la,
closed upon him and separated hir
from his love. What could this awfu
thing mean? Had Mrs. B~racegirdl
heard something-false, of course, an
uttered by some other base admirer c
her daughter-which had made her tax
this cruel step? It was impossible t
knock again and ask; it was ridiculou
to stand staring at the door. He turned
descended the steps and walked dow
the street.
Before he had gone half way he met
hated rival, q very nice fellow, whom h
had only begun to hate in the last thre