Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-03-20
THE TALE OF AN UMBRELLA.

PRIZE STORY IN THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE.
"Can that be Annie Shepherdg'
The speaker half rose to his feet and
looked eagerly out of the wiHdow.
The expression that settled upon his
face left no doubt that it was Miss
Shepherd
''She has less common sense than
any woman | ever knew, he said
with impotence.
TIE day was quite unfit for action,
though eminently favorable for re.
vere and reflection. So all people of
regulated habits would agree but Miss
Shepherd had seen tit to transpose the
very evident intention of the weather
managers, and had chosen to act
rather than 5awdle and dream. And
Mr.. Manchester, who was more orlho-
dox. and who had done nothing all
day but build air-castles, had denounc-
ed her accordingly.
Such a rain as it was! Nowhere
can more triumphant deluges come
out Of high skies than in the Traverse
region. The bucketsfdl that were
poured in great smashing sheets came
from such an altitude that ones breath
was fairly dashed out of ones body
if caught in a sudden gust round a
corDer.
Summering Pleasuring And
here at Harbor Springs 1t was cold as
Siberia. A north wind that had come
over all the ice Of the poles had met
a tremendous thundergust from the
,x1 fhn tnrsat hon
having it out And of course, as a
part of an idle mans luck, this con
test must occur ON the very day
he had set to take Miss Shep-
herd with him toa romantic dell
he had discovered somewhere in the
neighborhood.
rs it possible2' he exclaimed again,
as he worried about in his chair, evil
IDENTIFY too much netted with disgust
to be able to keep still.
Now, Mr.. Manchester had been
hard hit. He, typical Chicagoau-
blonde, of course, rotund, mediumly
bold, not very young-had been so
well greaved, so armed cap-a-pie, as
it were, that the hit had literally stun
ned him, and every body else, with
surprise.
A well-delivered blow it must have
been, sent by cool hand and practic-
ed eve. Whether it was heel or heart
that was struck time alone could show /;
if the former, probably, like Achilles,
he would die of 1t; If the latter, the
danger was not appreclable.
Seated in the comfortable hotel Office
he had done nothing all this day but
watch through the streaming win
dows the pelted and drenched street.
The bulk of the tourist guests had gone
on steamer excursion to Macklnaw
the night before.
He had been invited to Join this
party to the island, but after the
adroit discovery that Annie Shepherd
had declined going he had also de
clined. Hlsreasons for so doing were
potent to every one but himself
They had followed that little epi-
sode OF his invitation to her to JON
him in a walk next day This had
been hastily whispered in the hall ON
parting at night, and accepted with a
nod and smile. 1t was 10 be to a wood
near by where a free, clear spring
gushed and roared down black-earth
ed declivity. 1t was one of the damp
est, mossiest spots in the whole region.
He had once found bears fresh track
on the moss, and had christened il
therefore Board of Trade Glen
But the rain had put a provoking
stop to this plan. And Miss Shepherd
had capped the peak of his disgust by
pleading headache as a reason for
keeping out of sight all day, he
having called very early in the fore
noon.
Yet there she went, or his eyes had
lost their cunning.
1t is true there was a hull i'm the
rain, but none IN the wind. And With
a headache, what could tempt her
out? Too i'll to see him, and yet well
enough to brave this tempestj
She went down the steps clad in q
gossamer. and with her umbrellau up
an umbrella big enough for two. She
must have had the limbs of an Atal
anita to move with such equable grace
and strength, for the wind tried it,
wickedest to puff out that ugly
ulster-shaped thing and to make bel
fine, slender outline look fat. III,
caught a ghmpseof a good stout boot
seeming all the dainuer for its stout
ness. Aud watching and mentally
taking in all the fine points, he KEEP
up scattering fire of ejaculation
Shell get her death-cold. - WAS
there ever such an unreaSoning. un
prognosticatable creature As she"
she disappeared, huttering like q
1oose-sailed pirate 'eraft, round tn,
corner.
He knew Just about her course
when he saw her turn to the right anC
bend herself to meet the blast which
was directly in her face
He rallied his senses as he lost sigh
of her. Bang into his chair went the