Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1884-08-01
The Captains Umbrella.

morning IN hlgh IeNer Oh eAcl'eilcliN
for he believed that Miss Bracegirdh
viewed him with considerable favor.
The next afternoon he went to cal
on her. She seemed to him even NOR:
beautiful in the daylight and a simp''
dress; he became momentarily nor
and more in love. And now he fancie.l
that not only Miss Bracegirdle, but ~
mother, regarded him with kindly eyes
In that case he had but to go in az
win. lie resolved so to do, and left II
house so full of his passion and
thoughts that he forgot-his umbrella
This was no unusual circumstance
Captain Fortescue was given to forget
ting his umbrella, ana leaving 1t in q
hanson cab or any other conyenien
place. Thus it happened that this
which he had now left was the only
one he possessed. The next day be
knew Miss Bracegirdle was going to an
afternoon fete at the Botanical Gardens
He intended to meet her there. But 1t
was showery, thunderous weather and
he felt that to visit the Botanical Gar,
dens without an umbrella woulu :
dangerous and difficult. Besides s.
umbrella is often admirably usei'u uul<
ing the progress of a love affair
lie had learned by accident thas~'
Bracegirdles were going out shopPns
in the morning. He determined tns' =
fore. to call and ask the housemaa :,
give him his umbrella. This seeDT
exceedingly simple, but luck ~ II.
against Captain Fortescue. The p@.s ~
who admitted him on the day OeV'
had this very morning departed y :
four wheeled cab with twOpR2zs' =.
the top of IL her ..s.aoaath'' hssig.zs *
A new maid had taken her p1dcTY
of a less smiling disposition thdfry
last
Il called here yesterday afternoai
said the captain. land left my umbrella
will you let me have it?"
Something in the sternness OF the
eyes which were upon him made MN
falter before he had said the last word
of his request; it suddenly occurred 'o
him that he might find it little din
cult to prove that the umbrella in queS-
tion was indeed his own.
"No, thank YOU said the maid
"Pve had enough o. that at my last
place. I'm not going to get lntt
trouble here. Better take to an homes
trade, young man." With which plee'
of advice she shut the door in Captain
Fortescue's face. leaving the officer as
tonished, quenched and crest-falien
He went straightway and bought new
umbrella. Armed with this, and ad
mirably attired in other respects, NJ
went to the Botanical Gardens, wher
he met Miss Bracegirdle, who seemed
more beautiful, more charming an'
nore graceful than ever.
AS soon as seemed at all decent n
called again, feeling very cOntenIe'
with himself and his fate. But wheI
he asked whether Mrs. Bracegirdle wa
at home and the stern maid eyed hin
for a silent awful instant, his spirit
fell strangely.
"She is not, said the maid, and shn'
the door with an abruptness that CAV
rim a singularly disconsolate feeling
When, about an hour later, the ladle
came in and the maid brought then
some tea, she said to Mrs. Braceglrdie
IF you please, ma'am, that young MAJ maj
has been here again who came one dal
with the umbrella dodge. He asked i
YOU were at home-of course he knew
you were not and l suppose he ha(
some plan for getting into the house
but | shut the door in his face ant
would not listen
That's right, Eliza, said Mrs. Brace
girdle, "never give them chancet to ge
inside the hall There's been too much
of that stealing of coats and umbrellas
in this neighborhood; it never would
happen with a sensible housemad
Master Harry leaves his things hapg-
ing in the hall, so that it would be quite
easy to carry off a coat or umbrella Ii
you left the man there alone only Par
a minute. If he is so impudent as to
come again, the moment you see WAo
it is shut the door,
The next afternoon was Mrs brace
girdle's "day at home" Capt Fofte9cae
had not intended to go then; he want
ed the lovely Miss Braeegirdie to NM
self, not surrounded by crowd oil ID
mirers. But as he had not been apie y
see her the day before, he determllsd
to brave the crowd, and be content II
he got but one smile all his own. AND
so he presented himself once more At
Mrs. Bracegirdle's door, thl' 'lne
knowing her to be within. But wneA
it was opened and he confidently ifailsd
the phrase, not as query, but an assFr-
ton, Mrs: BracegirGle at homs' ana
proposed Immediately to entef' we