The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-07-31
A CAPTAINS UMBRELLA.


pest 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 q 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 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 forgetting his umbrella, and
leaving it in a hanson cab or any other
convenient place. Thus it happened
that this which he had now left was the
only one he possessed. The next day
he knew Miss Bracegirdle was going to
an afternoon fete at the Botanical Gar
dens. He intended 10 meet her there.
But it was shOwery, thunderOus weather,
and he felt that to visit the Botanical
Gardens without an umbrella would be
dangerous and difficult. Besides, IN
umbrella is often admirably useful
Turing the progress of 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 Fortescne. The maid
who 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 up"
A new maid had taken her place
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?'
Something in the sternness of the
eyes which were upon him made him
falter before he hal said the last word
of his request; It suddenly occurred to
him that he might find it a little diff
cult TO prove that the umbrella in queS-
ton was indeed his own.
No, thank yOu," said the maid;
'rve had enough of that at my last
place. I'm not going to get into trouble
here. Better take TO IN 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 4 new
umbrella. Armed with this, and adj,
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 and his fate. But when
he asked whether Mrs. Bracegirdle was
at home. and the stern maid eyed him
for a silent, awful instant, his spirits
fell strangely.
.'She is not" said the maid. and shut
the door with an abruptneSs that gave
him singularly discOnsoiate feeling.
When, about an hour later, the ladies
came IN and the maid brought them
some tea. she said to Mrs. Bracegirdle
IF you please, ma am, that young man
has been here again who came one day
with the umbrella dodge. He asked il
You were ut home-of course he knew
Won were not and l suppose he had
some plan of getting into the house
but | shut the door in his face and
would not liSten.h
That sright, Eliza" said Mrs. Brace
-girdle. never give them a chance tC
get inside the hall There's been toe
much of that stealing of coats and um-
brellas in this neighboriIood; it never
would happen with sensible house.
maid. Master Harry leaves his things
hanging in the hall, so that it would be
quite easy TO carry off \ coat or um-
brella, if you left the man there alone
only for minute. If he is so impudeni
as to coNe again, the moment you see
who it is shut the door"
The next afternoon was Mrs. Brace
.girdle's day sat home" Captain
Fortescue had not intended to 90 then;
he wanted the lovely Miss Bracegirdle
to himself, not surrounded by a crowd
of admirers. But as he had not been
able to see her the day before he deter
mined TO brave the crowd, and be con.
tent 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 confidently
framed the phrase, not as a query, but
an assertion: Mrs. Bracegirdle al
homer" and proposed Immediately tc
enter, the maid said, shortly: mo, she
Is not, )" and quickly shut the door upon
aim.