The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-06-27
THE CAPTAINS UMBRELLA.

HasY - N-. .E... .
Captain Fortescue danced for the best
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
nistiness of an early summer morning
in a high fever of excitement, for he he
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 B~racegirdle, but her
mother, regarded him with kindly eyes.
In that case he had but to go in and
win. He resolved so todo, and left the
house SO full of his passion and his
thoughts that he forgot-his umbrella!
This was no unusual circumstance. Cap
tain Fcrtescue 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 lie
had now left was the only one he pos
sessed. The next day he knew Miss
Bracegirdle 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
Bracegirdles were gong out shopping
in the morning. He determined, there
fore, to call and ask the housemaid to
give him his umbrella. This seemed
f. 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 up" A new
maid had taken her place-one Of a less
smiling disposition than the last.
81 called here yesterday afternoon y
said the captain, and left my umbrella
will you let me have it?"
Something in the sterness of the ewes
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 n little difficult to
prove the umbrella in question was in
deed his own.
mo, 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 of
advice she shut the door in Captain
Fortescuo's face, leaving that officer
astonisl1ed, quenched and crestfallen.
He went straightway and bought 4 new
umbrella. Armed with this and nd
mirably attired in other respects, he
went to Tie Botanical Gardens, where
he met Mess Blacegirdle, who seemed
move beautiful, more charming and
more gracious than ever.
As soon rs he seemed at all decent he
called again, feeling very contented with
himself and his fate. But when he
asked whether Mrs. B~raccgirdle was at
home, and the stern maid eyed him 70,
q silent, awful instant, his spirits fell
strangely.
"She is not said the maid. and shut
the door with an ab%ruptness that gave
him u singulariy disconsolated feeling,
When, about az hour later, the Ia.
dies came IN, and the maid brought
them some tea, she said to Mrs. Brace,
girdle:
IF 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 NJ plan for getting into the
house, but l shut the door i'll his facc
and would not listen"
That's right, Eliza" said Mrs
Bracegirdie. "Never give them o
chance to get inside the hall. There's
been too much of that stealing Of coats
and umbrellas In this neighborhood; il
never would happen with o sensible
housemaid. Master Harry leaves his
things hanging in the hall, so that ii
would be quite easy to carry Off a coat
or umbrella if you left the man there
alone only for a minute. 1t he is sc
impudent as to come again, the moment
you see who it is shut the door.
The next afternoon was Mrs. Brace.
girdle's day ''st home" Captain For
tescae had not intended to go then: he
wanted the lovely Miss B~racegirdle tt
himself, not surrounded by q crowd Of
admirers. But rs he hadnot been able tc
see her the day before he determined t.
brave the crowd, and be eontentifhe got
but one smile all his own. And oheprc
scented himself once more at Mrs. Brace
girdle's door, this time knowing hei
to be within. But when it was opened
and he contidcntial1y framed th'
phrase not as a query, but as an asser
ton, Mrs. Bracegirdle at home?" ant
proposed Immediately to enter, tht
maid said shortly, "No, sheis not anG
quickly shut the door upon him.
No words can describe his feelings,
He stared blankly at the handsomed door
we'll shut and firm, that suddenly had
closed upon him and separated hin
from his love. What could tl.is awfu
thing mean? Had Mrs, Bracegirdlt
heard something-false, of course, ani
uttered by some other base admirer o
her daughter-which had madaher take
this cruel step? 1t was impossible tt
knock again and ask; it was ridiculou,
to stand staring at the door. He turned
descended the steps and walked dowr
the street.
Before he had gone half way he met {
hatedrival, a verynice fellow, whom he
had only begun tohate in the last three
or four days, since he had noted thai
Miss Bracegirdle sometimes gave hin