The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-01-30
T'HE| CAPTAINS UMBRELLA.

~ A10As 0AtdNA1OVn A6 WGut W Gull Uu
her. She seemed to him even more
beautiful in the daylight, and in q sim
pie dress; he became momently more
and more mlove. And now he fancicd
That not only Miss B~racegirdle, but her
mother, regarded kim with kindly eyes.
In TINT case he had but to go in and
win. He resolved SO TODD, and left the
house 20 full OF his passion and his
thoughts that no forgot-his umbrella
This was no unusual circumstance. Cap
tain Fortescue was given TO forget
ting his umbreila, and leaving it in a
lhandsome cab or any other convenient
placa.
Thusit happened chat this which he
hid now left was the only one he pos
ssssed. The next day he knew Miss
Bracegirdle WA going to an afternoon
- & the Botanical Gardens. He in
landed to meet her there. But it was
Showery thunderous weather, and he
Selt that to visit the Botanical Gardens
without an umbrella would be danger
ous and difficult. Besides, an umbrella
u often admirably useful during the
progress OF . love affair.
he had learned by accident that the
Bracegirdles were going ont shopping
n the morning. He determined, there
Gore, 70 call and ask the housemaid to
give him his umbrella. This seemed
sxceedingly simple; but luck was against
Captain F~ortescue. The maid who had.
admitted him ON the day before had
ths very morning departed ina fonr-
wheeled cab, with two boxes on the top
~ i, her MONTH being aup." A new
mind had taken her place-one Of q less
m;ling disposition than the last.
q called here yesterday afternoon, !"
aid the captain, Aand left my umbrella;
viii you let me have it?n
Something in the s~terness Of the eyes
which were upon him made him falter
beforA he had said the last word of his
request; II suddenly occurred to him.
that he might find it Q little difficult to
prove the umbrella in question was in
deed his own.
mo, thank you,n said the maid; 1--we
had enough Of that at my last place.
I'm not going TO get into trouble
here. Better take NJ honest trade,
young man. With which piece Of
n1vice she shut tho door in Captain
Fortescne's face, leaving that officer
astonished, quencheds and ~crestfallen.
Hewent straightway and bought q new
umbrella. Armed with this and adj
mirAbly attired in other respects, he
went TO the Botanical Gardens, where
: met Mess Bfscegirdle, who seemed
mere beautiful, more charming and
more gracious than ever.
Az Q ashe seemed ct all decent he
lrallad again, feeling very c~ontented with
himself and his fate. But when he
aaked whether Mrs. Bracegirdle was at
home, and the stern maid eyed him for
. silent, awful instant, his spirits fell
strangely.
"She is not, 2 said the maid, and shut
The door with an abruptness that gave
him : singularly d~iscnnsolated feeling.
When, about an hour later, the Ia
ldiees came iii, and the maid brought
them some tea, she said to Mrs. Brace
3Rirdle:
IL you please, ma'an1, that young
man has been here again who came n
day with the umbrella dodge. He
asked II you were at home-of course
shB knew you were not--and / suppose
he had some plan for getting into the
house, hut ]. shut the door In his face
and would not LISTEN
s.That's right, Eliza said Mrs.
Bracegirdle. Never give them q
chance to get inside the hall. There's
been too much of that stealing of coats
andumbrellas in this, neighborhood; it
meyer would happen with a sensible
honsemaid. Master Harry leaves his
things hanging in the hall, SO that it
would be quite easy to carrygof q coat
or HRbrella if you left the man there
alone only for . minute. If he is 30
impudent as to come again, the moment
yOu see who tits shut the door.
The next afternoon was Mrs. Brace
Erdle's day tat home.n Captain For
tescue had NOT intended to 60 then; he
wanted the lovely Miss Bracegirdle to
himself, moi surrounded by q crowd OF
admirers. But as he hadno been able to
80 her the day before he determined to
brnvethe crowd, and be content If he got
but one smile all his own. And 30 he pre-
rented himself once more at Mrs. Brace.
girdle's door, this time knowing her
"a b withs:. But when it was opened
md he confdentially framed the
phrase not asa query. but as an asser.
Gon. Mrs BfaceQirdl0 at home ~ And