Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-09-23

not returned, he laughed cynically,
and softly quoted a staLza from an old
German ballad, about a naiad and a
knight, and purchased new umbrella
The next morning he received a tel.
egram which necessitated a journey tC
the far West, where he was interested
in an extensive land operation.
He poked few necessary articles
into valise, and donning travelling
suit, ran down to Clarice's boudoir, tC
tell her that he was going.
GLOW unfortunate" she cried, when
he showed her the telegram; Cant
you postpone the trip?"
"No it is impossible ! My presence
is imperatively needed"
"And Mable will come tomorrow
| have written, inviting her to spend a
couple of weeks with us; and am SC
anxious for you to meet her.
81 am very sorry, but | think l shall
have to forego the pleasure of meeting
Miss Mabel Wright" said Chauncey,
and kissing Clarice he hastcned away
The business complications were
more serious than he had at first i'm
agned, and it was not until the begin
ing of September that he telegraphod
Clarice to look for him.
lie expected the carriage would be
at the depot when lie arrived, but
finding none, he boarded street car
1t was raining. and ins,nctively his
thought reverted to another rainy dav,
ana ne longed Tor ms missing UNI
brella.
Several times he was tempted to
stop and purchase one on the way, but
put it off until all the stores had beer.
passed.
"Well, Pm in for it again!" he said,
and, reaching the old familiar corner,
he alighted and ran to the sidewalk,
which was shaded by an awning.
a lady came out of the store and he
stepped aside for her to pass.
She raised her umbrella, and he
caught a gfimpse of her face.
A long gossamer cloak protected
her slender form now, but the face
that was raised to his was the one he
had met on the same corner several
months before.
"My naiad, by jove" he muttered,
"and I'll be blessed if she amt carry
ing my umbrella"
a hot flushed dyed the cheek of the
lady and Chauncey ground his teeth,
for having uttered his brutal COM
ment.
81 beg pardon, Mr. Walton" she
said, facing him quickly, "but this is
the first opportunity | have had of re-
turning the umbrella you so kindly
loaned me several months ago. |
thank you for the kind service.
saved me from a disagreeable wet
ting"
And gave me one" said Chauncey,
laughing.
81 am thankful that ! can prevent
Il recurrence of the catastrophe" said
the lady. g;avoly, and she held out
the umbrella.
But it is still raining" said Chaun-
cey," and custom gives me courage to
brave another wetting."
"My gossamer is sufficient protec-
tion," she said, placing the umbrella
in his hands, and with little bow,
she turned and left him.
lie was half tempted to follow her.
and stood on the corner several min
utes, staring after her.
81 wonder how she learned my
name?" he said half aloud, and then,
recollecting the card he had given her,
he shrugged his shoulders, and raised
the umbrella.
"Quite coincidence" he muttered,
and walked away.
Clarice came down to meet him,
and after kissing him multitude of
times, and commenting upon his bron-
zed face and fine appearance, she said:
81 was away when your telegram
arrived, and Auntie mislaid it. She
thought you were to arrive to- morrow,
and when the telegram was found it
was too late to catch the train. | am
glad you had an umbrella, though.
"ies. 1t was the one loaned to
lady several months ago, just before
my departure for the West. She must
have received intelligence that |
would arrive at the corner, umbrella.
less; for when | alighted from the car,
she received me, and returned the UNI
brella in the most cool and matter of
course way, and. he told Clarice the
whole story.
1t is very funny" she said, al hope
you didn't fall in love with her. I've