Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1885-07-22
UNDER AN UMBRELLA.

Edwin Dunstan was DevOnshire
man, otherwise he would never have
thought of carrying an umbrella on that
"glorious first of June;' but those who
live in the 'West countrie" have say
ing that eff the weather be fine when
you go out, you should take an umbrel-
Ia; if it rains, you may do as youplease.'
1t had been very fine, an exquisite
morning, and several bright-faced
young girls had peeped eagerly behind
their closed blinds before the nightingale
finished his song to see what the weather
was like, and had uttered exclama-
tons of delight at the beauty Of the ris-
ing sun Ca beauty which only few daily
witness), and had curled themselves
round again in their soft beds for anoth-
er sleep, to take all the rest they could
before the days pleasure began; for
Observation-Disclosures was gay, sociable
little place, and Mrs. Roley, who was
the leader in it as regarded fashion and
society, on this first of June was to give
water party.
At II in the morning a large ''shal-
lop" was moored against the landing
stage of those charming places which
are so plentiful on the rivers banks.
Mrs. Roley's house (there was a Mr..
Roley, and he too lived decorously at
Ripplebank; but the lady was decid-
eddy the better half, both rs to size,
popularity and abilities, and he WAS
generally known as ''Mrs. Roley's
husband $50, we repeat, Mrs. Roley's
house was quite one OF tho prettiest of
those delightful water-side residences
which are so pleasant in summer and
so unutterably dolcful in winter.
1t had many gables; its outer walls
were clad with climbing Towering
plants; it's porches were trellised and
rose-hung; it's gardens were bejeweled
with all the bright blossoms which
horticulture could suggest. 1t had its
stable, and well-tilled stable, too, its
conservatory, its billiard room, its
boat-house with a smoking room over,
a tennis ground, and the softest Of
messy lawns leading down to the rivers
bank, where willows waved their
branches with quiet, lazy motion,
gently kissing the passing stream, and
hammock rocked tenantless among
the scented leaves of the walnut.
AS the boat was mOored, 4 tall,
handsome woman of some 80 years of
ago walked slowly across the grass, fol-
lowed by a small man dressed in boat
ing costume, and several servants
carrying hampers, etc. All at once
upon her caro- sposo.
You will not have any pulling to do,
George she said, $50 you had better
90 and changeyour Clothes"
"Oh, l told them all to come as they
liked,' gasped Mrs Roley's husband,
who had quite enough of top hats and
frock coats in the city, but 4 look from
his wife changed his tone. GAS you
please. of course my love; only thought
/ should be more comfortable and
he looked affectionately at his white
tlanncls-''and less singular, you
know
''You will be more singular as you
are, for my friends will be dressed like
gentlemen;'' and the lady turned away
to issue her orders as to the stowage of
the provisions, and when she looked
round again Mr.. Roley was gone.
TO say that he was not q little inclin-
ed to rebel would be untrue; he was
fond of comfort, and we'll he knew the
difference between the comforts of tlan-
nels and the discomfort of a frock coat,
with its accomplishments of starched
shirt, stiff collar and tie. So he went
up stairs to his dressing-room, and
stood by the window to watch for the
| first arrivals.
Had any bold spirit asserted itself,
and appeared in like trim to his own.
Mrs. Roley's husband would have re-
manned as he was; but no such good
luck befell him. The first man who
made his appearance was Mr.. Edwin
Dunstan, of the Indian office. and he
was faultlessly gotten up, even to his
umbrella. Then, with an exclamation
which did not sound very amiable, and
which it would have been as much as
his place was worth to let Mrs. Roley
hear, the little man tore off his clothes
as if they had annoyed him. made a
rent in the unofending t1annels, rum
pied several shirt-fronts putting in his
studs, broke off a few buttons, and
abused the washerwoman, although
she had nothing whatever to do with it.
gave the little fox-terrier kick because
ha erof in his wav hut in trnfh the