St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-07-02
UNDER AN UMBRELLA.
a Peculiar Proposal at a Picnic.

now, and we must make Tic pes' VI OuA ""'
to the boat"
.eYes. of course we must" he returned
cheerfully. Il wish we could find some
one to direct us; 1 don't know this part OF
the world at all. Where are we to meet the
shallop?"
ssWhat. don't you know?" questioned
Miss de Lara. an alarmed look coming into
the blue eyes.
81 must confess don't. l supposed you
would be sure to know, and the others; or
perhaps never thought about 1t at an
''Oh. dear, this is unfortunate! Nhat
are we to do? l was not there wheh Ille
arrangements were made What CAL We
do?n
sJf Won are not too tired think we had
hotter walk on: we must try and strike down
the river" .,,,4,,,
So they tried; but they did not apparently
succeed. for no river came within view anu
moor Maud. who never was good walker,
began to stumble over the long grass from
fatigue. ,..,-
Then Mr.. Dunstan insisted upon her tax
ing his arm. and they grew more cheerIuI
under this close contact; the girl 1eellhg
That awkward as was their position. she had
still strong arm toprotect her. AT lehSth
thev came to a cottage, and went at once 10
the door. and were told that they mad come
ouite away from the river; which was now
about a mile and half distant; then, seeing
their plight the good-naturea country
woman invited them in, and noticing now
tired and pale Door Maud looked, she made
her some tea and insisted on her taking OH
her shoes. and doing her best to dry them
by the fire.
Mr.. Dunstan inquired whether any con-
veyance could be found to take them othe
river side. but there was none TO DE had
within getable distance
Refreshed with that beverage which
cheers but does not inebriate, Maud started
off once more with her companion, leaving
a glad heart behind in the humble cottage;
for Edwin Dunstan was generous 1elIoW,
and. seeing evidence of the pinch OF poverty
around, had left a golden piece III tne
woman's palm. When they reached The
river they could for a time gain no ln1orina-
ton respecting the Swan, and they walked
along the water side hoping that the boat
wouid soon overtake them; and the girl
grew so tired that Edwin Dunstan persuaded
her to rest under a tree, with fallen limb
for a seat. But no shallop arrived and the
prettv face became anxious and worried.
By-and-by a barge came up against the
stream. Mi. Dunstan hailed it, and found
that the Swan was long way down the
river-tbe barges had especially noticed her;
and. upon further inquiry, he was sui more
ANNOYED to learn that they were not more
than half mile from the point from which
they had started, so it was evident that they
had doubled, like hares; and the only thlng
left for them to do was to return to the
creek where they had landed, and hire
boat to convey them to Radleigh, distance
of ten miles.
Tears rose in the girls eyes when she
heard of the dilemma she was in, and her
companion strove to reaSSure her.
rDonit fret, Miss de Lara; who knows
but what we may overtake them? They
are sure to wait a reasonable time for US,
and we will make inquiries at all the
locks"
They had some difficulty in persuading
any of the boatmen to take them so great
distance; but money does most things, and
it overcame the unwillmgneSS OF the men
to start for so long pull, when evening
was so fast closing in on such dismal
night.
They did their best to be cheerful, even
irving snatcheS of songs, their voices blend
ing together and going out over the water
softly and melOdiouSly; so that passers-by
on the land stopped to listen, and more than
once faces peered from the windows of
houses upon the banks, attracted by the
music under that umbrella.
But the singing proved a failure as the
shades of evening drew on, and the SILVER
ing girl cIept closer to Edwin DunStan for
warmth and shelter.
There was 10 one there to see them; even
the boatman was shut out by that paragon
frame covered with thick brown silk. There
was no one to hear, for the boatman was
decidedly deaf. Had these two met under
ordinary circumstances, they would, OF
course. have been ordinary acquaintance
upon this. the first of their meeting; but the
circumstances were not at all ordinary, and
Edwin really felt obliged to put his arms
about the little shrinking form to protect it
all he could Tor at any rate 1t pleased him
to think sol, from the stormy night wind,
for the rain had not ceased for a moment,
and it seemed quite natural to clasp the
small cold hands which she trusted in his
with such child-like confidence; and when
few tears rolled slowly down the pale
face. there is not much wonder that he
kissed them away under that protecting
umbrella. nor that ne Strove to comfort her
in his own fashion.
AZ said you were not to be conventional
little Maud he whispered softly; ''rest
YOUR head upon my shoulder, that will be a
pillow for you"
ssBut ought L? Do you think 1 ought?
Whatswould Beatrice say?"
Hewas nearly as possible saying, "Bother
Beatrice!" but, instead, he replied:
81 am sure you ought and must. Little
one. cannot you trust yourself to me?"
And she had crept quite close, like a tired
child. glad to be at rest; and so he had held
her tenderly, his heart going out to her with
great love.
Then he leaned over her and spoke
again:
''Only fancy we met to-day for the first
time. and yet it seems as though had
known YOU all my life. Perhaps I have
seen YOU in my dreams; but sweet Maud,
I cannot part from you again. You asked
me lust now what Mrs. Roley would say;
that I do not know, but whatever it may
be. you will give me the right to stand by
Won. Maud, will you be my wife?"
And he stopped and kissed her rosy lip:
unchidden, once, twice, thrice; and agair
there was silence, delicious silence, which,
like man, he broke.
'sYoudo not answer me, my little love
Are you happy-are you contents"
'sMore than happy-more than content
MY heart is too full for words"
my little queen" he whispered, Show
fortunate it was l brought my umbrella
otherwise / might never have gained yol
for my wife. wonder if another MAJ
ever won so charming bride thus strange
Typ"
And the oars went on with their monot
onous turn in the rowlockS, and darkness
set in. while those two, sheltered under tn
umbrella. needed nothing but their own Joy
When they reached Ripplebank there wa
great commOtion.