Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-02-08

Mr.. BIRDs UMBRELLA.
sYY. W. sosrssos.

So had my journey for nothing, and al
the expenses Of payment for carrying M
through the heart Of the big city, where thsre
was not a breath Of air stirring that hot day
do not think the drive did me any good,
was 50 terribly vexed that Mr.. Bird was not
to be discovered, and that I had to return to
Prossiter street with his hateful carving on
my lap. l would have thrown it out Of the
cab only was afraid Of hitting somebody
between the eyes and creating an uproer in
the metropolis.
PUT that wresched thing away where
can't see it, said to Bridget on my return.
sYes, MIN; leave it to ME, m'm.r
II don't mean wile.e we can't find it,"
added, meeting decisive expression in
BRIDGET O:iowan's green eyes that alarmed
me; 1.-THE man may call again, although
doubt it very much
Next week I was strong enough to join the
Brians at aargate-that saiubrio,is retreat
where one ne.sts everybody lie EFoST5, if ee
only waits long eiioa@h Aad on the kitty
extension that evening met Capt. Choppers
and MIR. Cook. who hail both come down
''by accident, and who had been passing
each other Oh the jetty all the evening -
t!s.sz 4 they ha1 never met in the wnois
.-1...ss. Vi their lives. Mr.. Goodies two soIis
were ia Iargatc also, but, having fallen
ieadlong into tila water while fishing, had
gone home to bed while their suits were being
/ dried. And the next mornirs whom should
meet face to face, AID smiling as vigorously
| O. ever, but Geciiry Bird, the carver.
| It was early morning, when few people
were stirring. ami | had gone for walk
| along the 10. 10 put my blood in circulation
| naI &c. an appetite tor breakfast The
| Brians were not early risers, and kne" u
was no use calling at their apartments Til
| $50 O'Clock.
Mr. Bird was clad in dark blue pilot 1t,
with a very yellow straw hat set on the back
| Of his bead and large telescope under his
arm. He was suprefnely nautical, and TOOK
lirn for somebody rather high In the coast
guard .rvice---a sergeant or something
before he raised his hat and came with an an
telope kind OF spring toward me.
miss Neild,r he exclaimed, Il am so very
glad to you about again. You really
cannot imagine how glad am
Il don't understand why it should occasion
YOU any pleasure, SIR" said. in my most re-
served tone Of voice.
Don't you, though. Oh, well, I'll tell
you" l..
He turned and walked by my side any
did not on the instant how 1t was possible
to get rid OF him | felt my equanimity was
seriously Disturbed by his appearance, by his
insufferable obtrGsiveness. This was part
| and parcel Of his ordinary behavior-a total
want Of forcthought, which was as evident
that day AZ in the small hours OF the morn
ing when he had reused me out Of my first
sleep by nearly battering the house down.
He alluded TO that little incident at once.
ain answering me that unlucky night,
Miss Neild, you nearly caught your death, y
he explained, land nobody can imagine how
miserable ! was-how desperately wfetched
until | heard you were out of danger. l
should have never forgiven myself, upon my
honor, and did not know u moments peace
till Bridget, your girl, told me you werc out
of danger. Lor', what a trial it wasp
IL don't see why-I don't understand at all
Z
II can just fancy how a man feels who has
committed a murder and is not found on
yet" he continued; lit was dreadful, and al
my own fault, too--every scrap OF it" "a
did not feel so bitterly toward him aftes
this His manner was genuine, if too forci-
bic and fluent for everyday wear. l might
have even thanked him for his exaggerated
interest in my health and said good morning,
il had not suddenly remembered his sur
reptitious visits to my dodgers apartments.
Then l was adanant and he saw it, He was
certainly observant man, whom very
little escaped. / noticed the broad smile
disappear, and he said almost with astonish-
ment:
"Why, you're offended with me still"
"As | have only seen you once before in
my life, cannot very well speak Of being
offended, Mr. Bird-but must say
mo no, don't say it." he cried, interrupt
ing me, 'don't say a word more. please. l.
/ know it was great liberty-an unwarrant~
able liberty-but | couid't help it. ] wanted
to make little return for all the trouble and
misery had brought about. and l couldn't
think of anything else. had just done it.
you see.n
Done what" l exclaimed, snappishiy--I
could have screamed at him for two pins.
| 'Why, the little bit of carying-arent you
talking about that he inquired.
mo, sir, although III trouble you to ra.
move the article from my premises as soon
a. you conveniently can
"Ohw
but | am abiding now, sir, to your un-
gentlernanly behavior in bribing my servants
to let you inspect my apartments"
II didn't bride your servants, Miss Neild.
Poor girls | frightened them but | did not
give them money rs Q bride. You might
have thought better Of fellow than that, "
he said, very sorrowfuly; although why
you should don't know exactly
"You had no right to go into my dodgers
rooms and search for that trumpery umbrella
you lost.
No right" he repeaed.
"Certainly-no right"
''But one of those two old beggars has got
it," he cried, energetically; I'm sure OF
thata
"How dare you say this to me-
"Who else can it be- | know you haven't
got it," he cried. Il am sure your two scr-
wants are as innocent babes unborn and
they were the only two besides in the house
that night-the upstairs lot had gone to Tun-
bridge for two days"
How did you know thatf'
'Oh, made every inquiry" he explained,
cooly; and US the umbrella was q precious
possession to me-l think told you befors it
was gift from my father on his dying bed
Il made every effort to find out what had
become of it,
And very mean way to find out it was v
said, with asperity; "and-sood morning.
"Go-ood morning. he said, Ia low, croak-
ing voice He raised his bilious straw hat
dropped his telescope, which he picked up
| and tucked once more un,ier his arm, came
suddenly to a full stop, and let me go on my
way unmolested any further by him.
When had got good distance from him,
| began to feel a little sorry-even a little in
doubt if had not been too hard upon him.
He had appeared SO utterly dumfounded by
| my last opinion of his conduct, and he had
turned Of such a variety of colors. Perhaps,
from his point of view, and with an umbrella
which had vanished from every point of view,
he was not wholly to be blamed. Perhaps
| the captain had-no, that was quite impos-
sible. Perhaps Mr.. Goode-ohl | was getting
as miserably distrustfui Us tins unhappy man.
Yes, was a little sorry. As went Off the
| fort stole one glance behind me to make
sure what had become of him-that his inn
| pulsive nature even had not led him to Jump
| oil the cliff. He was all right. he was a long
| way otf-indeed, in the very place where I
had left him-not overwhelmed or mad with
| grief and shame, as had almost feared he
might he. but standing with his legs planted
widely apart looking at me through his tel.-
| scope When he saw l had turned he
wheeled quickly round and feigned an inter
est in the sea, knocking the hat of bath
chairman just passing him with an early fare