Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-02-06
Mr.. BIRDS UMBRELLA.
By y. ". ROBINSON.

Rat-a-tat-a-tat- tat q tat Q -tat-Bangi
There was pause. and long enough pause
20 give me the impression that l had been
dreaming OF earthquakes, or Of the lombard
nlent OF the British museum, or OF . volcanic
er,. J.ioa in Russell square, to convince me
..ven forcibiy that | must have been dream
ing, as | sat up il bed, and rubbed my eyes
and listened. Tnen-Baag. bang. bangi-
rat-a-tat-a-tat-a- tat-a-tat-a-tat-a tat - Bang
Yes, there was somebody evidently knock
ing at the street door, hanging by the street
door knocker, and throwing his whole soul
into the instrument-the house was on fire
perhaps, or we were wanted next door at
Brian's OF a lunatic had escaped, and was
clamoring for admittance, straight waistcoat
and all, or else the up stairs dodgers bad come
back prematurely from their visit to
Tunbridge, and were anxious to get in
out Of the rain, which was coming down
with vehemence that was certainly
startling. I could surmiss nothing
more at a moments notice and at $50 in the
morning.
We all slept very soundly in No. 10 Proesi-
ter street, Prossrter place, Russell square,
Bloomsbury for we worked very hard as
No. TO- and the house was a large one. Il
was house Of many lodgers-parlor floor,
first floor and second door-and all com
fortably let, and those dodgers who were at
home all fast asleep, or else waiting for
me, the poor, weakly proprietor Of the e.
Enlistment Jane Neild, at your service,
gentle reader, age ~, and an orphan with An
establishment on her mind, and living to
get out Of the establishments, to call to the
servants bridget, able bodied, general"
aged 40, and n frightful temper, and Sarah,
aged 10, child with a chronic cold and Q red
nose, but handy as help to Bridget to get
up and see what was the matter at No 10, or
with the party outside No. 10 who was
"kicking up such deuce Of u row.
That was the way 1t was put at last by
Capt. Choppers my drawing room floor, an
irritable old gentleman--not TO say violent
when roused-who came out on the landing
at last in an attire which Bridget told me
afterwards was far from decorous, and began
oawling yociierously up the staircase the
names OF each Of my maids in turn, conclud-
ing with nv own name in a shrek of sheer
despair,
miss Neild-here, | SAYS everybody
dead; Miss N-e-e-e-ild,-
BLESS my soul, captain, what In it nowr'
| cried through the crack in my door.
Don't YOU hear that Internal noise down
stairs, madam. Who the deuce is it at this
time OF night, who the-what do you say,
madam
I'm going to open the window and inquire
unless youf--
Its no business of mine, Miss Neildn
bawled the captain. 81 don't expect any
body-fm not going into the drawing room
at this time Of night, with my cold. I'm dis
turbed enough, as it is, through your being
all 70 diabocally deaf. l shall leave this
day week, ma'am. There!'
And slam went the back drawing room
door, and crick crack went the key In the
ir scibe captains lock | was in my dress
ing room with flannel garment, which
take the liberty here Of calling II ''mufiier,"
wrapped round my head and shoulders; and
rs went toward the window, trembling
must say, in every limb, the knocking was
repeated for the third time, and with three
fold vigor, born of the delay and irritation
to past sulnnonses.
| waited until there was silence again, or
nearly silence-for | could distinctly hear
Capt. Choppers loading all his firearms-and
then opened the widow, and peered into the
dauip, shiny street, which the wind and rain
had all To themselves, with the exception of
n dark f,ure on my top step, whose hat l
couli see was as shiny us the pavement.
What is itf' | inquired; but the wind
whsked my voice into Museum street, and |
had To repeat the inquiry in shril falsetto.
The man below paused with his hand to the
knocker again-for he WAS Just going to be-
gin afresh-listened, and then ran down the
steps and stood on the edge of the curbstons,
with his hands behind him, looking up at me
at last. could make nothing of him in the
darkness from my point of view.
"What do You want, sire | asked, now
that had secured the attention of this indi-
vidual. what are YOU making such n noise
for at this time of night
I'm very sorry to disturb you, LADY,
$50 it SEEMS ! said acrimoniously; but he
did not hear me, and perhap, it was as
well he did not. have not II reputation for
being in my remark . but then this
was an exceptional proceeding, and deserved
rebuke
THE fact is madam, the wind has blown
my umbrella clean out of my hand into your
arca | would no, mind much" he conde-
seconded to explain still further, at the top Of
his voice, but it's umbrella I set great
store by Besides, its raining tremend-
o,isly."
II really caunot come down at this hour
ami get your umbrella" said, severely;
"you must call tomorrow for it
isn't there any one in the house-any man
who can get it!7
The house is lIcked up for the night
Its such a very deep area or would drop
over and get 1t myself. But then don't see
how to get out again, he said.
II can't help YOU sir; | am very sorry"
replied, but can't 20 down to night for it."
Il should be brute to ask you, maam,r
he said. politely now; and here | could see
he raised his hat to me; ''of course could
not tell who was in the house, whether it
might not be easy to get my umbrella which
/ really value very much, assure you; it's
an umbrella which but | am very sorry to
have disturbed you. will call in the morn
ing-thank you; good night"
And away the gentleman strode, turning
up the collar of his coat above his ears as he
went on down the street. closed the win
dow, set my "muiilern aside, and in another
moment should have been in my humble
couch again. when Rata tat "a tat a tat-a-tat-
a-tat- tat "a tat-Bang once more aroused
the echoes Of the neighborhood, but brought
no policeman to the rescue, or any anxious
inquirers to the windows, except myself who,
once more enwrapped, and this time trem-
bling with indignation, was minute after
ward in my old position facing the dangers
and inconveniences of the gale, and looking
down once more AT the HSuio uoAoW AAos
: standing in his old position on the brink OF
tho deep gutter in the roadway.
81 beg your pardon again very much,
sm awfully sorry to be such . nuisance. but
] really don't know where am" he cried,
rafting oa with great volubility. 81 haven't
the least idea, and the streets are all alike,
and am quite a stranger to this part Of the
world, and am afraid shant know this
house from any other in the daylight. Might
just trouble you for the address,
"Prussiter street" called down to him
II thank You very much. Boshington
street.
.'Prossiter street" screamed
"Prossiter-a thousand thanks and apollo
gies And what number. ma'am. may askF'
mo To-
II am very much obliged to you," be
bawled forth, Il am exceedingly indebted
would not have troubled YOU in this way il
the umbrella had not been"-
But would not listen to any further ex-
PLANTATION; he had already said that he set
great store by the umbrella, and l did not
want to hear that fact again with the rain