Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-02-07
Confined fron yesterday
MIR. BIRDS UMBRELLA.
By ,. ". ROBINSON.

But did not ses neither the application
nor the umbrella was apparent to me, and
my heart quite sank at the news which bad
to impart TO him The man was 20 enwrapped
in his umbrella speaking iguratively-that
/ felt it was necessary TO break the news
gently.
Yes he was impuIsive, and dashed to con-
illusions; and the smile did leave his face as
suddenly and completely a. if somebody had
pulled it away by a string and a settled look
Of horror. and for an instant open mouthed
idiocy, took its place.
THE fact is,r be repeated, very slowly at
last; go On, please
That there was no umbrella down our
area at all
'"Ohl that won't do he exclaimed, 90
abruptly and rudely that / felt the color
coming up all over rae: that won't do at
any price
Il don't know what you mean by any
price, sir, said, drawing myself up to my
full height, as the novelists say-and that
height was exactly five feet three inches Gnd
a half when fully drawn up and . little bit
On tiptoe-'but you must take my word sir,
that haven't set eyes on your umbrella"
$40, Miss Eeili, / don't suppose you
have he said, very quickly; don't think
that / think that you hink-that-that-
why, Of course, DON'T he said, tumblinS
into another sentence as the first one became
hopelessly involved, land it's not at all likely;
but it went down your area-I was perfectly
sober-and the servants must have seen it in
the morning. May ask the servantsf'
II have asked them"
''Isn't there q page boy or somebody who
comes early to clean some:hingF'
No"
Who is the first to 60 into that area in the
morning, Miss Neildf' he inquired; ''soms-
body for Goals, supposer
bridget or Sarah, certainly"
II should very much like TO see Bridget
and Sarah he suggested Iii you would not
| object
"You must be content with my word, sir,
| that your umbrella is not the premises
| | said, still loftily; II cannot have my ser
wants subjected to q crossexamination on
this question. / have already made every
inquiry"
''They tell you they have not seen my UNI
| brellaT
They do
"And you believe thenr'
| Certainly"
/
| ing,n he said frantically
I'm aware of that"
because, you see, it is quite impossible,
unless there's anybody else in the house who
gets up earlier than the servants. Is there
anybody elsef he asked.
YES, there's a gentleman who lodges in
my frcnt parlors, who leaves very early,
| but
"Thats the man. Where is her cried
Mr.. Bird, with frantic dash in a new di-
rection of suspicion II should like to see
him"
He's gentleman holding high position
on the railway, and u not at all likely to con-
fiscate property that does not belong to him."
/ said.
II don't say he has conflscated it," an
swered Mr.. Bird, less brusquey, "but he
may have seen it this morning, and put it
aside for further inquiries.
"Mr Goode is not in the habit Of going
into my area | said; II don't believe he has
been in the area in the whole course OF his
life"
"Not before this morning, Miss Neild-
very likely not, having nothing to go for, as
1t werc. But wien M caught sight Of IN
umbrella-nrd very peculiar umbrella
lying on the wet stones, haven't the slight
est doubt
'IIe could not get into the area, sir"
said; Bridget takes up the key with her
every night, and, besides, told him about
the umbrella this morning"
"What did he say to thatf
"IIe said it was like your impertinence-
COMPOUNDED impertinence,' may say were
the actual words used,n | answered, Ito
make such noise in the middle Of the night
md no sbauII 10 IN t~iy m If
mind
"Ohl he said that. did her he remarked,
biting his finger nails almost savagely.
| Yes
Then he's the man who's got my umbrc[
Ia" he cried: II see it all now He's keeping
it back out of spite."
"Mr. Bird, this is absolutely uncomfortable y
81 suppose he was the fellow believing
about the house like bull last night, trying
to make somebody understand that l was
knocking | heard him"
NO, he was not the fellow" I replied,
severely; that was Capt. Choppers"
'Does Capt Choppers get up earlyF'
mo, he doesn't; he's a very late riser, in
deed, believe hos in bed now"
That's his artfulness," said the suspicious
individual, Just to make you fancy"-
But would not allow him to proceed any
further. was fairly reused by this
strangers disparaging reflections. I rose,
looked steadily and gravely at him, and said:
This interview is at an end, Mr.. Bird
These gentlemen my dodgers NJ. hit
say almost my friends-and I cannot listen
TO your cruel and uncnlled for remarks
against their common honesty"
Common honesty il may be- Miss Neild."
he replied; but You must allow there is
very uncommon dishonesty somewhere in
your establishment"
II will allow nothing"
Il don't mean want you to allow me any
thing for the loss of my umbrella" be said.
hurredly Pray don't understand that to
be my wish
"Of course not The idear'
That's all right then: very likely am
little put out-rude, in fact" he added, apol
ogetically, "for am not a lady's man, and
don't know anything about ladies; but, as |
am quite prepared to take my oath the UNI
brella did 60 down your area, it's rather
aggravating to be told you don't believe .
word say"
II never said that" answered.
II shall find it all out my own way, I dare
say; have got habit of sitting to the bot
tom OF things, they tell me-but l will not
trouble you any more about it, Miss Neild
|
ask you to forgive mo, and to believe don't
think for an instant you know anything
about it Heaven forbid, with such a nice
look as you've GOT
"Sirl"
Il beg pardon. Don't mind me; Tn
bothered he ran on, with extraordinary
volubility, land this umbrella was my old
fathers last present-just three days before
he died-when he was given up and one
would have thought he had had something
more serious to consider than buying me an
umbrella for my birthday. He died on my
birthday, too, which is another odd part Of
the story he ran on; but. there, good day,
madam, / am bothering you. I wish your
cold bctter-good day"
And away marched Mr.. Geoffry Bird out
Of my room and down the long passage to
the street door, swinging his arms wildly to
and fro. II jumped the whole fight of steps
into the street and was gone, Us I thought,
for good.
The next day was very III indeed-too III
to rise. I had caught cold at the open win
dow and in the damp night air. and it had
II.