Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-03-21

ter might be up, Tor there was light burn
ing over the hall door, and it wouldn't be
great deal Of trouble and save my getting
wet through Why, would much rather
have lost my umbrella altogether than have
given you cold, although it's an umbrella
which I would not take eco for-no, nor ESQ
either.n
'Is it very valuable umbrellaT'
"Oh, no, not at all; but, as you know now,
it's my best umbrella in every sense of the
word" he said laughing, "my very best UNI
brella, don't you seer
But did not see; neither the application
nor tho umbrella was apparent to me, and
my heart quite sank at the news which had
to impart to him. The man was so enwrapped
in his umbrella-speakingf figuratively-
I felt it was necessary to break the news
gently.
"rm sorry to say don't see,"I replied,
"for the fact isl
Yes, he was impulsive, and dashed to con-
clusions; and the smilo did leave his face as
suddenly and completely as if somebody had
pulled it away by q string, and settled look
of horror, and for an instant open mouthed
idiocy, took its place. .... ssa
'The fact is" he repealed, very slowly at
siast: ssgo on, please. nassS s-s,'s-.--& !
s'That there was no umbrella down our
area at ALL"
''Oh! that won't do" he exclaimed, so
abruptly and rudely that felt the color
coming up all over mo; "that won't do at
anypricc."
II don't know what you mean by any
price, sir" I said, drawing myself up to my
full height, as the novelists say-and that
height was exactly five feet three inches and
half when fully drawn up and O little bit
on tiptoe-"but you must take my word, sir,
that haven't sot eyes on your umbrella"
mo, Miss Neild, I don't suppose you
have" he said, very quickly; don't think
that I think that you think-that-tha
why, of course, DON'T" he said, tumbling
into another sentence as the first one became
hopelessly involved, "and it's not at all likely:
but it went down your area-I was perfectly
sober-and tho servants must have seen it in
the morning. May ask the servantsF'
II have asked them"
''Isn't there a page boy or somebody who
comes early to clean something's"
emo"
"Who is the first to go into that area in the
body for Goals, supposeF'
Bridget or Sarah, certainly"
II should very much like to see Bridget
and Sarah" he suggested, "if you would not
object"
'You must be content with my word, sir,
that your umbrella is not on tho premises"
Isaid, still loftily; 81 cannot have my SER
wants subjected to cross-examination on
this question. I have already made every
inquiry"
'They tell you they have not seen my um-
brella?'
"They do"
s!And YOU believe themf'
"Certainly"
"Wen, I don't-and that's plain speak
ing" ho said frantcally.
"rm 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 clse?' he asked.
'Ycs, there's a gentleman who lodges in
my front parlo,s, who leaves very early,
butt
"Thats the man. Whero is heF' cried
Nh. Bird, with frantic dash in q new di-
rection of suspicion. II should like to SEQ
him"
"He's gentleman holding high position
on the railway, and is not at all liLely to con-
fiscate property that does not belong to him"
said.
II don't say he has confiscated it," an
swered Mr.. Bird, less brusquely, "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; ~ don't believe he has
been in the area in the whole course of bis
life"
''Not before this morning, Miss Neild-
very likely not. having nothing to 20 for, Us
it were. But when he caught sight Of all
lmbrella-and a very peculiar umbrella
lying on the wet stones, haven't the slight
est doubt
"He could not get into tho 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'
"He said it was like your impertinence-
'confounded impertinence,' may say, were
the actual words used," I answered, Ito
make such noise in the middle Of the night,
and he should like to give you piece of bis
mind"
"Oh! he said that, did heg' he remarked,
biting his finger nails almost savagely.
eyes"
"Then he's the man who's got my umbrel-
la," he cried; II see it all now. He's keeping
it back out of spite!"
"Mr. Bird, this is absolutely unendurable.' p
~ suppose he was the fellow believing
about the house like bull last night, trying
to make somebody understand that I was
knocking. heard him."
"No, he was not the fellow" I replied,
severely; ''that was Capt. Choppers"
'Does Capt. Choppers get up early?"
''No, he doesn't, he's very late riser, in
deed; believe he's in bed now"
"That's his artfulness," said the suspicious
individual, "just to make you fancy
But I would not allow him to proceed any
further. I 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 are my lodgers-I might
say almost my friends-and I cannot listen
to your cruel and unca:led for remarks
against their common honesty"
Common honesty it may be, Miss Neild,"
be replied; "but you must allow there is
very uncommon dishonesty somewhere in
your establishment"
~ will allow nothing"
II don't mean want you to allow me any
thing for the loss Of my umbrella" !" he said.
hurriedly. "Pray don't understand that to
be my wish"
"Of course not The ideal"
THAT'S all right then; very likely I am
little put out-rude, in fact" he added, apol-
ogetically, "for am not lady's man, and
don't know anything about ladies; but, as I
am quite prepared to take my oath the UNI
brella did go down your area, it's rather
aggravating to be told you don't believe
word say"
~ never said that" answered.
II shall find it all out my own way, dare
say; have got habit of sitting to the bot
tom Of things, they tell me-but will not
trouble you any more about it, Miss Neild.
If have been bit rough" he said; "Ill
ask you to forgive me, and to believe don't
think for an instant you know anything
about it. Heaven forbid, with such nice
look as you've got'-
"Sirm
II beg pardon. Don't mind me; Tin
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