Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-03-21
The Sturg Teller.
Mr.. BIRDS UMBRELLA.
BY F. W. ROBINSON.

BY F. W. ROBINSON.
Rat-a-tat-a-tat- tat a. tat -tat-Bang
There vas pause, and long enough pauss
TO gre me the impression that had beer
dreaming of earthquakes, or Of the lombard
ment Of the British museum, or of a volcanic
eruption in Russell square, to convince me
even forcibly that must have been dream
ing, as sat up in bed, and rubbed my eyes
and listened. Then-Bang! bang! bang!-
Observation-Disclosures 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
BrianS or a lunat:c had escaped, and was
clamoring for admittance, straight waistcoat
and all, or else the up stairs dodgers had come
back prematurely from their visit to
Tunbridge, and were anxious to get in
out of the rain, which was coming down
with q vehemenco that was certainly
startling. I could surmise nothing
F. more at moments notice and at 2:SO in the
morning.
We all slept very soundly in No. 10 Prossi-
ter street, Prossiter place, Russell square,
Bloomsbury, for we worked very hard at
Nc. 10, and the house was large one. 1t
was house of many lodgers-parlor floor,
first floor and second foor-and all COM
fortably let, and those dodgers who were at
home were all fast asleep, or else waiting for
me, the poor, weakly proprietor Of the es-
tabliShment Uano Neild, at your service,
gentle reader, age q, and an orphan with an
establishment on her mind, and living to
get out of the establishment, to call to the
servants bridget, able bodied, general" !"
aged 40, and frightful temper, and Sarah,
aged 49, child with chronic cold and a 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 a row."
That was the way it 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
Mt last in an attire which Bridget oold me
afterwards was far from decorous, and began
oawling vociferously up the staircase the
names of each of my maids in turn, conclud-
ing with my own name in a shrek Of sheer
despair.
"Miss Neild-here, I SAYS everybody
deads Miss N-e-e-e-ild!"
'EBless my soul, captain, what is it now?'
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 thc-~hat do you say,
madam
"Tm going to open the window and inquire
unless you"-
Its no business of mine, Miss Neild,"
bawled the captain. ~ don't expect any
body-rm 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 so dinboically deaf. shall leave this
day week, ma'am. There"
And slam went the back drawing room
door, and crick crack went the key in the
irascible captains lock. I was in my dress
ing room, with a flannel garment, which
take the liberty here of calling '.muf1er,"
wrapped round my head and shoulders; and,
as I went toward the window, trembling,
must say, in every limb, the knocking was
repeated for the third time, and with a three
fold vigor, born os the delay and irritation
to past summonses
waited until there was silence again, or
nearly silence-for I could distinctly hear
Capt. Choppers loading all his firearms-and
then opened the widow, and peered into the
damp, shiny street, which the wind and rain
had all to themselves, with the exception of
dark figure on my top step, whose hat
could see was as shiny as the pavement.
what is it," I inquired; but the wind
whisAed 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 curbstone,
with his hands behind him, looking up at me
at last. could make noting Of him in the
darkness from my point Of view.
"What do you want, sirp asked, now
that had secured the attention of this indi-
vidual. "What are you making such noise
for at this time Of nightr'
"rm very sorry to disturb you, Lady,
$50 it seems" said, acrimoniously; but he
did not hear me, and perhaps it was us
well he did not. Ihave not a reputation for
being severe in my remarks, 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
area. would not mind so much, he conde-
scendcd to explain still further, at the top Of
his voice, "but it's an umbrella I set great
store by Besides, it's raining tremend-
ously."
II really cannot come down at this hour
and got your umbrella" said, severely;
''you must call tomorrow for it."
isn't there any one in the house-any man
who can get it!'
''The house is locked up for the night"
"It's such a very deep area or would drop
over and get it myself. But then don't see
how to get out again." he said.
II can't help you, sir; I am very sorry,"I
replied, "but can't 60 down tonight for it."
II should be brute to ask you, ma'am,"
he said, politely now; and here I could see
be raised his hat to me; "of course I could
not tell who was in the house, or whether it
might not be easyto 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 strobe, turning
up the collar of his coat above his ears as he
went on down tho street. closed the win
dow, set my ''lnuff1er" aside, and in another
moment should have been in my humble
couch again, when Observation-Disclosures
at-a-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 cnwrapped, and this time trem-
bling with Indignation, was a minute after
ward in ny old position facing tho dangers
and Inconvenience of the gale, and looking
down once more at the figure below me,
standing in his old position on the brink OF
the deep gutter in the roadway.
II beg your pardon again very much, l
am awfully sorry to be such nuisance, but
really don't know where I am," he cried,
rattling on with great volubility. "rhavent
the least idea, and the streets are all alike,
and am quite stranger to this part Of the
world, and am afraid l shant know this
house from any other in the daylight. Might
I just trouble you for the address,"
"Prossiter street," called down to him.
81 thank you very much. BoshingtoD
street."
"Prossiter street." screamed
= "Prossiter-a thousand thanks and apollo
gics. And what number, ma'am, may ask! n
"No. TO-"
~ am very much obliged to you," he
bawled forth, II am exceedingly indebted.
would not have troubled you in this way if
the umbrella had not been"-
But would not listen to any further e1-