Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-01-19
Comfy 4erala:
MR.. BIRDS UMBRELLA.
By +. W. ROBINSON.

was TOO mucn Oh fuss over me. Lily Brian
told me week afterward, when | was able
to sit up for the first time in my room, that
had been in a critical state and there had
been one night when everybody was anxious
and excited, and even Capt Choppers walked
continuously up and down the stairs for two
hours and half, and said, ''Poor girl, poor
girl, and had a secret conference with Mr..
Goode as to the advisability of having ply
stefan in the morning at their mutual ex-
pense, "and say nothing about it, sir, to any
one.p But | was better the next morning;
changed for the better with the summer
weather which came in, bright and fine and
hot, and suggested holidays out Of town and
by the great green sea for the lucky folk who
could afford to spend their money.
Lily Brian and her mother and father. and
two gawlly brothers whom did not like very
much, and thirteen small members Of the
family, were all going out Of town, and
why not come with usg' Lily had said,
kindly.
My answer was very old one, and very
natural and very truthful, too.
Because cannot afford 1t, Lily"
"Oh, bother the money" said Lily.
That's what often say myself"
1t shall cost you next to nothing-hardly
anything" Lily suggested. Papa says you
viii only have to pay for a room somewhere,
and you can board with us, and, oh, dear, it
viii be awfully jolly
ats very kind Of your papa, and-and I'll
think of it, Lily at any rate"
And make up your mind and say yes
cried Lily-''won't you, jane"
II don't know"
'That fright Of captains going some
where. | know" Lily SAID, land Mr.. Goode
has got free pass down the line, you tell me,
and he's sure TO 60 into the country with so
little to pay for it; it's just like him. And do
think of it, Jane, there's a love!n
did think Of it, Thought Of Mr.. Brian's
large family, eighteen.o them altogether,
and whether it was possible could intrudo
gracefully upon them Mr. Brian had retired
from a cocoanut fiber and street door mat
business in tho Tottenham Court road, and
was pretty well off, with only a slight neces-
sity Of letting his drawing room floor. He
was evidently not rich man, and there
were few struggles to keep up an appear
anec,n although he went out of town with his
family for a month every summer, by ex-
sess desire Of Mrs Brian, who required
-4nge every August, and regularly sailed
forth, en- famille, from her large establish
nent in Prossiter street to house down a
back slum in High street, MargGte, where tho
rooms were small, and the children wero
heaped together sardine fashion, and now
and then camc back with something catch
ing'' as q wind up to the seasons enjoyment.
And this particular August was asked to
join them. There was the sea, and ''You
must take a little change" said the doctor,
and Lily Brian was very pressing, and Capt.
Choppers had talked of going away for q
rs Il
ing home for the holidays, and l, Jane Neild,
was ablo to pay-and would insist upon pay
ing-my fair share for board with the Bri-
ans, having my little room out Of the house,
too, for that peace and quletness which is not
always found in large families. Yes, would
go down to Margate when / was strong
when / was we'll enough to bear the fatigue
of the journey
This was { scomise on the day the Brians,
with much forinality of departure left town
for the season, and / made up my mind to get
well and strong as soon as possible, and join
them When l was down stalks again in my
little back room there was a great surprise
awaiting me. Nailed against the wall, under
my fathers cabinet sized photograph, was a
brand new Ornamental little carving in oak
of dead bird hanging ! y its claws down
ward, and with every feather wonderfully
delineated stared at it with intense as
constituent, and Bridget stood i'll the back
ground with grin on Eer face from car to
car.
sWhere did this come froml Good
gracious, how beautiful! how-well | never
didrn
My thoughts flashed to Mr. Goode, for he
was liberal at times, and grateful for any lit
- fafn In
the shape of da1ning stockings or re-estab-
fishing the security of buttons; but the truth
soon came out, and then / was more aston
ished than ever.
'sIf YOU please, MIN, it's the young man
who lost his umbereller," explained Bridget,
with a loud guffaw at last and violent
stamping Of both her big Irish feet, like an
excitable person with a bone III her throat.
"Whatl'
eyes, m'n,n continued Bridget; ''and
was to say nothing about it TO anybody but
you-and not till you were down stairs again
because he wouldn't have you worried
about anything he said, not for worlds"
''Hc said all that!n
''Ycs MN
But, bless the man" | exclaimed, what
has lie left this here for!
"lt's--its prisent, MN, I'm thinking"
~ present to me, and from that imperti
nent beiag,n / said; I'm see about his pres
ent presently When did he conner
''IIes been here every day, MINI
EVERY dayM
Twice day. Bridget replied "Ant
the day you We're 50 i'll he came three times
to make sure the doctors weren't killing
you"
''It's very extraordinary"
s'IIe is 'stronary MN, asserted Bridget
"shurc, and there's not much doubt of it
The way he axed me and badgered me abou
that umbcreller, MN, every day after YOU
were took i'll, you'd have thought he was I
Judge and jury rolled into one-and Sarah
too, poor critter,"
II never heard Of such behavior in m.
life"
"Right We are. Miss Neild, as far as tina
rocs: bus when Sarah bust out crying at las
he was very sorry and gave her 'arf a crown
and SO he did nc, m'm like a real gentleman
when l thought it was quito time l cried
too, when arf crowns were flying about lik
that
That1l Go, Bridget | said, for Bridge
when loquacious was familiar. "When wa
he here laStF
"This morning
luOSttt
And l told him you were quite com
round, and he said, That's a good job an
went away
$40 You think he'll returnl"
Il don't think 50, MN, for he said, 'GooC
by, Bridget mind you take care Of her. {
he walked hisself off.
''Did he say anything else:"
''N-no, MN, l don't seem to recollectn-
"Answcr me truthfully, Bridget; what els
did he sayI'
"SorIy a word, else, except he hoped Ma
gate would do you power Of good.n
How did he know ! was going TO Ma
gatc.n l inquired.
That's more nor mortal can say, mir
He knows great deal moro about 9th
peoples affairs than ho ought. He interior
like, doesn't hcl He's @ terrible curious youl
man
Bridget, you have something more to t
me, I'm sure you have
tsNst Nc Nnff1