The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-30
TIE MAJORS UMBRELLA.

NNNlii| = ir''l''' '''''''t Wv -
laughed until nay sides achcV
"You ought TO lie an actress, Pott
Price" said Mary Ellis.
The girls stood around. in q It'll
group, laughing and applauding ltwa
dull, rainy day, and business was no
brisk at the Dry Goods and Fancy En-
porium" on the corner Of Main street an,
Willow avenue.
Mai. Carson had Just been in 10 look q
yellow silk pocket handkerchief tall
slender man with very black eyes and {
complexiOn that matched the poke
handkerchiefs..and had gone away
leaving a curious old Madras silk UNI
brclla with hooked ivory handle, carved
in the simlitudc of a storl's head, on
tho counter.
And Martha Price, The youngest, MGR
ricst and prettiest Of all the shop maid
-cns. had caught it up, twisted yellow
bandanna around her neck. put ono o;
the newest styles Of gontlemcn's fet
hats on the side of her chestnut curls,
and was parading down the middle Of
the side axle, with an excellent imitation
of the half hali that characterized Mai
Canon's gait Even Mr.. Iloyt. the dis-
niicd floor walker. l2oked on FROM q Gi,
lance and smiled.
THAT Patty Price is regular lille
lump OF withcraft, sail ho 10 Miss Daly,
the cashier "Just look at her, will you:
I'm told she is capital in private theain
Gals. And she is certainly very pretty
s "Ye-es," prinlly assenied Miss DAILY.
She had nothing against Patty Price
but it il hard for q woman of 80 afflicted
with chronic neuralgia, to sympathize
heartily in the praises of a woman thirty
years her junior
Just at the moment when the laughter
was ioudcst. the store door ncisel ssly
opened, Mai. Carson himself re-cntered.
"Did 1 leave my umbrella hereY he
asked, with a quiet glance which swept
tho whole auditorium. and took in every
detail of thc;sccnc. "Oh, yes, see. A
thousand thanks
He lifted lishat with the quaint, oil
fashioned bow. and lett the store.
Patty Price stood aghast, the felt hat |
still topping her crop of curls, the yeiioy
,Ucket handkerchief yet Displaying it, !
flai bow under the central dimplc OF her
chin.
Tho sudden laughter Of her audience
MIS- hushcd. Miss DAILY uttered q little
gasp Of horror. Mr. Hoyt raped shalpl7
with his.tnuckles on the nearest counter
,op.
Girls" said he, go bacl. to your d.
D3Itmcuts This isn't business
The knot of damsols dispersed at once,
but Patty Price carried The heaviest heart
Of all Beneath thc coquetiish sarplicc
fold; OF her Haze dclainc frock,
IL oughtnt TO have done it." she f1lt-
cred, basying her HANDS among the rolls
of coloTcd ribbon tiiai The porter had Just
brought upstairs. Prudence alwavs told
me Chat my foolish, Eighty WAYS would
bring me into trouble. In quite, quite
sure that he saw moi
"What II he dldy' encouraged RhCla
fillcy. "Iie cant have you arrested.
can hei"
-Oh. but he has been so good 10 us.
half whispered Patty He left his
salt 81 rooms Gt the hotel AID
took board with mother Just 90 help u
along; and sister Prudence gays he IS the
most perfect gentleman she ever knew.
Oh, don't know law shall ever look
him in The face aga1lr"
"ls lac an old hcaI of your mcthers"
asked Bhoda, indifIcrcntly.
Patty started.
"No!' she cried; "of course mott Nhy.
lc's not 40 yet. for all ho looks so old.
It's the East Indian climate has done
hat. Prudence says che thinks he's ,
fcrv handsome and
"Oh!' laughed Rhoda; "thcn it's sister
Prudence hes in love with:'
II wish YOU wouldn't say such dis
gleeable things,' said Patty, frowning.
Hush! don't you sec there's a customer /
oming?" .
All Gay long Patty WIS in low spirits.
'he went home at night with head
che. taking care to be little behind the {
ocular family tea time, SO as not 10 see
iaj Carson.
eff he told mother" she pondercd, las |
would serve III, entirely right for hin
, do, what will she say? Prudence. too
If Rhoda speaks truth. and she il re-
lly in love with Mai. Carson-shc will a
ever forgive me. And now come to
link of it, Maj CarGon's profile is per- il
W, ~ftU llN 'ltitt. (tli tNOtio WY = tit ~
OF . bit like those of the other men /.
round here. He does walk little lame
n ono ankle but when ono remembers -
vat he got the bullet wound in protect il
~ a party Of women FROM the mail I!
)bbcTs on the Neilghcrry liills-oh dear.
hat evil spirit did possess me 10 mimic
i'm today! IL was the sight Of that
uccr old umbrella. | do believe chat
ut it into my head. Old Daphne always Ct
.id that piece Of ivory on the handle T.
as carved out of an eastern amulet, and s.
believe she was right! Daphne don't b.
ke 70 pass that umbrella in the dark. II
be always utters some spell as she goes "a
'. There it is now!" II
She stopped and looked at the UNI b'
rella as il leaned against the rail of tho J,
Ut stand in the hall, where single gas d'
t burned fee5ly in the lantern over to
,2d L,
rs i. a good spirit, wonder" she g
ked herself, ''or an evil one, that d,
aphne is afraid OF" CT
She took tho umbrella in her hand and az
okcd wistfuly at the carvings Of the Of
DIRK 8 head. IN
The Sacred IBIS, suppose" she pom ps
rel. "And wish hadn't made fun 1t
it, Prudence will be TO angry" 81
She was still looking iHtently at the iii
d lOr'p umbrella when the street door oh