, 1889-01-10

thihS Tor the loss OF my umbrella, ;" no said.
hurricdly. Pray don't understand that TO
| be my wish"
"Of course not. The idea"
That's all right then; very likely am a
little put out-rudc, i'll fact, j." he added, apol-
oSetlcally, for am not n Iady's man, and
doh Know anything about ladies; but, as l
am quite prepared u take my oath the UNI
brelia did go down your area, it's rathsr
sggravating To be told you don't belicve a
. word say"
II never said that" answered.
Il shall find it all out NV own way. dare
say; have got habit of sitting to the bot
tom OF things, tho tell mc-but | will not
trouble You any moro about it, Miss NeiId
, havc been a bit rough" hc said; IN
ask You to forgive INC, and to believe don't
think for an instant You know anything
about it Heaven forbid, with such u nice
look as you've got
"Sirm
I beg pardon. Don't mind me; I'm
bothered he ran on, with extraordinary
voluhIllty, "and this umbrella was my old
father , last present-juSt three days before
he died-when lie was given up, and one
would have thought he had had something
more serious to consider than buying me am
umbrella for my birthday He died on nv
birthday, too, which is another odd part of
the story" he ran on; but, there, good day,
madam, l am botheTing you | wish your
cold better-good day"
And away marched Mr. Geoffry Bird out
Of my room and down tho long passage TO
the street door, swinging his arms wildly to
and fro. II jumped the whole flight of steps
into the street and was gone, as | thought.
for good
The next day was very i'll indeed-too ill
to rise. l had caught cold at the open win
dow and In the damp night air, and it had
become absolutely necessary to send for the
doctor, and to make what always considered
was too much of 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 i'll 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 n half, and said, Poor girl DOOR
girl, and had a secret conference with Mr.
Goode as 10 the adviSability of having ply
siclan III the morning at their mutual ex-
pense, and say nothing about it. sir, to any
one" 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
10y the great green sea for the lucky folk who
could afford to spend their money
Lily Brian and her mother and father and
two gawky 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 us Lily had said,
kindly.
My answer was n very old one, and very
natural and very truthful, too
Because | cannot afford it, lily
"0h, bother the money" said Lily.
That's what | often say myself"
1T shall cost you next tn nothing-harily
anything" Lily suggested. Papa says you
will only have to pay for u room somewhere,
and you can board with Tss, and, oh, dear it
will be awfully jolly"
Its 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, Jano:n
II don't know"
That fright of n captains going some
where, / know" Lily SAID, land Mr.. Goode
has go: free pass down the line, you tell me,
md he's sure TO go into the country with so
little to pay for it; its just like him. And do
think of it, Jane, there's a love-"
did think of it. Thought of Mr.. Brian'5
large family, eighteen of them altogether,
and whether it was possible could intrude
gracefully upon them. Mr.. Brian had retired
from n cDcOslnuJ lIpST anu street uOOF mat
business in the Tottenham Court road, and
WIS pretty well Off, with only slight neces
sity of letting his drawing room floor. He
was evidently not rich man, and there
were u few struggles to keep up an appear
/ ancc,n although he went out of town with his
family for month every summer, by cx-
press desire of Mrs. Brian, who required
change every August, and regularly sailed
forth en- famillc, from her large establish
mcnt in PruSsiter street TO Il house down a
back Slum III High street. Margate where the
rooms were small, ami the children were
hcapcd together sartlinc fashion. and now
anu thea came back with something catch
ing" rs Il wind up To the seasons enjoyment
And this particular August was asked to
ioin them There was the sea, and You
/ must take n little change said the doctor,
and Lily Brian was very pressing, and Capt
/ Choppers had talked of going away for q
I week or two and the boys GOodc were COM
ing home for the holidays, and |, Jane Neild,
was allc 10 pay-aId would insist upon pay
ing-ny fair share for board with the Bri-
ms having my little room out of the house,
! too, for that peace and quIetness which is not
always found in large families. Yes, lwould
go down to Margatc when / was strong
( when was well enough to bear the fatigue
. of tho journey
/ This was promise on tho day the BrianS,
with much formality of departure, left town
: for tho season, and made up my mind to get
won and strong as soon ns possible, and JOIN
/ them. When was down s'aifs hsali III my
/ little back room there WAS SFeI'' SUI III ,Se
: awaiting me. Nailed against the wall, under
my fathers cabinet siZed photographs WIS i
brand new ornaments Little carving IN OAK
/ of II dead bird hanging by It's claws down
ward, and with every leather WoHd'FiG''y
delineated. L stared at IL WIN intense "
! tonishment, and Bridget stood IN the back
! ground with grim on her i;ice from CT |"
ear.
"Where did this come from! ''""d
/ gracious, how beautiful! how-wel never
/ dia: cooJ, ,,. ho
| My thoughts flashed TO MT uoodc' LOT n'
was liberal at times ana grateful ior any ii'-
/ tie attentions III his wrl"werhoodS estate ~
| the shape of darnInS stockings or re-'~'t'''