Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-03-02
THE MAJORS UMBRELLA.

Isn't she ridiculous
" declare" gasped Rhoda Filley, Eve
laughed until my sides ache p
You ought to be an actress, Patty
Price," said Mary Ellis.
the girls stood around, in little group
laughing and applauding. 1t was dull
rainy day, and business was not brisk al
the Dry Goods and Fancy Emporium,
on the corner Of Main street and Willow
avenue.
Major Carson had just been in to look al
yellow-silk Observation-Disclosures tall
slender man with very black eyes, and a
complexion that matched the pocket-hand.
kerchiefs-and had gone away leaving a
curious old Madras-silk umbrella with a
hooked ivory handle, carved in simili-
tude of stork's head, on the counter.
And Martha Price, the youngest, merri-
est and prettiest of all the shop maidens
had caught it up, twisted yellow bandana
around her neck, put one of the "newest
of her chestnut curls, and was paradinp
down the middle of the side aisle, with an
excellent imitation Of the half-halt that
characterized Major Carson's gait. Even
Mr.. Hoyt, the digniied floor walker looked
on from a distance and smiled.
That Patty Price is regular little
lump of witchcraft," said he to Miss DAILY,
the cashier. "Just look at her, will you ?
Pm told she is capital in private theatri-
Gals. And she is certainly very pretty
"Ye-es," primly assented Miss Daily.
She had nothing against Patty Price,
but it is hard for woman of 80, afflicted
with chronic neuralgia, to sympathize
heartily in the praises of a woman 80
years her junior.
Just at the moment when the laughter
was loudest the store door noiselessly
opened. Major Carson himself re-entered
"Did | leave my umbrella here ?" he
asked, with a quiet glance which swept
the whole auditorium and took in every
detail of the scene. "Oh, yes, see. A
thousand thanks p
He lifted his hat with quaint, old
fashioned bow, and left the store
Patty Price stood aghast, the felt hat
still topping her crop of curls, the yellow
pocket-handkerchief yet displaying its
fiat bow under the central dimple of her
chin.
The sudden laughter of her audience
was hushed. Miss Daily uttered little
gasp Of horror. Mr.. Hoyt raped sharply
with his knuckles on the nearest counter
top.
Girls" said he, ''go back to your de.
partments. This isn't business"
The knot of damsels dispersed at once
but Patty Price carried the heaviest heart
of all beneath the coquettish surplice fold.
of her blue delaine frock.
81 oughtn't to have done it." she falt
cred, busying her hands among the rolls O
colored ribbon that the porter had JUS
brought up stairs. Prudence always TOLD
me that nay foolish, Eighty ways woulc
bring me into trouble. Pm quite, quit,
sure that he saw me"
"What if he did," encouraged Rhode
Filley. "He can't have you arrested, car
hep?
"Oh, but he has been so good to us,
half whispered Patty. ''He left his hand
some suite of rooms at the hotel and tool
board with mother just to help us along
and sister Prudence says he is the mos
perfect gentleman she ever knew. Oh,
don't know how shall ever look him il
the face again p
SIS he an old beau of your mother !?
asked Rhoda, indifferently.
Patty started.
'sNo," she cried, ''of course not Why
he's not 40 yet, for all he looks so old. It
the East Indian climate that has done that
Prudence says she thinks he's very hand
some, and"
ooh p laughed Rhoda, sthen it's siste
Prudence he's in love with p
81 wish YOU wouldn't say such disagreed
BILE things" said Patty, frowning. 'sHush
don't you see there's customer coming?
All day long Patty was in low spirits
She went home at night with headache
taking care to be little behind the regu
lar family tea-time, so as not to see Maio
Carson.
''If he told mother" she pondered, 'sas
would serve me entirely right for him Z
do so-whst will she say? Prudence, to
If Rhoda speaks the truth. and she
really in love with Major Carson-she vii
never forgive me. And now / come :
think of it, Msjor Carson's profile is per
feet, and his quite, courteous ways are no
bit like the other men around here. III
does walk little lame on one ankle, bu
when one remembers that he got the bulle
wound in protecting party of wome
from the mail robbers on the Neilgherr
Hills-oh, dear. what evil spirit did pos
sess me TO mimic him to-day? twas tn
sight of that queer old umbrella, | do be
lieve that put it into my head. Oh
Daphne always said that piece of ivory o
the handle was carved out of an easter
amulet, and | believe she was RICH
Daphne don't ike to pass that umbrella
the dark. She always utters some spell {
she goes by There it is now"
She stopped and looked at the umbrelli
as it leaned against the rail OF the stan
in the hall, where single gas jet burne
feebly in the lantern overhead.
as it good spirit, / wonder" 81
asked herself, " or an evil ore that Daphr
is afraid OFF,
She took the umbrella in her hand an
looked wistfully at the carvings of ii
stork's head.
"The Sacred Ibis, ! suppose she POI
dered. And / wish hadn't made fun
it. Prudence will be so angry"
She was still looking intently at til
Majors umbrella, when the street do,
opened and the Major himself came in.
"Pm afraid" said he, "that / am
little late for tea. On, you are looking
my umbrella, Miss Martha. Well, graz
you with quiet smile) "it is rathe
ridiculous; but it is very old friend
mine, and Pve prejudice in favor of o.
friends"
Patty burst into tears; the umbrella fe
against the iron she'll of the hat-rac
splitting the stork's head in two.
HPIease do forgive me, Major Carson
she sobbed. Pve behaved like Pat
CONAN Indian, and l don't deserve TIL
you should ever speak TO me againl But
never will again-and, oh, please, II
broken it nowi What will Prudence say
at don't matter" said the Major quiet
interposing to prevent her picking up Il