The morning call., 1892-04-18
AN UMBRELLA EPISODE.

Large white hand each grasped the handle
of an umbrella.
This umbrella is mine, / think; did you
wish TO use it?" murmured black eyes with
polite ferceness.
liam sure il is mine. l bought 1t last
year. and have never seen another Ike II,
answered blue eyes. with firm hand on the
article in question.
Vexation and polite unbelief were ex-
pressed on each face Then the gentleman.
with an indulgent, provoking little smile,
said:
eff II is mine can show you my name
on the inside if you will allow me to open
it,
VERY well. pray do So" said she STEP
ping back.
He open 1t, and, behold inside was a
small tag with Richard Ransome" inscribed
thereon. She fell back in confusion, rosy
red and Inundated.
81 am very sorry! l beg your pardon
Where can mine be? l am sure l left il
heTev she exclaimed in distress, glancing
At the falling rain without.
He magnanimously joined In the search,
but nc duplicate umbrella could be found.
He was ashamed of bis i'll temper, and also
made the discovery that she was a lovely
girl; SO, much to Lucy Deans dismay, he
insisted upon escorting her home.
She felt very much like a convicted thief,
ana wondered II he DeieYfQ t0at she laQ
ever had an umbrella Ike his.
81 am afraid our evening has not been as
successful as we hoped" he remarked hest
taIingly. touching upon topic about which
both were sensitive.
''Oh, no! l am so disappointed 1t didn't
seem to take well-that is, they did not ap-
preclate ii as we thought they would; as
they ought 10 have done l mean"
Lucy paused. conscious that she was max
ing bad much worse. They had now
reached cross street. which led TO ber
home. Here she paused, aud acting on an
impulse born Of desire to fly from what
she felt must be his reproachful and indig-
nant chances, she said:
Il see an old friend who is going past our
door, and | will net trouble you farther. l
am much Obliged for your kindness. Good
night" And then she hastily left him.
He stared after her and saw her Join
gentleman, whose face, as seen in the strug-
Cling gaslight, showed both surprise and de-
light at being so hOnoTed.
> Richard RansOme, on disc overing that n 8
umbrella rested on his shoulder and that the
rain was beating on his shiny tile, pulled
himself together and went on his way, solil-
oquZing as follows:
well, this is queer place, Odd folks,
especially the girls, Seemed in a great
hurry to get rid Of me. Didn't seem to take
evidently blaWes me. too. However
don't usually talk TO empty seats" Then,
he laughed. Fancy me getting cross and
rowing with poor little girl about the um-
bTellal But she was game, and | had tn
prove my claim. She evidently thought
was determined to make sure Of some re-
Enumeration for my services Hope l shall
gee her again"
This hope was destined to be speedily
realized. The next day, when Mr.. Ran
some went TO the society rooms TO meet the
committee for whom he had lectured, Lucy
Dean was there, and shyly apologZed 10
him for her blundeT Of the evening before
She explained that her mother had bor-
Iowed her umbrella without her knowledge
he found her pretty embarrassment very
attractive. and asked for permission to call
at her house; this was given him, and he
soon availed himself Of it. Shs was
merry, intelligent little thing, and her fits
OF shyness, when sense Of his awfuness
as dominic came over her, added touch
Of piGuancy which fascinated him.
He found Mrs. Dean, who was ONLY
plumper and matureT Lucy, a pleasant
companion when her daughters converse
ton resolved itself into DrIm mOnOsvllabIes
and he paid the elder lady SO many fatter-
Ing attentions that she was half inclined 20
believe Lucy's admirer her own Indeed.
Lucy might have been Of that opinion too
Ii it had not been for an occasional expires
sion 10 his eyes, when they rested on her,
which always brought the blood to cheek
and brow.
AS the DAYS passed on. Mr. Rausome dis
of womanhood. The idea Of final separa-
ton from her was intolerable When the
time Tor him to resume his city duties
drew near, he knew that he wanted to take
her with him. that he desired her for his
wife. But, puzzled by her shyness, he was
not able to discover how she regarded him.
They were walking together one evening.
when he suddenly resolved to end his sus-
pense and ask her to become his wife.
Lucy listened. daZed She could not realize
hot hnr
The tremendous fact that he whom she had
set upon pedestal of dignity and learning
was only mai, pleading for her love,
seemed impossible to face. She could not
lift her eyes TO his, and when be tried to
draw her nearer she felt sudden, loving
fear Of him. Habit and girlsh modesty
were barriers too great to be overcome ct
once. She gave him one swift glance. and
then broke away and fed toward home.
He stood there. gazing after the flying
figure Disappointed love, wounded pride
and ameZement struggled within him, He
trteu to think how he had offended her. He
searched his memory to see if he had ever
heard OF any girl whit had received a decar-
alton OF love in like manner. Alas! be had
not. He sadly concluded that some other
man must have been before him and that
she dreaded 10 tell him so.
Even though she does not love me she
would have given me chance If there were
no one else" he said
The next few days were wretched ones 10
both. Lucy knew that she had wounded
MIR. Ransome, and was In despair bee ause
she had apparently rejected the love she
really desired. She longed to tell him she
was sorry, but felt that to do SO would be
to surrender entirely. and that she found as
hard TO- do as ever. She hoped be would
seek her again. and so force upon her the
opportunity she was not brave enough to
seek.
And then. alas! he came on the very after
noon on which she went for walk down
the secluded path where he had made his
proposal. TO live over again the scene which
was ever In her thoughts.
MT. Ransome approached the house with
wayering courage, and on being informed
that she was not at home. Immediately con-
Guided that she refused to see him; and he
departed from the town forthwith.
de returned to his work and found some
comfort In the old routine Of his profession /;
yet he was more restless man than he
had ever been IN all bis busy life.
One afternoon. feeling the need of cheer
fui companionship, lie started out um-
brella IN hand to call upon lively friend
who had been former resident of the
town where lived the Deans. Perhaps he
secretly hoped TO hear mention of
ms ungrateful lady love. He reached the
place. and learning that his friend was at
home. turned to place his umbrella in the
fack, when, behold there rested another
exactly like his own. He felt sure that
Lucy was within. and stood moment, de-
eailng on what was best to do. Finally a
desire TO see her again overcame ali other
feelings, and he entered the parlor. His
hostess rose to greet him, and presented him
to her friend, Miss Dean.
Lucy received Mr.. Ransome with COM
p0sure. She may have recognized the pos
eioiiity OF meeting him as a contingency of
her trip. "a
he made his call short one. and as Lucy
returned nome that evening he did not see
her again. wv
IL was not until two weeks nfterward
that be discovered he was In possession of
MISS Deans umbrella instead OF his own.
no was Vexed beyond measure. The fact