The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1892-10-08
THREE UMBRELLAS.
The Part They Played in a Pretty
Romance.

4A0 XoLb 440y3l6JOo IL O 1lcItl
Romance.
"lf it didn't look as if / were tryin,
to gain ome benefit from your umbrel
Ia he remarked. as he CHANGED to NEE
her on the church steps after service
81 would ask TO walk home with you.
didn't expect rain when ] left home, 81
] am unprepared."
However" came her clear reply, JUS
arch enough to be fascinating and jus
tender enough to be frank, IF you'll
carry my umbrella and let me turn my
energies to keeping my dress caught
up out of the mud Ill be very Thankful
to you"
They had walked, strangely enough
half way home in almost complete
silence, when d man and a woman
passed them, like them under one UNI
brella, but unlike them the woman
was held snugly close to the mans
side as she chung to his arm. 1t was a
pretty picture of that open freedom
which SO ~undeniably marks a congenial
man and wife, whose companionshir
has ripened into frank trust.
AS they passed, Robert COPYRIGHT
said, half thoughtfully. perhaps:
They are sensible. If two are trying
to use one umbrella they are surely TO
be commended if they ST. i've to take up
as little room as possible. Even if it
be noon, won't you take my ARM"
But they are plainly not such-such
strangers as We" she returned. con-
scious that both were treading on dan
gerous ground.
Are we strangers" he asked quick
ly. turning his eyes searchingly to her.
The pretty face grew a trifle pale
against its light brown hair. A lump
seemed to climb to her throat, but she
returned, bravely: ''Yes-that Is, we'll
always be strangers compared with
them"
He stopped for an instant and gazed
fixedly at her till a hot flush flew up
from out her fur collar and swept under
the velvet strings of her dainty brown
bonnet.
"Always?" he asked, simply.
"Yes. Why, can't you see that they
are married?"
She tried to laugh it away. but it
would have been difficult to tell which
pair of lips quivered the more or which
pair of eyes swan in the deepest mist
rs the two started on. both silent, both
sad, both realizing that a little tragedy
had occurred in that brief instant I'M
der hat dripping umbrella oil the oon
boulevard.
Eight years went by and found
Gabriel Vaughne alone in the world.
with necessity for keeping up a life in
which all interest and all energy were
dead. She had at last arisen from 4
tedious illness. and the nurse herself
scarcely recognized the tall. pale, sad
faced woman, with the short, dark
curls, as the bright-eyed, light-haired
girl of six months before. Gabriel had
one thing dear to her, and only one.
our dearest memories are the cruelest
parts of our lives. When finally she
before a mirror and realized that
that changed creature was herself a
mighty resolve filled her-she would go
TO the source of that memory.
She knew where he was: she knew
that he had married three years after
bitter morning in the rain, and
had married a wealthy wife. That was
The reason that she had thrust him
back from her long ago, just because
Of his poverty. Not that it would pain
her, a thousand times no! Hadn't she
cried out, night after night since, that
with him would DO only
bliss? But she had known his am
billions and his capabilities; knew his
of success, and she realized his
ability to turn the dreams to realities.
She was poor. Would she permit her.
self to hang milestone about his neck?
she hold him always in the
of poverty by being his wife
the mother of his needy children?
No, she would hurt his heart before she
would ruin his life.
Time had proved that she had been
light. His wife was a beautiful woman
her wealth had opened boundless
opportunities to him. He had risen
he had known hat he would. But,
low that she scarcely was able to
,now herself she would venture into
lis world and see for herself how hap
y and proud and prosperous he was
So, having spent all but her last
ill for her ticket, she stepped into
Philadelphia n spring evening, steel
ng her heart to what might follow.
The next evening she had walked past
is great, rich house and was starting
Jack when a sudden shower burst I'M
upon her. She gathered up
skirts in that particular way SO
characteristic of a dainty woman and
ras hurrying along when all nj once
he was conscious of a sharp childish
nv at her side. Turning, she beheld a
all, sad-faced man trying to quiet a
baby of about two years. which
ED out its dimpled hands to her and
ried:
Mamma! Mammal
The gentleman strove to stop it and
started on. But sharp ana
came the Mammal" and her
cart babe her linger.
For the first time the nan spoke to
err.
Il must beg your pardon, madam.
is mother has just died and something
bout you seems to have recalled her
, him."
Gabriel's heart softened at once. Go
lg straight up she took the tiny, out
hands in her own and muir.
Iured: Poor, motherless little one"
The father held out his umbrella over
er and for the first time she looked at
im-the face was Roberts! She was
lad for the excuse of turning to baby
gain and murmuring something unin-
Eligible. However, he had not recog- ]
led her, 70 she drew all her strength
her. assistance and succeeded in hid
her emotion.
IF you will walk under mynmbrella, |