Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-09-23
Under Three Umbrellas.

sIf 1t didn't look as if were trying
to gain some benefit frcm your UNI
brella," he remarked, as he CHANGED TO
meet her on the church steps after SER
vice, 81 would ask to walk homo with
you. Ididn't expect rain when | left
home, so am urprcpared."
"However," came her clear reply,
just arch enough TO be fascinating and
just tender enough to be frank, 'if
you'll carry my umbrella and let me
turn my energies to Keeping my dress
caught up cut of Tie mud Ill be very
thankful to YOU"
They had walked, strangely enough,
half way home in almost complete ST.
lencr, when a man and woman passed
them, like them, under one umbrella,
but, unlike them, the woman was held
snugly close 10 the mans side as she
clung to his arm. 1t was a picture of
that open freedom which SO uudcnia-
by marks congenial man and wife,
whose companionship has riponed into
frank trust.
As they passed Ro5crt Courtright
said, half thoughtfully, perhaps:
"Thcy are sensible. If two are
trying 10 use one umbrella, they are
surely to be commended if they strive
10 take up as little room as possible.
Even if it be noon, won't you take my
?" @
"But they are plainly not such
such strangers as we" she returned.
conscious that both were trcading on
dangerous ground.
"Are we sirangcrs?" he asked
quickly, turning his eyes searchingly
10 her.
The pretty faco grow a trifio pale
against its light-brown lair. A lump
seemed to climb TO her throat, but she
returned, bravely: "Yes-that is, wc'll
always be strangers compared with
tliem."
He stopped for an instant and gazed
hXedly at her till hot flush flew up
from out her dark fur collar and
swept under the velvet strings Of hor
dainty brown bonnet.
"AlwaysP' he asked simply.
eyes. Why, can't you see that they
are marricd?"
She tried to laugh it away. but ii
would have been difficult 10 tell
which pair of lips quivcred tho most
or which pair of eyes swan in the
deepest mist as the two started on.
both silent, both sad, both realizing
that little tragedy had occurred in
that brief instant under that dripping
umbrella on the noon boulevard.
Eight years went by and found
Gabriel Vaughnc alone i'll the world
with necessity for keeping up life
IN which all interest and all energy
were dead. She hal ut list arisen
from tedious lncss, 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 d ar to her.opd
only one, and that was memory.
AMI some of our dearest mcmorios
are the cruelcst parts Of our lives
When finally she stood before A mir
ror' and realized that that changed
chealure was herself, a mighty re-
solve filed hcr-sho would go to The
source of that memory.
She knew where lie was; she knew.
mat he hal married three Years afttss
that bitter morning in the rain. AM
had married q wealthy wife. THAI
was the reason that she had thrust him
back from her long ago, just because
of his poverty. Not that il wou,d
pain her, thousand times no! IIaln't
she cried out, night after night since,
that starvation with him would be
only bliss? But she had known hi.
ambitions and his capabilities; knew
his dreams Of success, and she realized
his ability to turn tho dreams into
realities. She was poor. Would she
permit herself to hang a millstonc
about his neck! No, she would hurt
his heart before she would ruin his
life.
Time had proved that she had boen
right. His wife was beautiful
woman, aud her wealth had opened
boundless opportunities to him. He
had risen-she had known that he
would. Bat, now that she scarcely
was able to know herself, she would
venture into his world and sec for her