The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1892-11-03
THREE UMBRELLAS.
The Part They Played in q Pretty
Romance.

u Rdlu SOIu5 Dcu6hu your uInDrel-
ia" he remarked, as he chanced to meet
her on the church steps after service,
II would ask to walk home with you,
didn't expect rain when left home, so
I am unprepared-"
However" came her clear reply, Just
arch enough to be fascinating and Just
tender enough to be frank, eff you'll
carry my umbrella and let me turn my
energies to keeping my dress caught
up out Of the mud I'll be very thankful
to you"
They had walked, strangely enough,
half way home in almost complete
silence, when a man and woman
passed them, like them under one um-
brella, but unlike them the woman
was held snugly close to the mans
side as she clung to his arm. 1t was
pretty picture, of that open freedom
which SO undeniably marks a congenial
man and wife. whose companionship
has ripened into frank trust.
AS they passed, Robert Courtright
said, half thoughtfully, perhaps:
''They are sensible. If two are trying
to use one umbrella they are surely to
be commended if they strive to take up
as little room as possible. Even if it
be noon, won't you take my arm2"
''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
~, turning his eyes searchingly to her.
sN 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 hot flush few up
from out her fur collar and swept under
the velvet strings Of her dainty brown
bonnet .t.s
"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
as the two started on, both silent, both
| sad, both realizing that little tragedy
had occurred in that brief instant un-
der that dripping umbrella on the noon
boulevard.
Eight years went by and found
| Gabriel Vaughne alone in the world,
with necessity for keeping up life in
which all interest and all energy were
dead. She had at last arisen from
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,
and that was memory. And some of
| our dearest memories are the cruelest
| parts of our lives When finally she
stood before a mirror and realized that
that changed creature was herself q
mighty resolve filed her--shc would go
to the source of that memory.
She knew where he was; she knew
that he had married three years after
that 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
| SAACA oulS hASh bACCA ll.S lio oiiSOs Chebo
starvation with him would be only
bliss? But she had known his am
billions and his capabilities; knew his
dreams 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?
Would she hold him always in the
depths of poverty by being his wife
and 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
right. His wife was beautiful woman.
and her wealth had opened boundless
opportunities to him. He had risen
she had. known that he would. But,
now that she scarcely was able to
know herself she would venture into
his world and see for herself how hap
py and proud and prosperous he was.
So, having spent all but her last
bill for her ticket, she stepped into
Philadelphia one spring evening, steel
ing her heart to what might follow.
The next evening she had walked past
his great, rich house and was starting
back when sudden shower burst un-
expectedly upon her. She gathered up
her skirts in that particular way SO
4 characteristic of dainty woman and
was hurrying along when all at once
she was conscious Of sharp childish
cry at her side. Turning, she beheld a
tall. sad-faced man trying to quiet a
fretfpl baby OF about two years. which
held out its dimpled hands to her and
cried:
mammal Mammal"
The gcntleman strove to stop IL and
Gabriel started on But sharp and
piercing came the ''Mam-mar' and her
heart badc her linger.
For the frst time the man spoke to
her.
Il msG beg your pardon. madam.
His mother has justdied and something
shout 200 seems 20 have recalled her
20 him.
0nhgtaes 4eart softened at once Go
3n1 okpeUtt upshe took the tiny, out