The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1892-12-10

5OlIIo pIIIllAll SlIttlu, oCiloi AAo oP
peared thoroughly Indifferent to her
surroundings, reclining in a large easy
chair and nervously beating time with
her foot. The young man was hold
ing q newspaper in his hands, ap-
parently much interested in it's con-
tents. The fact is, he was indeed alb
sorbed, reviewing in his mind for the
twentieth time every detail which had
led to this misunderstanding.
A rainstorm, such as often seen in
southern France, eve during the
winter, had suddenly come upon
them. They were near a church; she
entered, he waited OF the porch; and
calmly watched the rain pouring
down. Gradually his attention
turned to an old lady who also had
taken refuge under the conven-
lent roof OF the church vestibule, but
who, unlike him, seemed much agi-
tated. She walked up and down,
looking this way ..and that way:
"Not a cab in sight-what shall l do?
How annoying! / shall miss the meet
ing" etc. Her impatience amused
him; he watched her as she grew more
and more nervous: ~"Impossible to
wait any longer" she muttered, then
drawing near him.. "If only l had an
umbrella"
"Allow me, madame, to offer you
this" She held out her HANDS and
gave him one OF those sweet smiles
shred old ladies have.
"But you, monsieur, how will you
manage?"
ooh I am in no hurry. My wife is
inside. She has al umbrella, it will do
for BOTH"
"'Thank you m%onsieuer. I must
hasten. Where shall I send it back?"
He took out o. card and hastily
scrawled "Hotel de France under
his name and handed it to her.
The old dame hurried away and he
then noticed that she was very old,
very ugly and a ~hunchback.
II hope she will return my umbrel-
la" he thought, almost regretring his
good action. How amused he had
been watching Jeanne selecting this
famous umbrella, her first gift to him.
1t had to be large, but not heavy;
green, because it was q good color for
the eyes; the handle must be long and
the silk fold up very slim, SO it could
serve as walking stick when closed.
So many qualities required of one
article gave the dealer an opportunity
to charge three times it's value, and it
was this cherished, precious object
that he had unceremoniously handed
to q stranger! 1t was indeed, very
thoughtless, and how would it end?
Jeanne had come out OF church.
"The rain is nearly over, Jacques;
let us start"
"Wait; this mist is as bad as the
rain" But she was tired and wanted
to 60 at once. ~. .
''That is nothing! Come, open
your umbrella" r.:
II haven't it; just lent it to a lady
in Distress"
"What' To q lady9 The umbrella
I gave your"
"Yes, to an old lady who was here
d moment ago. She seemed so dis
appointed as missing something or
other"
IAN old lady! The adjective is well
chosen. You must indeed have known
her a long time to give her your
umbrella. Well, I am going"
That was all. He remembered
having then offered his arm, which
she declined simply by putting one
hand in her muff and protecting her.
self from the rain with her umbrella in
the other, marched off without anoth-
word, leaving him to follow as he
pleased. Fortunately they had soon
reached their hotel. She had leisure
ly thrown off her cloak, hat and
gloves, and with the fatigued, detected
mien women often assume, had sunk
into an easy-chair and continued
pouting in silence. For the last half
hour she had not even deigned to
look at him.
He, after poking the fire and exam
lining infinitely each piece Of bric-a-
brac on the mantelpiece, had finally
taken up a paper to give himself .
countenance. He felt ridiculous and
would have spoken to her, but could
think of nothing appropriate to say.
This was the first Jealous scene he had