The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-02-17
THREE UMBRELLAS.
The Part they Played IN a Pretty
Romance.

II II didn't look as II were trying
70 gain some benefit from your urnhrel-
Ia" be remarked. as be CHANGED to'meet
her on the church steps after service.
u would ask 70 walk home with you
didn't expect rain when left home. 10
i am unprepared
ssHoweyer.- came her clear reply, Just
arch enough 70 be fascinating and Just
tender enough TO be frank, III You'll
carry nv umbrella and let me turn my
energies 70 keeping my dress caught
up out 81 the mud III be very thankful
to you.
They had walked, strangely enough,
half way home In almost complete
silence, when man and woman
passed them, like them under one nm
brella, but unlike them the woman
was held snngiy close y the mans
side as she chung To bis arm II was q
pretty picture Of that open freedom
which 50 undeniably marks q congenial
man and wife, whose companionship
has ripened into frank trust
As they passed Robert COPYRIGHT
said, half thoughtfully, perhaps;
.sThey axe sensible II two are trying
to nse one umbrella they are surely 70
b commended II they strive to take up
a. little room as possible Even II It
be noon, won't Jon take my arm2"
"But they are plainly not such--such
strangers as we,r she returned, con-
scions that both were treading on dan
gerous ground
"Are we strangcrs2r he asked quick
y, turning his eyes scarchingly 70 her
The pretty face grcw u triAc pale
against It's Hight brown hair. A lump
seemed 10 climb TO her throat, but she
returned, brayely: "Yes- that is, wen
always be strangers compared with
them
He stopped for an instant and gazed
dxedly at her till hot flush few up
from ont her fur collar and swept under
the velvet strings Of her dainty brown
bonnet
AAlwnys2'' he asked, simply
Yea Why, can't you see that they
IRE married2"
She tried 70 laugh II 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 TINT little tragedy
had occurred In that brief instant uni
der that dripping umbrella on the noon
boulevard
Eight years went by and found
Gabriel Yaughne alone in the world,
with necessity for keeping up d life In
which all interest and all energy were
dead She had at last arisen from d
tedious illness. and the nurse herself
scarcely recognized the tall, pale, sad
faced woman, with the short, dark
curis, as the bright-eyed, Iight-haired
girl Of six months before. Gabriel had
one thing dear 10 her. and only one,
and that was a 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 a
mighty resolve filed her-slc would 70
70 the source of that memory
She knew where he was; she lsnew
that no had married three years after
that bitter morning in the rain, and
had married wealthy wife. That was
thc reason that she had thrust him
back from Der long ago, Just because
Of his povert ~, Net that It would pain
her, thousand times mol Hadn't She
cried ont, night after night since, that
starvation with him would be only
blissa Bat she had known his am
billions and his capabilities. knew his
dreams Of success md she realized his
ability TO turn the dreams to realities.
She was poor Would shc permit her
self TO hang milestone about his neck?
Would she hold him always in the
depths Of poverty W 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 Size had been
right Ills wife was beautiful woman.
and her wealth had opened loundless
opportunities % him lie had risen
she had known that lie 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 Tor 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.
expcctedly upon her She gathered M
her skirts In that particular way 50
characteristic Of d dainty woman and
was hurrying along when all at once
sheY was conscious Of a sharp childish
cry 1T her side. Turning she beheid
tall, sad-faced man trying to quiet
fretful baby Of about two years, which
held out its dimpled hands to her and
cried:
Mammal Mammai
The gentleman strove to stop IL ana /
Gabriel started on But sharp and |
piercing came the .sMarn-mal'' and her
heart babe her linger.
For the first time tile man spoke to
her.
mnsty beg your pardon, madam.
HIS mother has just died and something |
about you seems to have recalled her
to him. "
Gabriel's heart softened at once. co
Ing straight up she took tha tiny ont
stretched hands In her own and nur.
INJURED: Poor, motherless little one.
The father held out his umbrella over
her and for the FIRST time Nshe locked II