The Portland daily press., 1893-12-08
THAT UMBRELLA.

Mime. Oreille was very economical. She
knew the value of q SOU and possessed
code of strict rules for the saving of money.
Her servant had great trouble to secure
her perquisite, and NJ. Oreille could obtain
pocket money with extreme difficulty
They were in moderate circumstances
and had no children, but Nine. Oreille
was quite disturbed to see the silver pieces
60 from her house. 1t was heartrending,
and every time it was necessary to incur
any expenses of iInportances slept badly
the following night.
Her husband often complained of the
privations shemads him suffer-they were
certainly very hard for him, as they touch
ID his vanity. 49,
He was chief clerk to the minister of
war and only held his place in obedience
TO his wife to increase the income Of the
household. 4H
For two years he came to the Office with
the same patched umbrella, which caused
the merriment of his companions. At last,
weary of their jests, he persuaded Nine.
Oreille buy him new one.
She bought one at q bargain from q
large shop. The clerks, seeing this object,
renewed their jests, and Oreille suffered
terribly.
Oreille, exasperated, commanded his
wife to choose Il new umbrella for him, g.
fine silk one fer s., and bring him an ap-
proved bill. She bought him one for So. rs
and said Indignantly, giving it to her hus-
band: "Therel That will last for five years
at least.
Oreille, exultant, set of for the office.
When he came back in the evening, his
wife, casting an anxious glance at the UNI
a 10 IL
shut up by the elastic. It is apt to cut
the silk. You should take care of it, for
shall not buy another very soon."
She took it. unfastened the ring and
shook out the folds, but became suddenly
excited. A hole as large as centime was
IN the middle of the umbrella. 1t was
burned by u cigar.
She cried, "What is that?'
Her husband said quietly, without look
ing:
What? What? What do you say?''
Anger now choked her. She could hard
ly speak. " You-you have burned it
your-your umbrellas. But you are fool,
You wish to ruin usr'
Coming toward him as if to strike him.
she quickly placed under his nose the lit
tie circular hole. He was COMPOUNDED at
the accusation, stammering:
"There-there-what is it? I do not
know. | hare done nothing. swear it.
j do not know how that happened to the
UMBRELLA
She cried out, 81 wager you have been
showing off your vanity with them at the
ofice-you have been a mountebank and
opened it to display it,
He replied, II opened it only once, to
show that it was nice one-I swear it. !,
But she stamped with fury, causing one
of those conjugal scenes that render a fam
lily fracas more formidable to a quiet man
than battlefield where balls fly around.
She mended the hole with piece of silk
cut from an old umbrella of q different
color, and the next day Oreille humbly set
out with the renSated article. He put it
in his wardrobe and thought of it only as
a bad dream.
But hardly had he entered in the even
ing when his wife seized his umbrella
opened it to examine it's condition and
was speechless before an irreparable disas-
ter. 1t was punctured with little holes.
evidently from burns caused by the sparks
rom lighted pipe. Tt was destroyed ut
terly.
She looked at it silently, too indignant
to utter sound. AS for him, he saw the
oestrucUlon ana was dlsmayed.
Then the scene began again. He swore
he knew nothing about tit could only
have happened through spite or i'll will.
! A ring at the bell stopped Them, 1t was
friend who came to dine. Nine. Oreilla
submitted the case to him. AS to buying
a new umbrella, that was out of the cues.
ton. Her husband should not have an
other.
The friend argued well, 'sThen, madame
he will spoil his clothes, which are surely
worth more"
The little woman, still angry, replied:
"Then he shall take the cook 8 umbrella.
Twill not give him new silk one."
At this Oreille rebelled. Then said he
II shall give in my resignation. will not
go to the office with the cooks umbrella"
The friend said: ''Have that one recov-
cred. 1t will not cost much"
Mime. Oreille cried: sit would cost at
least 50 to recover it'll That is madnessl''
The friend had an inspiration.
Make your insurance company pay for
it. The company pays for burned articles,
provided the accident happened at your
house,
Remailiirs mt home alone, Nine. Oreille
could ls'. re consoled for the loss of Sc. rs.
She had the umbrella on the table in the
dining room, and she turned it over with
out coming to any resolve.
The thought of the insurance came to