The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-09-08

La w e Il was w y AkdS VA4 y saw
him under the portico. The manager
and four walters stood round him in dis
consulate attitudes. One or two of his
remarks-he was talking very loud
reached my ears, | changed my mind.
| would wait till he was calmer. |
turned away, but at that instant Daw-
son caught sight of me. A second later
he was pouring the story of his wrongs
into my ear.
Here came my fatal weakness. let
him go n He took me by the arm and
walked me off. could not escape him,
and all the way he Numbered against
the thief.
'If it costs me go, I'll bring him to
~justicel' he declared. Really / dared
not break it to him Just yet.
Suddenly from round o sharp corner
there came upon us--almost running In
to us-Lydia Lovelock herself. with
Dawson's umbrella In her hand. He
had been narrowly scanning every um-
brella we passed. He scanned this one
and cried, darting forward:
my umbrellar'
With q little scream Lydia turned and
fed. Dawson was after her like an ar
row. / pursued Dawson. Why, oh,
why, did she run away? Surely she must
have recognized me.
1t was a very quiet street we were run
ming up, and our strange procession at
tracted little notice. The chase was soon
over. caught Dawson just as he caught
Lydia. For a moment we all stood pant
ing. Then Dawson gasped again: MY
umbrella! Thief"
Lydia seemed very agitated. Of course
[ came to her rescue. Avoiding Daw-
sons eye, | hastily told my shameful
tale. Lydia's face frightened, but still
there was apprehension in her looks.
This lady, believe me-" / said, lis en-
tirely blamsless. Of course she thought
the umbrella was my own. My sole con-
ISOLATION, Dawson, is to think hat had
you been in my place you would have
done the same"
II don't see" remarked Dawson rude
ly, why it consoles you to think me a
o thief"
I preserved a dignified silence.
However" he continued, IF this
young lady has quite finished with my
property, perhaps she will be good enough
to give it me back"
Lydia did not take the hint. She chung
to the umbrella.
Tiff you would be SO kind" she
stammered. las to lend it to me for to-
day-the weather is still th~reatening-l
would return it tomorrow"
Your request, madam, is a modest
one," answered Dawson sarcastically,
'but, as you observe, the weather is
threatening, and | want my umbrella.
Kindly give it me-"
Really, Dawson, to oblige a LADY,
began.
why don't you buy her an dmbrel-
LAP sneered Dawson.
IF she would accept it, / should be-
| stopped. To my surprise, Lydia laid
her hand On my arm and said: 'Oh, do,
please! And may | keep this till we get
to the shop
Ibid not understand her, but we turned
round and began to walk, looking for a
shop. She was a very strange girl. She
Jagged behind. had to wait twice for
her. Once she took a turning as though
to leave us, and when I called her back
she pouted.
Suddenly Dawson looked up.
1T rains" he said.
1t did rain.
Put up the umbrella" said Dawson
roughly.
LET the lady have it." said | indig-
nantly.
"Wen share it," grinned Dawson.
"You can get wet"
But Lydia did not put it up.
1.-THE rains not much" she faltered.
It was now pouring. With a muttered
oath, Dawson snatched the umbrella
from her. Lydia shrieked and ran away
like a frightened rabbit-ran at the top
of her speed up the street, again.
stop, stop" / cried. ''Stop. my dear
Miss Lovelock."
Holy powers!" exclaimed Dawson.
He had opened the umbrella. As he did
so there was a thud on the pavement
two, three thuds. In amaze I looked
down. There lay a silver cigarette case,
two purses and a gold watch. Dawson
burst into maniacal laughter as he point
ed at Lydia's ~retreating figure. That
girlcould run.
For a moment I stood dumfounded.
What a revelation! Dawson chuckled in
satanic glee. SadlyI stopped down and
picked up the purses, the cigarette case
and the watch.
Great Scott" l cried. and my hand
flew to my waistcoat pocket.
It was my watch!
/ did not prosecute Lydia because /
could not have overtaken her, and for
other reasons. It was altogether too
sad, too disheartening, too disappoint-
ing a discovery. Dawson, however, OBJ
served that 1t seemed to him an excel
lent example Of poetic justice in real life.
st. James Gazette. )