Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1894-06-08
THREE UMBRELLAS

~ IT didn't look as if | We're trying to
W IN some benefit from your umbrella" he
POI srked as he CHANGED to meet her on the
Ds s.rcb steps after service, IL would ask to
/, n home with you. didn't expect rain
Han left home, so | am unprepared."
"a suowever," came her clear reply, just
llr IN enough to be fascinating and just
en- .,o84r enough to be frank IF you ii carry
is, umbrella and let me turn my energies
@ .ateeping my dress caught up out of the
III md III be very thankful to you
TIL They had walked strangely enough, hall
h rav home in almost complete silence, when
10 man and IA woman passed them, like
~ 4 ham. under one umbrellas but, unlike
co hem, the woman was held snugly close to
sd he mans side as she chung to his arm. 1t
LEI ras A picture of that open freedom which
o. oupdenably marks a congenal man and
Id dfe. whose companionship has rpened
10 / INTO frank trust.
In sthey passed Robert Courtright said,
Il ALI thoughttully perhaps;
a. They are sensible. If two are trying to
e ls one umbrella, they are surely to be
l Ommended if they strive to take up as
little room as possible. Even if it be noon,
gon't you take my ARM
But they are plainly not such-such
l Jrangers as We" she returned, conscious
/ hat both were treading on dangerous
mound.
E oAre we strangers?" he asked quickly,
| mining his eyes searchingly to her.
The pretty face grew a trite pale against
aslight brown hair, A lump seemed to
limb to her throat, but she returned
y rayely. "Yes-that is, We'll always be
q Strangers compared with them
He stopped for an instant and gazed fix
.Iy at her till a hot flush flew up from out
her dark fur collar and swept under the
Velvet strings of her dainty brown bonnet
aAlwaysy" he asked simply.
aYes. Why, can't you see that they are
y nariedY'
She tried to laugh it away, but it would
nave been difficult to tell which pair of
3s miyered the more or which pair of
u eys@am in the deepest mist as the two
started on, both silent. both sad, both real
ming that little tragedy had occurred in
hat brief instant under that dripping UNI
4 nrella on the noon boulevard.
HI Eight years went by and found Gabriel
Yaughne alone in the world, with neces-
sity for keeping up a life in which all in
crest and all energy were dead. She had
IL at last arisen from IA tedious illness, and
The nurse herself scarcely recognized the
tal pale sad faced woman, with the short,
lark curls, as the bright eyed. light haired
I girl of six months before. Gabriel had one
hing dear to her, and only one, and that
vas memory. And some of our dearest
memories are the cruelest part of our lives
II When finally she stood before Il mirror
and realized that that changed creatur,
vas herself mighty resolve filled her
she would 90 to the source of that memory.
L She knew where he was; she knew that
ne had married three years after that bit
/ Ter morning in the rain, and had married
aWealthy wife. That was the reason that
1 she had thrust him back from her long ago,
Just because of his poverty, Not that it
4 would pain her; thousand times no.
& Hadn't she cried out night after night
since that starvation with him would he
only bliss? But she had known his ambi-
lions and his capabilities, knew his dreams
/ 0f success, and she realized his ability to
urn the dreams to realities. She was
DOOR, Would she permit herself to hang
milestone about his neck? Would she
Aold him always in the depths of poverty
" being his wife and the mother of his
needy children No, she would hurt his
aeart 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 OPP
L portunties to him. He had risen-she
mad known hat he would. But now that
'he scarcely was able to know herself, she
would venture into his world and see for
herself how happy and proud and prosper
GUS he was
so having spent all but her last bill for
aer ticket, she stepped into Philadelphia
one spring evening, steeling her heart to
what might follow. The next evening she
aao walked past his great, rich house and
vas starting back when sudden shower
Olrst unexpectedly upon her.
one gathered up her skirts in that par
ocular way so characteristic of dainty
woman, AMI was hurrying along when all
aCohce she was conscious of sharp, bhild-
'sh cry at her side. Turning, she beheld
Tall, sad faced man trying to quiet a
retlul baby of about three years, which
ueid out its dimpled hands to her and
cried.
Mamma! Mammal
Inc gentleman strove to stop it, and Ga
orlel started on. But sharp and piercing
Tamet the Mammal and her heart babe
ner linger.
ror the first time the man spoke to her.
must beg your pardon, madam. His
mother has just died, and something about
you seems to have recalled her to him.
uaorlePs heart softened at once. Going
straight up she took the tiny, outstretched
uands in her own and murmured, Poor
notherless little one"
Inc father held out his umbrella over
ner' and for the first time she looked at
lim--the face was Robert'sl She was glad
''r Tue excuse of turning to baby again