Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1895-04-11
ONLY A SHOWER.
BY LEIGH WEBSTER.

get uptown. For the last four days
he had lost all interest in life, and
time was no longer OF any importance
to him. He was young, he was fine
looking, be vas rising lawyer; his
mother had been a Van Rensselaer,
yet he sat moodlly gazing at the han
die of his umbrella, while the years
seemed to stretch away before him II
unbroken WEAKNESS.
He noticed that it was beginning
to sprinkle as they neared twenty.
third street. and then Cornella Win.
chester came into the stage and sat
down directly opposite him. She
gave a little start of confusion as he
gravely raised his hat, and then turn
ed her attention fxedly out of the
window. Herbert had cogitated a
good deal over what would be the
most trying way in which to meet the
girl who had rejected him. Now
that he sat opposite her in Fifth
avenue stage he did not know what
to do. He could not bolt. That
would hurt her tender heart, although
it did not beat for him.
His eyes were lifted no higher than
the hem of her heliotrope gown, but
he saw that it was the same one she
had worn that day at Mrs. Vaughan
Smiths tea, when he beguiled her in
to the conservatory too see the violets.
She had hoped that they might al
ways be friends, and he meant after
while when he was a little more
used to it, to see her, just to show her
that he had no feeling. But it was
too soon as yet to find it easy to see
her again, and he thought he would
leave the stage at the club. That would
be perfectly natural. He could stand
it until then.
If he had looked at her face he
would have seen that she was not en-
tirely at ease either. Her cheeks al
ternately flushed and pale as she gazed
perslstently out of the window. But
he did not see that, as he lifted his
eyes no higher than the tip of her
patent leather shoe and the edge OF
that heliotrope gown. He was think.
ing Of her as she looked when they
went into the conservatory that day,
With her golden hslr coiled under a
bewitching hat-all green leaves and
incarnations of sping to him.
The driver growled "Fare!" down
through his peephole. She started
consciously and took out her purse.
Her vis-a-vis held out his hand with
ALLOW mel and the purse slipped to
the floor Their eyes met as he re-
stored her property, and she blushed
vividly. He puzzled over this as he
took his seat again after depositing
her fare. Why should she be discom-
posed? She is sorry for me- he
thought; she is so sensitive He
must get out of this for her sake as
we'll as his own. Where were they,
anyway? Only at thlrty-fourth street!
The rain was now coming down heavi-
ly-and she had no umbrellal He
could not get out, of course, unless
he would leave his umbrella with
her. But that would look so odd.
Very likely, by the time they reach
her street, the April shower would be
all over. Well, he would ride on a
little longer and see.
On they went-past Sherry's, where
he had danced with her so often; past
the club, where he saw Billy de Pegs
ter and Remington looking out-Billy,
Billy whom he had decided upon for
his best man. on, up into the fifties;
St. Thomas, where they would never
be married now. The rain was fall
ing relentlessly. They were almost
at her street. He had decided what
to do.
Just before he reached fifty seventh
street he bent forward.
Miss Winchester, please take my
my umbrella and he held the silver
head toward her.
How she started! oh, no. no
thank you;' and she hurridly pulled
the strap, without giving him time tt
do it, and fairly sprang out OF th'
door. What could he do but follow
| AS he unfurled the umbrella owe
her head they were on the sidewalk
and he said, namely:
| You mustn't spoil your gown, yo'
know
oh, don't care about that, sh
said impatiently.
But it's too pretty to spoil, h