The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-25

Ole was commonplace to a degree, beng
of that useful shape which men find con-
venient to hold up or down, as umbrella
or waIking-stick, and which are turned
out in tens Of thousands every day.
one distinction, however, this handle
possessed. that its owners name, which
was famous, had been cut deeply by him
into the wood Itself, and in place where
20 one was likely to look for it save its
owner, so that when it fulfilled its obvious
destiny by getting lost, there ensued GU
rious chapter of accidents before it was
found again, and returned to its lawful
owner.
1t had been taken by an unwittingly dis
honest person from half hundred or so
of umbrellas at an afternoon party early
in July. and carried home by him IN all
good faith where it reposed among his
sticks for whole week. But one day II
rained, and on opening the umbrella NE
found a new acquaintance, instead OF an
old friend. He stood stin 10 examine the
umbrellas anatomy, first inside, then our,
10 the deuiment of his hat investigated
the handle everywhere but in the right
place. shook his head in perpleXity, ana
walked on.
He racked his brains as to the places he
had been to recently, but by an extrdos-
binary slip of memory Mrs. Alexis party
entirely escape him; yet only that morn
ing. the whole time he was dressing, ne
had been haunted by Miss Travers' voice.
as 1t SCARED and swelled in melody so di-
vine that the very passers-by in the street
stopped to listen, mingling with the
throng of footmen at Mrs. Alexis door
He had not forgotten the voice, no., nor
the gracious woman who owned it.. fhey
had passed into the treasure-house of his
memory for all time, only Mrs. Alexis as
the connecting point between the song ana
the umbrella disappeared. Halfway
down Piccadilly a thought struck him. On
the last wet day he had dropped in at
his own particular tea-house, ana hau
been served by his usual deft hand-mald-
en- The girl was quite young, very pdle'
very sad and very pretty, and all IN such
a degree that you tell in love with panor
and sadness, and could not imagine her
TO be improved, even by dimples and roy
uish smiles.
ouiries, out no one had called about an
umbrella, and though he insisted on leav-
girl shook her head as she took IT, and
begged him. with little moonlight smile
th-t haunted him, to come back lor il
soon 1t was an altogether wrong sort OF
a smile for a pretty young woman ana
took all the flavor out of his well cooked
dinner at the Rag" and set him wonder
ing savagely what fellow had been
Dlaying tricks with her heart
Meanwhile Carl Griffenstein, the painter,
who seldom allowed himself TO trivol at
afternoon parties, escaping into Mrs.
Alixis' hall, had seized the hrst umprella
that looked like his own, and boltedi only
the plaintive passionate voice of the wo-
man who was singing followed him, and
forced him for once to think OF some one
~ whom he never thought willingly, and
az whom. indeed he did not know how to
mink. whether maid or wife, living or
dead.
for he had not been famous when she
knew him, and the surprise of those who
knew him had amused him intensely; II Is
50 curious TO see recognized as newborn
those qualities and gifts that we have be-
come habituated to as part Of ourselves,
that constitute, indeed, our real vital
identity.
she vanished out OF his life with preeip-
itste haste that argued an intense desire
to forget him, ana hear no more OF ms
past or future works.
Ii was with a gesture at last, as If he
threw away with it thoughts he hated,
that on reaching home he threw the other
mans umbrella into a corner Of his stu
do. and picking up his palette and
brushes. painted on as long as the light
lasted on the following day something
unfamiliar in his CAMP struck him, and
he promptly returned it to Mrs. Alexis
footman with Instructions to forward his
81 Fxlfn
men we're unbrellaless, and the drama OF
the Bingham might be said TO have fairly
begun
Now Mrs Alexis happened on that very
svening to be going to the opera, and tax
ing her husband with her, who on his part
never stirred without his umbrella, ana IN
deed would have made supreme efforts to
carry il over his own head to his own
funeral were that possible; but as IL was,
rain or shine he no more left il at home
than he did his hat. So tonight, at the
point of starting, he put his head out OF
the brougham window and called for II,
ant when in the semi-darkness Of the
summers evening it was brought, ne
clutched it to his hosom, and was happy.
They were late, and to leave il In safe
custody did not take long, but on coming
away he was so long in fetching it, that
Mrs. Alexis waXed FESTIVE, and presently
made a dash across the lobby TO where
many arms were held out. so many voices
uplifted TO evaporation, the cause of the
Glamour apparently being her husband,
braudshing an umbrella, and using AN
guage Of the most impolite DESCRIPTION.
you'll tell me l don't know my own
name next" he was remarkng In tones
Of whitening sarcasm. This thing. my
umbrella? Look at it," and he shook out
its seedy skirts before the unwilling peo-
pc who wanted their own sticks ana be-
longings. and did not care rush who had
got his.
"Its yours SIR" said the porter, depro-
caung.y. 81 put the ticket on, ana it's
the same"
''Gave it to some body else you mean"
Teamed Mr.. Alexis slvageiy, "or changed
IL for another
You are making an exhibition OF your
ser" said Mrs. Alexis. in a low whisper
'isena servant down about il tomorrow.
AM come home
lse protestcd-shook the giugham once
fn4.c al the unhappy porter. then suffer-
Ca himself 90 Zoe drawn away. breathing
q r ana fury against the unhappy man
ara u iE not necessary 20 record the con.
d .lfH IF rHH