Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-12-08
A BLUE UMBRELLA.

COlOnel, why dld you never marry"
| If cyclone had struck the sharp-fea-
tured man who sat with his feet elevat-
ed upon the iron railing of the veranda
it could not have caused him to start
up more quickly
Harry, what made you ask me that
question:
Why, all men marry: that is, men
of means or-anyhow thev should mar
ry."
But you are not married"
And for good reason; | am not
able"
But you could supper, a very com
fortable household II you We're not
well, what yoi are" said the
Colonel. as he mos ed away.
All, Hold on, c ColoneN Do not leave
me in that-he's gone"
The other. paying. no attention to his
words, went down The broad steps and
walked away into The moonlight;
Il know what hs means; he might
just as well told ms in so many words
-spendthrift! Halg ii all. All, We'll.
Life is too short to fret over mistakes
gone ard done for Edith Lisle is a.
here she mes now"
Was it ,Ae tap-tap OF tiny feet or the
Harry Lancaster's heart throb tumul-
tuously. Rising, lie tossed his cigar
away, lifted his hat and offered the
charming creature in white a chair.
do not disturb yourself. Mr.. Lancas-
ter; merely came for q brief walk up
and down the vefgs da."
IF you will no. rest here for Il few
moments, will you permit me TO offer
you my arm for the stroll?"
She laid her dainty hand upon his
arm, and the pair s,rolled slowly to the
farther end of the ;eranda; they turn
ed to retrace the;, steps when Edith
said:
WAS not that n freely? Over there
among the bushes to the left? See,
there it is again and such glowing
one, tool"
1T may be f:efy, but it is my
opinion that Col. brake, of the Regu-
lars, is smoking a cigar out there
among the showdo'%ns." said Harry.
rs that charming old bear here?"
she suddenly asked, allowing her hand
to slip from the otLer's arm.
He came this afternoon
And as l was net down TO tea, | did
not meet him.
You seem to be acquainted with the
Colonel, Miss Lisle
Fairly; but really ! ought not to
have spoken so shoCkingiy about a very
fine gentleman. He is quite engaging
but detest that absurd idea about his
strange umbrella"
Umbrella? What umbrella, may l
ask?" inquired Harry, puzzled at her
remark.
"Col. Drake possesses blue, old
fashioned umbrella which is suppos-
ed to be 4 very potent love-charm or
something like that. Plainly. so it is
told, when he invites a lady to share its
shelter against the rain. her heart is
won forever. Strange, is it not?''
Absurd! Have you ever
mo, not yet
Il should not like you to accept its
shelter ever-thorgh | do not believe n
such Stiffness softly said Harry
If she understood his meaning she
was coy of acknowledgment, for, lifting
her hand to his arm again, the pair re-
sumed the stroll.
The next morning Harry Lancasters
heart sank when he looked from the
window and Sw the leaden clouds
along the darkened sky.
When he entered the dining-room lie
saw that Miss I.isle's chair was va
cant. Ah, the Colone's chair, TOO,
was vacant, over his coffee Harry
made the resolve to make break be-
fore night. He would ask her for that
dainty white hand.
After breakfastins he went 10 the
and seated himself near
a window overlooking the white stretch
of sand, the curling waves and foam
capped billows beyond
All! A couple approached from the
beach. The gentleman carried blue
1t was the Colonel's blue umbrella; it
was the Colonel, but-who was the
lady?
Miss Lisle, by heavens! Pshaw. I'm
a fool to think there is anything
strange about this. What do / care
about the blue umbrella and it's potent
love charm?"
Two hours afterwards, Edith Lisle
blushed as Harry Lancaster asked her |
q question She recovered quickly and !
said softly:
''Mr. Lancaster, the potency of the |
blue umbrella is not a fiction. He is a |
charming gentleman, and-always did
like soldiers. II thank you, and we'll
Il simply said yes under the blue UNI
brella, and I hope we shall remain
friends"
~ CA