Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-10-27
A BLUE UMBRELLA.

tured man who sat with his feet ele-
waited upon the iron railing of the We
randa, it could not have caused him to
start up more quickly. He shipped the
ashes from his cigar paced TO the farther
end of the veranda, and, returning to
the questioners side, he said
Harry, what made you ask me that
question:"
The young man, upon whose shout
ders the others hand rested lightly
lifted his eyes. Evidently the colonel
was deeply moved.
"Why, all men marry--that is, men
of means or-anyhow they should mar
ry,"
"But you are not married"
And for good reason; 1 am not
able.
"But you could support very COM
Portable household if you were not
well, what you are, said the colonel,
as he moved away
"Ah Hold on, colonel! Do not leave
me in that--he's gone!'
The other, paying no attention to his
| WOruN, WGnb NONn lHO StGpS anu
walked away into the moonlight.
Il know what he means. He might
| lust as we'll have told me in so many
words-spendthrift Hang it all!
| know very we'll that l am careless about
! finances and all that sort Of thing. If /
had been forced to work early, I'd know
the value OF dollars and be very differ
ent sort of chap now All, well! Life is
! too short TO fret over mistakes gone and
done for. Edith Lisle is a--here she
comes now.
Was it the tap-tap of tiny feet or the
frou-f rou of snowy skirts that made
Harry Lancaster's heart throb tumul-
tuously? 1t was both, and the fact that
the woman he loved moIe than all 9th
ers was nearing him. Rising, he tossed
his cigar away, lifted his hat and Of
fered the charming creature in white a
chair.
"Do not disturb yourself, Mr.. Ian
caster. L merely came for brief walk
up and down the veranda. Isn't it a
lovely evening""
at is indeed delightful evening. II
you will not rest here for few mo-
ments, will you permit me to offer you
my arm for stroll?"
She laid her dainty hand upon his
arm, and the pair strolled slowly to the
farther end of the veranda They turn
ed TO retrace their steps, when Edith
said;
"Was not that freely? Over there
among the bushes to the left? See, there
it is again, and such glowing one too
There, it has disappeared y
1T may be FREELY, but it is my
opinion that Colonel Drake of the reg.
ulars is smoking a cigar out there
among the shadows, said Harry.
SIS that charming old bear here?'
she suddenly asked, allowing her hand
to slip from the others arm.
''He came this afternoon.
"And, as L was not down to tea,
did not meet him. +"
"You seem to be acquainted with the
colonel, Miss Lisle. 1"
'Fairly-but really ought not tC
have spoken so shockingly about very
fine gentleman. He is quite engaging
but detest that absurd idea about
his strange umbrella. y
Umbrella? What umbrella, may
ask inquired Harry, puzzled at hel
remark.
"Why, have you never heard about
the colonel's UMBRELLA
Never.
Colonel Drake possesses blue, ole
fashioned umbrella, which is supposed
TO be a very potent love charm, or some
thing like that Plainly, so it is told
when he invites lady to share its shell
ter against the rain her heart is wor
forever. Strange, is it not?"
absurd Have you ever
"No, not yet. "
Il should not like to accept its shelter
even though l did not believe in 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 Lancaster I
heart sank when he looked from tn,
window and saw the leaden clouds sour
rying along the darkened sky.
When he entered the dining room, n,
saw that Miss Lisle's chair was vacant
ALL The colonel's chair, too, was va
cant Over his coffee Harry made tn,
resolve TO make break for that dainty
white hand.
After breakfasting he went to tn,
smoking room and seated himself neal
window overlooking the white stretch
of sand, the curling waves and the foam
capped pillows beyond.
All A couple approached from the
beach. The gentleman carried blu,
umbrella.
1t was the oolonel's blue umbrella. L
was the colonel-but who was the lady
"Miss Lisle by heavens Pshawl I'm
fool to think there is anything strang,
about this. What Go care about tha
blue umbrella and its potent Low,
charm"
Two hours afterward Edith Lisl,
blushed as Harry Lancaster asked her
question. She recovered quickly anC
said softly:
"Mr. Lancaster, the potency of tn,
blue umbrella is not fiction. He is
charming gentleman. and always die