The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-09-30
A BLUE UMBRELLA.


randa 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 they should mar
ry."
"But you have not married"
"And for good reason; l am not
able"
but you could support a 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"
II know what he means; he might
just as we'll have told me in so many
words-spendthrift Hang it all!
know very we'll that l am careless
about the finances and all that sort of
thing.
| Was 1t the tap-tap of tiny feet or the
| frou-frou Of snowy skirts that made
Harry Lancaster's heart throb tumul-
| tuously? It was both-and the fact
that the woman he loved more than all
others was nearing him. Rising, he
tossed his cigar away, lifted his hat,
| and offered the charming creature in
| white chair.
do not disturb yourself, Mr.. Lam
| caster; merely came out for brief
walk up and down the veranda. Isn't
1t lovely EVENING""
1T Is indeed delightful evening. If
you will not rest here for few mo-
ments will you not permit me to offer
you my arm for the 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?
ut may be FREELY, but it is my
opinion that Col. Drake of the regulars
is smoking cigar out there among
the shadows" said Harry.
"Is that charming old bear here?"
she suddenly asked, allowing her hand
to slip from the others arm.
"He came this afternoon"
"And as was not down to tea l did
not meet him."
"You seem to be acquainted with the
colonel, Miss Lisle."
Fairly, but really I ought not to
have spoken so shockingly about a
fine gentleman. He is quite engaging
but detest that absurd idea about
his strange umbrella"
Umbrella? What umbrella, may
ask?" inquired Harry, puzzled at her
remark.
why, have you never heard about
the colonel's umbrella?"
Never"
"Col. Drake possesses blue, old
fashioned umbrella which is supposed
to be a very potent love charm or
something like that. Plainly, SO it is
told, when he invites lady to share
its shelter against the rain her heart
is won forthwith. Strange, is it
not?"
Absurd! Have you ever"
mo- not yet"
81 should not like you to accept it's
shelter-though l do not believe in
such Stiffness" softly said Harry.
If she understood his meaning she
was coy of acknowledgement, for, lift
ing her hand to his arm again, the
pair resumed the stroll just in time to
meet the colonel as he assembled the
steps. The colonel lifted his hat and
passed indoors, while Harry and Edith
strolled and chatted the hours away.
The next morning Harry Lancaster's
heart sank when he looked from the
window and saw the leaden clouds
scurrying along the darkened sky.
Rain! And was to take her for a
drive! Well, suppose I must make
the best of it and while away the time
in the parlors," muttered he, as he per-
formed his toilet
When he entered the DINING room
he saw that Miss Lisle's chair was va
cant. All! the colonel's chair, too, was
vacant! Over his coffee Harry made
the resolve to make break before
night. He would ask her for that
dainty white hand. He felt In his
heart of hearts that she did not dis
like him. On the contrary, as he re-
called the pleasant past there was more
than mere friendliness in the depths of
her beautiful blue eyes last night as
they strolled along the veranda
After breakfasting he went to the
smoking room and seated himself near
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-a blue
umbrella. AS the pair drew near Har-
RVS heart beat wilder and wilder.
1t was the colonel's blue umbrella;
it was the colonel, but-who was the
lady?
miss Lisle, by heavens! Pshaw!
I'm fool to think there is anything
strange about this. What do I care
about that blue umbrella and its DO
tent love charm? But I wish it had
not been Edith" unused Harry, and,
tossing away his cigar, he went out
upon the veranda just in time to raise
his hat and say "Good-morning" to
Edith, who tripped by him.
The colonel closed that quaint UNI
brella with click as of satisfaction as
he passed Harry with polite bow and
"Good-morning."
Two hours afterward Edith Lisle
blushed as Harry Lancaster asked her
a 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-I always /
did like soldiers. I-I-thank you.
and, WE'LL simply said yes under the
blue umbrella--and hope we shall re-
main friends. Wa Magazine.