The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-08-25
Observation-Disclosures
IN TIE Rain.
A Romance Of One I'M
bseua For Two PEOPLE.

gain some benefit from your UMBRELLA"
he remarked ~ l.s. Glanced to meet her
on the chure!. steps after the service,
II would ask to walk home with you.
I didn't expect rain when I left home,
SO I am unprepared."
However," came her clear reply,
Just arch enough to be frank, 'if you'll
carry my umbrella and let me turn
my energies to keeping my dress
caught up out Of the mud, I'll be very
thankful to you"
They had walked. strangely enough,
half way home in most complete ST.
lence when a man and a woman
passed, like them, under one umbrella,
but, unlike them, the woman was held
snugly close to the mans side as she
chung to his arm. 1t was a pretty
picture Of that open freedom which so
undeniably marks a congenial man and
wife, whose companionship has rip
ened into frank trust.
AS they passed. Robert Cartwright
said, half thoughtlessly, perhaps:
''They Ire sensible. Ii two are trying
to one umbrella, they are surely to
be commended if they strive to take
up as. little room as possible. Even If
1t be noon, won't you take my army'
but they are plainly not such-such
strangers as We" she returned, con-
scious that both We're treading ON dan
gerous ground.
care we strangers?' he asked quick
ly, turning his eyes searchingly to her.
The pretty face grew trifle pale
against it's light brown hair. A lump
seemed to climb to her throat, but she
returned bravely, "Ycs-that is, wen
always be strangers compared with
Them"
He stopped for an instant and gazed
fxedly at her till a hot flush flew up
from her collar and swept under the
velvet strings of her dainty brown
bonnet.
"Always? he asked simply.
yes. Why. can't you see that they
are married?"
She tried to laugh it away, but it
would have been difficult to tell which
pair Of lips quivered the more or
which pair of eyes swan in the deeper
mist as the two started on, both silent,
both sad, both realizing that a little
tragedy had occurred in that brief in
slant under that dripping umbrella.
Eight years went by and found Ca
brtelle Vaughne alone in the world,
with necessity for keeping up a life
in which all interest and all energy
were dead. She had at last arisen from
a tedious illness. and the nurse her.
self hardly recognized the tall. pale,
sad faced woman with the short, dark
curls, as the bright eyed, light haired
girl of six months before.
Gabrielle had one thing dear to her,
and only one, and that was a memory.
And some Of our dearest memories are
the cruelest parts of our lives. When
finally she stood before a mirror and
realized that that changed creature was
herself, a mighty resolve filled her
she would go to the source of that
memory.
She knew where he was; she knew
that he had married three years after
that bitter morning in the rain and had
married a wealthy wife. That was
the reason that she had thrust him
back from her long ago, just because
of his poverty. Not that it would pain
her, a thousand times no! Hadn't she
cried out night after night since that
starvation with him would be only
bliss?
But she had known his ambitions
and his capabilities; knew his dreams
of success, and She realized his ability
to turn b dreams to realities. She was
poor. Would she permit herself to
hang a milestone about his neck?
Would she hold him always in the
depths Of poverty by being his wife
and the mother Of his needy children?
No; she would hurt his heart before
she would ruin his life.
Time had proved that she had been
right. His wife was a beautiful woman,
and her wealth had opened %boundless
opportunities to him. He had risen
she had known hat he would. But
now that she scarcely IA able to
know herself she would venture into
his world and see for herself how
happy and prosperous he was.
So, having spent all but her last
sovereign for her ticket, she stepped
into Langinham one spring evening
steeling her heart to what might fol
low. The next evening she had walk.
ed past his great house and was start.
ing back when a sudden shower burst
unexpectedly upon her. She gathered
up her skirts in that particular way sc
characteristic of a dainty woman and
was hurrying along when all at once
she was conscious of a sharp, childish
cry at her side. Turning, she beheld
a tall, sad faced man trying to quiet
a fretful baby of about 9 years, which
neld out its dimpled hands to her anl
cried, Mamma. mammal"
The gentleman strove to quiet it
and Gabrielle started on. But SHARP
and piercing came the cry of Mann