Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-10-25
lOriginal.l


why, there it is on the inside
1 looked up and. sure enough, there
was Walter V. Sturgis" painted in
the plainest of white letters. Walter
Sturgis was assistant rector of the
church we had attended. l was any
thing but clergyman. l lived at a
club and at the time was accounted a
trifle gay.
And my umbrella has the honor to
shield?"
"A guest of the Van Wrinkles. l
have heard Il great deal about you
from Alice Van Wrinkle. They attend
your church, you know. This morning
Alice was indisposed. and was obliged
to go alone. How is it that you are
not officiating today?'
HIN - er well. you see. I'm sup
posed to be on vacation"
but your dress is not clerical"
My dress? why. l don't wear
clericals when on vacation"
THAT is singular
"How far do you go?'
"Only around the corner"
Around the corner was pretty near
for me, who. If seen by the Van Win
hleS, MOulll Dc III III NV ~ " $iih pOSiAhOA--
Pardon me-" ! said. looking ut my
watch. II had forgotten an engage
ment-a bit of parOchial work. Take
my umbrella / must leave YOU" And
despite her protestations l thrust 1t in
to her hand and took my departure
In a few minutes | was in my club en-
deavoring to compose my somewhat
unsettled feelings with a tumDler OF
amber liquid.
II don't see what harm can come of
it," l solaced myself. IF | hadn't
done it. the girls clothes would have
been ruined" Nevertheless it occurred
10 me that trouble might come.
One evening | attended Il ball at the
Academy The men were bachelors.
and the women. while respectable.
were not lin the SWIM" In one of the
boxes were some society people look
ing on, and as l walked by, with my
hat on the back of my head and CT
gar in my mouth, looked up and saw
the girl of the umbrella. Fortunate
ly at the moment she was not looking
my way. and turned my back in time
to prevent catching her eye. Later
rcconnoltered the box from distance
and saw that she was not with the
Van Wrinkles but with the Grosvenors.
That's lucky l said to myself.
''The Grosvenors don't know either me
or the curate; the Van Wrinkles know
us both. However. l doubt If the girl
saw me-"
This all happened in June. In July
went abroad and did not return till
the following November. Sauntering
into my club the day after my arrival,
took up n paper. The first item that
caught my eye was this:
The trial of the Rev. Walter V. Sturgis
for conduct unbecoming the cloth will
take place this morning in the vestry
room of st. Marks church.
Great Scottw I cried. springing up.
I'm at the bottom of this!''
Hastily pulling out my watch, I saw
that it was - o'clock.
Waiter! \ cab. Be quick!'
In ten minutes l drove up TO St
Marks church and, making my way
back to the vestry, entered. There sat
a grim array of churchmen and lay
men, the Rev. Walter V. Sturgis among
them, the picture of despair.
Gentlemen" l said. will you please
tell me what's up? Perhaps can
throw some light on this case"
The rector looked at me over his
spectacles and frowned.
Our young brother, Mr.. Sturgis," he
said, "has been accused of returning to
town from his vacation without max
ing himself known; also attending
ball of questionable character. The
witness is unfortunately i'll
and cannot testify. but
walked up to the Rev. Mr.. Sturgis
and grasped his hand. II have con-
fession TO make" | said. I've evil
IDENTIFY been raising merry thunder
without knowing it." Then, turning to
the Others, | told the story of the UNI
brella.
And now" | added. ''AIr. Sturgis,
before | leave | want your forgive
ness"
ut is granted on one condition"
Name it."
ATTEND this church regularly here
after and give me an hour Gay for
charity work"
That's a pretty steep penalty"
cit was a pretty steep offense."
fright you are. I'll so you"
One morning a few months later l
was emerging from the vestry with
sack of provisions on my shoulder
when 1 heard a merry laugh. Looking
through the iron fencing between the
church and the sidewalk, there stood
he umbrella girl.
Good morning, Mr.. Sturgis," she
,aid. "Where shall return your UNI
,rella?"
"Oh, give it to the curate." I said
He's usually hard up. living as he
loes on n pittance. don't need it my
'elf."
/ am now a confirmed churchman
md n confirmed married man my wife