The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-10-10
TIE EVENING ST0R r
NIrs. &C. UnabreIla.

Mrs jacks Umbrella.
Bessie knew perfectly well every
sacred association attached to the UNI
brella in question. to say nothing OF
the lesson that had been impressed
upon her that night when it positive
" would not stop raining and she alb
|solutely could not stay any longer ana
there seemed no other way but to Dor
row the precious article.
You see, Besss explained N1Is ).
Jack, almost tearfully, Jack gave II
to me before we were married one
day we got caught in a thunderstorm
and got angry and we guarded ter
ribly-nO wonder, wet to the skin
and-and anyway, she added, suo-
denly aware that her listener was not
on fire with romantic interest anu
changing the argument to meet the
sOrdid situation, anyway, BesS, II s a
handsome umbrella and wouldn't
lose it for worlds You'll be very care
full of it, won't you ?"
1t was just one week later that three
young women, grouped disconsolaleiy
around the hall umbrella stand IN the
home of a friend, divided their atten-
ton between two umbrellas ana q
view Of. the outside world, where RAIN
was pouring down.
1.-The only thing to do" said Bessie,
who was beginning to consider getting
caught out in the rain, her particular
i'll in life, lis for you to take me home
first, Mary, and then you may nave
my umbrella
(which is yours, Bess?'' demanded
4 the third young woman. "They both
/ have crook handles. and mine I bor-
rowed from a neighbor, so I don't feel
sure
Il don't know myself, Anne" replied
/ Bess, eying the two in a baffled way
Mine isn't mine, either. I found it in
1 the halltree at home Probably some
/ 1.Ff racrF14 e
where sometime. One looks as good as
the other, though, so what's the differ
ence?''
Bessie had arrived and was eontem-
plating her wet feet savagely. A sum
mons to the telephone interrupted her
train Of thought on Chicago weather.
And it has rained three times this
week" streamed the voice into her ear,
| land I haven't been able even to go to
market because you had my umbrella.
Besides, you know, Jack gave me that
| umbrella
1T had crook handle" murmured
Bess, hanging up the receiver in sub
dued way. 1T must be the one that 1
let Mary Gracious Hope she
won't turn it inside out or anything
The next morning Bessie hung over
the clock till $50. At $3.50 Mary could
be reached at the Office by phone.
| "Oh, I'm SO sorry, Bess,' she apollo
gized in response to feverish inquiries.
Il haven't any idea what became Of
that umbrella YOU. see, it ceased rain
ing after I left you and went to half
a dozen places. There's the dressmak-
er's for one. And I stopped at Brown s
to try my hat on. Possibly l left it at
Sues though it is more probable that it
was at the drug store or the butcher S,
unless that little delicacy shop around
the corner And I can't tell you how
sorry I am
Bessie started with the dressmaker.
Il can't see,'' she muttered on her way
from Browns, why Mary isn't more
particular with other peoples things.
TT is possibl explained the drug
gist, that she left it here and it was
picked up. You know an umbrella is
something everybody looks on as pub
The butcher was polite but equally
depressing And Mary's German who
l1eut the delicacy shop had got as far
as you know mees, one umbrella is
a som citing" when Bess fed.
Sue offered the last chance.
you know, Bess, an umbrella is
something began Sue, in the hor-
''Don'ti' cried the anguished Bessie.
1 Don't tell me-
THAT is common property" finished
Sue imperturbably. Father took 1t
| downtown with him this morning"
Two hours later Bessie HmDed up
the stairs Of Mrs. Jacks apartment.
Peace shone through the dust on her
face. She was weary OUT STaJ&Iui.
She had not again been told that an
umbrella is something The pre-
cious crook was clasped tightly in both
hands.
'Theres" she exclaimed. There is
your property and don't you ever dare
lend it to me again
For a minute Mrs Jack remained
tense in the silence of unutterable
thoughts. Speech came at last. THAT, -
said she, 'is not my umbrella"
Weeks passed. Rain again descend
ed uDon the face of Chicago. Mrs.
Jack was caught out calling
Il shall be glad said her hostess
"to lend you my umbrella. It is one a
neighbor returned in place of the real
" handsome one she had borrowed
; Aren't most people terribly unreliable
in such matters %
Mrs Jack accepted the inferior arti-
| Gle gratefully. It was not until she
had reached the car that she recog-
nized the halIoWed relic of before we
| were married" It was not then that
she forgave Anne's neighbor for her
sense of umbrella values. It is not
even now that she has allowed curl
osity to break her cold silence toward
Bessie's delinquency and demand how
it all could have happened. Chicago
News.
POINTED PARAGRAPHS.