Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-10-20
UNDER THE UMBRELLA.

| ram.
Signora Susanna looked up, extended
her arm and received the first drops on
the back of her hand and on her face.
Then she said to her nephew, boy of
between IA and IS years # age: "Ferru-
clio. Jump over quick to old Martha and
see if she can't let us have an umbrella
for awhile. You stay here, Cecilia,
Now be careful you don't get the mud
all over you"
So saying, Signora Susanna opened her
little umbrella and said to her daughter:
"Come under my umbrella until Ferru-
clio gets back. 1t will not do you much
good but it will keep off little of the
RAIN
''No, mamma" returned Cecilia, ct is
no use for two tC try to get under that
tiny umbrella"
Ferrucio was not lJng in reappearing,
breathlessly followed at distance Of
several feet by woman who carried a
huge umbrella under her arm.
Would you not rather stop over at
my house for little while?" inquired
the newcomer politely. "A shower like
this can't last very long, l am sure. |
think that would be best, signora. But if
YOU prefer to go at once | brought you
this umbrella. 1t is a poor umbrella, be-
cause We are poor people ourselves, but
! it is the only one | have"
Thank you, Martha" answered Sig
nora Susanna cordially. | should be glad
to stay at your house; but it is late and
dinner is waiting for us. l will take
your umbrella and let you have it back
soon Thanh vo1I 4bonl- Won
Ferrucio and Cecilia exchanged smiles
as they regarded the large umbrella of
the woman, whose wings seemed calcu-
lated to give shglter to an entire family
Everybody arm-in-arml Everybody
arm in-arm?" exclaimed the girl, clapping
her hands.
What are you thinking of, child?'' re-
tc"ted her mother. you take my para
sol and Ferruclo will hold the large UNI
brella and be my gentleman"
This arrangement by no means suited
the two cousins, whose faces elongated
several centimeters; but the signora did
not observe it because at that moment
her attention happened to be drawn
away by the noise of an approaching
carriage.
1t was the buggy of DR.. Lonzi.
"Signora Mellini," cried the doctor,
stopping his horse and putting out his
head from the buggy, "do you want to
come into my carriage? l have a place
for you here"
Really" answered Signora Susanna.
IF you assure me that you will not 90
out of your way on my account will ac-
cept your kind offer
Not at all. l am going IN your direc-
ton. And at all events / would not
leave you out in the rain that way. /
am only sorry that | cannot accommo-
date the young lady and the young gem
tleman."
"The young lady and the young gem
tleman have no objection to walking on
foot" said Cecilia. with a smile of con-
tentment.
And, returning her mothers parasol,
she plunged under the ample armament
of the red umbrella.
This girl will remain child until ex-
IRENE old age" remarked her mother, as
she was helped into the carriage by the
doctor; and, turning to the young couple,
she added; 'Now, don't fool around, but
go straight home, Ferrucio, you are the
younger of the two, but you are the
cousin. | intrust her to you"
DR.. Lonzi shook the reins over his
horses neck and he started off on a run.
Did you hear!' said Ferrucio, with
an air of Importance "You are intrust-
ed to my care. Now, then, respect and
awe in the presence of your superior
Do you understands
oh" exclaimed Cecilia, what a for
midable cavalier. l can push you into
that ditch with one turn of my hand"
Il should like to see it" answered Fer
rucio, irritated at this reflection on his
manly strength.
will you attempt to deny, perhaps,
that am at least two inches taller than
you areg"
That is a calrmny. We haven't
measured ourselves this fall"
NO, not this fall, but last fall"
There is the rub. You see. | have
grown in that year and you have not at
least not in height"
This allusion to the anatomy of his
cousin seemed to him such a stupendous
piece of audacity that lie regretted it be-
fore it was well out of his mouth. and
he blushed and lowered his eyes.
For a moment the girl remained in
doubt as to whether she should laugh or
grow angry, so she contented herself
with murmuring between her teeth,
BOBBY"
well, we will settle this account some
other year. said Ferrucio. satisfied ot
having come out so easily from this en-
| barrassmcnt
What accouut?"
Why, that about my stature"
on Will get to be regular Goliath.
| dare say. Now here, YOU stupid fellow.
con You or can you not hold that lannon's
umbrella decentlyg"
1t IS an undeniable fact that Ferrucio
managed the umbrella rather awkwardlv,
constrained as he was to walk on his tip
toes IN order not to appear smaller than
ms cousin. To make matters worse. the
wind was so strong that at every gust
the umbrella was carried now on one
} SlNt, .