Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1908-09-25
She Found Wbuf
She Looked For.
toriginal.l

hair, blue eyes and one of those soft
feminine voices that usually go with
such a physique. She was innocent as
a dove.
But Miss leighton had a younger
brother, aged nine who was as full Of
mischief as his sister was free from
guile. What did thu young scapgrace
do but paint on Pearls new silk UNI
brella, of which she was very proud.
IN white letters the words, I'm look
ing for a lover" Miss Leighton, dress
cd in her daintiest costume, passed
through the hall b~uttoning her glove.
out through the front door on to
the stoop, cast her blue eyes up at
the sky, which was lowering. then at
the ground, which was wet, returned
to the hall for her umbrella, and as
she put 1t up looked again at the sky,
fearing that 1t might rain instead of
drizzle and damage the umbrella. Con-
seQuently she did not see the inscrip-
ton. Her brother saw 1t from an up
per window and rolled or the floor In
an excess Of giee.
Pearl had not gone far before she
bethought herself whether she had
brought her portemonnaie and IL 1t con-
tanned any money. Opening a little
bag ON her arm, she took out the porte
monnaie, which contained very small
change, mostly copper and nickel, and
was counting 1t when she dropped a
coin. While looking for 1t she heard
a very pleasant and well modulated
masculine voice say:
II perceive you are looking for some
thing. May I be of service to your"
TITS only a cent or at most a nickel.
Don't trouble yourself"
But he did trouble himself and, find
ing the coin, raised his derby hat with
n hand and handed her the piece
with the other, looking into her azure
eyes with a pair of black lei that
were dancing with good humor. He
was young and evidently a gentleman.
"Thank you ever so much" she said,
not understanding the merriment in
his c~ountenance, but relishing the ad-
miration that accompanied 1t.
"Have you lost anything elser' he
asked.
"why, no. What makes you think I
haveY'
"If a girl Is looking for something.
as it is plain you are, either she has
lost 1t or wishes what she has not pos
eessed."
But what l have been looking for
has been found
"When?"
"Why, just now"
Then l am very happy"
She brought her eyes on his In mild
wonderment; then, lowering them to
the ground, she walked on. He did
not take the hint and walked on with
her.
"But you don't know" be said.
-whelher i will prove 3 blessing or q
CURSE
"Whatrs
'This coveted thing"
"The nickel you found for mer'
"Oh, no! That's only a nickel. 1t
can neither be a blessing nor a curse"
what do you mean is a blessing or
a cursor
This thing you are proclaiming to
the world you are looking for"
Again the look of wonder. Really"
she said. IT haven't the slightest idea
what you are talking about"
That's surprising. l think you
should give notice whether you have
lost 1t, whether you wish a new one or
whether you have never had it at all.
l assure you 1t makes a great deal of
difference"
She put on as naughty a look as she
was capable of and said, "Since it has
been found l think further discussion
of 1t Is unnecessary"
"Then why not take In the notice?''
What noticerT
THE notice that you are looking
for
He paused. She vas not II of the
kind to order away one who, having
put her under 3 cents worth of obliga-
ton. seemed disposed to form a street
acquaintance, but he saw that she
looked distressed.
Pardon me-" he said. dropping his
bantering tone. Some one has been
playing a trick on you. The temptation
to rally you upon 1t has been irresist-
ible. If you will examine the cover of
your umbrella you will see for your
self"
She lowered her umbrella. He held
his own ver her and, taking hers by
the handle, showed her the inscription
well, l declare!" she exclaimed
Have l been parading with that thing
up2 Tom did that. My umbrellas
spoiled. and I'm the laughingstock of
the town"
A tear stood In her eye. Closing the
umbrella, he said in his kindliest tone
81 think the letters can be washed
out, and, as for being a laughlngstock,
I'm sure the innocence so apparent In
your face, your figure, your step-in
deed, In everything about you-pro-
tects you. Exchange umbrellas with
~