The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-09-16
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She Looked For.
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feminine voices that usually go with
such physique She was innocent as
n dove.
But Miss Leighton had younger
brother, aged nine. who was as full Of
mischief as his sister was free from
guile. What did the young scapgrace
do but paint on Pearls new silk um-
brclla, of which she was very proud,
In white letters the words, I'm look
ing for lover" Miss Leighton, dress
ed In her daintiest costume, passed
through the hall buttonlng her glove,
out through the front door on to
the stoop, cast her blue eyes up at
the sky, which was lowering, then ut
the ground, which was wet, returned
to the hall for her umbrella, and as
she put IL 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 it from an up
per window and rolled on the floor in
an excess Of glee.
Pearl had not gone far before she
bethought herself whether she had
brought her portemonnaie and IL it con-
talned any money Opening little
bag on her arm, she took out the porte
monnale, which contained very small
change, mostly copper and nickel, and
was counting 1t when she dropped
coin. While looking for it she heard
n very pleasant and well modulated
masculine voice say:
81 perceive you are looking for some
thing, May l be OF service to your
ats only cent or at most nickel.
Don't trouble yourself"
But he did trouble himself and, find.
ing the coin, raised his derby hat with
one hand and handed her the piece
with the other, looking into her azure
eyes with a pair of black ones 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 countenance, but rellshing the adj
miration that accompanied It.
"Have you lost anything else?" he
asked.
"Why. no. What makes you think l
have?"
''If a girl is looking for something,
as 1t y plain you are, either she has
lost IL or wishes what she has not pos.
sesscd."
"But what ! 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" he said.
whether 1t will prove a blessing or a
curse"
"What?
This coveted thing"
"rhe nickel you found for me?"
"Oh, no! That's only a, nickel. II
can neither be blessing nor curse"
what do you mean is a blessing or
a curseT
"This thing you are proclaiming to
the world you are looking for"
Again the look of wonder. Really"
she said, 81 haven't the slightest idea
what you are talking about"
THAT'S surprising. / think you
should give notice whether you have
lost It, whether you wish new one or
whether you have never had 1t at all.
1 assure you 1t makes great deal OF
difference"
She put on as naughty look as she
was capable of and said, "Since 1t has
been found l think further discussion
" II is unnecessary"
Then why not take in the noticer
"What noticey
"rhe notice that you are looking
for''--
He paused. She was not one of the
kind to order away one who, having
put her under 5,cents' worth of obliga.
tion, 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 irreslst.
ible. If you will examine the cover OF
your umbrella you will see for your
self"
She lowered her umbrella. He held
his own over her and, taking hers by
the handle, showed her the inscription.
well, l declarer' she exclaimed.
Have been parading with that thing
up? Tom did that Ny umbrellas
spoiled, and I'm the laughingstoek of
the town"
A tear stood In her eye. Closing the
umbrella, he said in his klndliest tAne
IL 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-ln-
deed, In everything about you--pro-
tects you Exchange umbrellas with
me-"
Thank you very much. Where shall
] send yoursT
"Maynt call for it?"
Perhaps that will do as well. Then
you can return mine at the same time"
He called that afternoon with her
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