Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-03-04
TALE Of AN UMBRELLA

My husband was Il collector for the
Safety Insurance con'pany. aud he had
gone dnwu To Il, Ia collect The sums
gathered by the agents in that town
He had already been AWAY wcck
ana had tclcgraphcd me that morning
10 the effect TINT he notwithstanding
that same afternoon. but II was 10
o'clock y. IN. before heard the wei
come click OF his iaichkcy As we
crossed the hall he stopped aud took
down his ovcrcont from the peg. Mt
the same time taking his umbrella In
his Other hand and saying
"Ehoda. my dear. you nny rs well
pu, this In the lumber room I, is
smashed entirely now" Aud lie laugh
ingly opened his old gimp which
was indeed complete wreck. took
II FROM him when he had closed II.
aud while he went 10 kiss our little
ones dung the umbrella into dis.
tan, corner OF dark closet under tho
attic stairs.
Next morning Edward kissed MS ms
usual and set Off. looking bright. strong
and happy About ~ o'clocl; was
busy making pudding Tor M early
dinner when an unusually pcrcmptory
knock ut the hail door started me.
hnslcncd to oprn II nlfl was sur
priscd TO confront two strangers. my
husband lool;ing pnlc aud troubled
aud MIR. Smell. the director OF the com.
pany by which my husband was en-
ploycd.
They walked in, and Mr. Smell nj
once addressed me.
Mrs. Falkncr. forgive this Intrusion.
hut Your husband has lost his pocket
booS-or at least he says so -ccniain.
Ing bills TO the value of S:;.50O."
LOST. Oh. Edward. how could It
happcn:" cried.
II don't know" he said mournfully.
ii had II In my overcout pocket last
night after camc homo. and. ns you
know. ! took my coat into our bed
room. anu 1t was there (tlic coat this
morning. for nobody went into our
room except ourselves
Are you sure YOU brought 1t homc;'
| asked,
Sure. Yes. OF course I'm sure. he
said impatlcntly.
Then IN that case we must search
the house" said one ot the strangers.
"Oli. do; oh. do" | said eagerly. 1T
must be somewhere about
"ln the meantime must ask you To
stay in this room" he responded. and
they went out OF the room. leaving us
alone with Mr.. Smell.
The book could not he found in the
house. and. though all was done that
could he III the way of advertising and
Offering rewards. Nil our efforts were
unuvaIllig.
Edward was discharged from his sl.-
nation, and many of the people Of the
town dla moi scruple to say lie had
appropriated the funds 10 lls owl,
use. However. the directors were not
among these. aud as they quite he
llevcd them lost prosecution was of no
avail. still, they conld not keep IN
their employ Il man guilty OF such cul-
pablo carelessness.
The house we lived In was our own.
having been presented to me "a n we'd
ding gift so we decided to stay in II.
but 10 sell The better part Of the furnl-
tirc. This we lid. and Edward went
to America. where lie succeeded IL oh
tanning post as clerk In New York.
Time went on. aud more than two
years had passed since our trouble.
had let my unfurnishcd rooms TO n nice
quiet family ana undertaken TO attend
10 them. which enabled me 10 keep fho
wolf from the door.
My two little girls were now grow.
Ing up and would soon require Ia go ~
school, an expense which was moi MS
yet prepared 10 meet. For two years |
had not seen my husband. aud felt
the separation kecnIy. and | could moi
help the warnings OF my heart creep.
ing into my letters. Edward noticed
this. and In March. 1880. he wrote tell.
Ing me TO prepare to come out to him
next mouth. He would forward me The
requisite funds.
We were greatly excited and began
packing ut once. | sold the house FOR
$1,000 and paid the money 10 Mr.
Smell as part payment OF the missin;
$1,000 and also sold the larger articles
OF furniture. The latter sum hclpc,
ne to provide n few necessurics rot
our wardrobcs.
The money came from Edward, and
all was now prepared when ! rcmcm
bcred The lumber in Tho stairs closet
and told The charwomnn TO bring !,
out. She did so, my little girls help
Ing her
had gone downstairs for something
when heard q cry OF surprise. and
Mrs. Egan. The charwomon. came run
ming downstairs bearing in one hand
dusty old umbrella of my husbands
and In the other the long lost pocket
book. She had found 1t in the um
brclla. she explained.