Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1910-05-06
Oh sARKs's UMBRELLA.

snowy white; nobody remembered it
otherwise Rumor assigned to him fifty
years: and il was Whispered that his
promotion TO the gddy heights OF a see
Ond division clerkship was due to a sharp
twingc of conscience on the part OF a
treasury official of the same name. who,
happening to glance at that human docu-
ment, the paysheet of temporary clerks,
was moved to inquire the age and record
| OF his namesake in the Kings civil serv
ice.
Old Sarks'' was the name by which
he was known throughout the office.
''Sarks" was an abbreviation OF ''Sar
Icophagus.' One of the numerous office
wits had applied the name to him on
hearing that he frequently devoted his
whole luncheon hour to neighboring
museum, which held famous sarcopha-
gus.
In reality there was little justification
for the name. His colleagues would have
been compelled to admit as much, had
they cared TO follow him on one of his
visits to the Soane museum, that peace
full house which, lulled by the hum Of
distant traffic, sleeps undisturbed on the
north side OF Lincoln's- Slim fields Here
he would descend the quaint staircase to
| he little corridor which leads to the
monks parlor. and halt before the object
Iof his pilgrimage the priceless. ala
baster sarcophagus that once upon a
time held the mummy of Set !. but the
east of a sleeping child
Before this plaster gfiure he would
stand. hat in hand motionIess as the
butterfly which. alighting on tiny
flower. is pressed lovingly to the child's
breast. What he thought no man knew
There was something else calculated
to shake further the general confidence
in the suitability of the name Old Sarks
10 concerned certain girl. whom he
used to greet each morning in Kingsway.
He could not remember the first oc-
casion on which he had raised his hat
to her. I'm summer time it must have
been for he had persuaded himself that
his action had been intended merely for
the purpose of allowing IA cool current
! of air to play on his overheated head
t Ii the result OF that innocent action had
been a smile and Il gentle inclination of
the head on the part of the girl, the
fault, if any could hardly be ascribed to
him. After that incident of course. he
had no alternative but to raise his hat
whenever he passed.
i 1t was her hair that first attracted
him-long wavy hair the sport of the
i winds the plaything of the sun. He was
glad she wore it down, all the more be-
n cause she had reached the age wheif-
/ most girls are eager to put it UP.
+ They always passed each other in
kingsway. he OH his way to his Office
near the Strand; she to small ground
in, a b,,
'' eyes would stray at intervals from the
f weary keyboard of typewriter to the
tops of the trees in Lincolns inn-l fields
+ Accident showed him where she spent
the day. He was returning from one of
!, his pilgrimages to the Soane museum.
=. when he CHANGED to glance over the top
OF a glass screen that shielded an office
window, With start he recognized the
girl within. Her hands were ON the car.
I riage of the typewriter; but her eyes
;, were ranged high above the screen to-
, wards the green trees in the cool square
Since that day his homcward Journey
laIways took him by the window with
# the advertisement of "Typewriting and
duplicating plays, specifications, etc.
displayed upon its screen fIe found
himself wishing he could take her place
at the typewriter, and set her free. She
was rarely absent from her seat; and
g the sight OF this Young grl, cooped up
e for longer hours than himself. filled him
e with pity and indignation.
j., Then came a day which opened blue
and cloudIcss a day when to carry an
umbrella was to court the turning of
! heads and the elevation of eyebrows
h The one umbrella he possessed happened
to be at the otiicea piece of luck for
which he had reason to be thankful. for
al ) o'clock heavy storm-couds from
the west broke over the metropolis. He
e was nearing the corner of the street in
= which the typewriting Office was situat-
d ed. when a sudden thought made him
;: flush and slacken his pace. For a few
= moments he stood iuesolute Then the
n memory Of the girls thin summer frock
5, decided him. With an audacity that sur
:. WiSed himself. he entered the little room
II and stood for the first time on the Other
J. side of ito window screen.
y In girl looked mp from her work au
- tomatically; then the blood rushed tc
~ her pale tacc With remark about tn,
Il weather, he begged permission 10 lend
ID her his umbrella. Nervously she STAN
l. mercd her thanks under the eyes of The
~ managercss thin woman in black
81, tacles No doubt she had observed him
9lancing in, each evening, as he passed.
Rain was still falling next mornin.
when he reached Niugsway, He chose
D., the opposite side to that on which they
Is usually met, hoping to hail bus, II,
t. was anxious she should not see that h,
rs wanted his umbrella; and for that rea
er son he was Intentionally later thar
Is usual His plans, however. were futile
ID \ girl came hurrNing across the street
+, beneath an umbrella She carried q
m larger umbrella. which She held out t.
rs him
@. 1t was good of you' she said
IS "Tmuk you So much; but you shouldn't
re really you shouldn't. Miss Tihblel
say, She glanced up the street
then uttered a slight cry. There she i,
don't look" she implored. But
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