Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1918-11-06
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Umbrella
1915. wssssr. Nsvspapsr us,sa.
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(copyrisht. 1915. wsstssa ssvspapss U.ssa.,1
She was a dainty bit OF femininity,
and the casual glance Of Walter Brooks
appreciated the fact. It was blustery
and raining, but grace and beauty ap-
pealed to him, especially where their
exponent was In distress, and the trim
1.-the figure ahead Of him was having
difficulty in holding her poise and Draw
ing the tempest.
Suddenly Whirl OF the wind tore
the umbrella from her fran clasp. 1t
evaded his grasp and went sailing up
into the air, came sailing down into
the street, and but for his nimbleness
it would have been crushed under q
speeding automobile.
Miss Efie Dayton with interest and
futtering hope watched the gyrations
of umbrella and man. He had rescued
the parachute uninjured, and, Joining
it's owner, presented 1t to her, the eour-
teous and unassuming gentleman COM
plete.
"How shall 1 thank you'll" flashed
forth its grateful recipient, and then'
hesitatingly: "Will you not share the
shelter2'
"You need it most" responded
Brooks, land I am pretty well deluged
already" III,
1T is quite spacious" observed Miss
Dayton winningly, land fear I am not
to be trusted with it in this fierce tenn
pest"
It was cozy, it was heart warming. it
stirred Walter quite out of the common
to find himself plotting a fair charge
who feigned no prudery, but chung
gladly to his protecting arm until they
reached side street.
II live halfway down the block, !" she
explained, land II am Miss Fife Day
ton. And the number Is 297. tell
you all this because you must keep the
umbrella till you reach home, then
you may send it to me at your convent
ence-if there is anything left Of II, "
and she laughed in free, friendly way
that captivated him. She smiled all
the way up the house steps and he
stood bareheaded and bowling until h.
had seen her safely Beyond the threst
old.
A bewitching memory Of eharm1n
attractive face got Walter into dificu
ties. He held the umbrella In his haI
dreamily, regardless of maneuverin
it, and it turned inside out, the stet
ribs snapped and parted.
'tNow, what will have to say!" he
reflected. 1T comes of borrowing, but
what a gracious lender! OF course it's
the repair shop now"
He led a lonely life, for he had been
in the city less han q month, but the
memory of the chance acquaintance
ship of the evening seemed to I'LL the
void of his solitariness, somehow. He
was glad when he. awoke In the morn
ing to observe the sky clear blue and
the sun shining brightly, as concerned
for the comfort of Miss Dayton as
though she were an own sister On his
way to the Office he left the umbrella
to be mended at a little repair shop. He
put on a fresh necktie after supper
and, securing the umbrella, started for
the home of its owner. As he reached
it, seated on camp stool on the little
porch, was the subject of his interest.
She arose with welcome smile.
II have brought back the umbrella
you so kindly loaned me- said Walter,
and she reached through the open door
way and secured companion camp
STOOL She listened to his story of the
second accident to the umbrella and
acted pleased that he fingered. The con
versation/ led to the exchange OF m,
tual information as to their respect
work. Fife was stenographer IN:
Office of q large mercantile housed:
lived with her mother and the old
coming out necessttated third
stool.
Efie thanked him for taking sob
trouble about the umbrella. '.Fora
good as new now" she declared, "a
vastly more up-to-date. See, moth,
the repairer has substituted one
those tapering sharp pointed steel TOP
for the old clumsy one. It would be
quite a weapon, Mr.. Brooks, In case
of exigency." and they parted in rare
pleasant spirits. e: iss~
Mrs. Dayton had invited Walter to
call again, but he was timid young
fellow and week went by and he put
off the call he treasured, fearing an
imputation Of forwardness or intru-
sion. Then one day he received let
ter. It informed him OF an occurrence
he had missed in the current public
prints These words were written on
blank card: II thank you for tn. .
armament that put dreadful enem, :
to flight" Pinned beneath the bri y
sentence was clipping from a news
paper. 1t told Of ''the quick wit and
bravery Of Miss Efie Dayton" Return
ing from the bank with the pay roll of
the establishment where she worked
fO0tpad had seized the Satchel con
tanning it. She had directed the uR,>'
brella at his throat, drove him back in
pain, and escaped.
Walter felt 1t quite incumbent upon
him now to call upon Miss Dayton.
One evening. two months later,
.neighbor across the street, an observ-
ant old fellow, chuckled serenely as he
glanced at the porch of the Dayton
home. - #sszzs~.E