The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1919-05-31
THE RED UMBRELLA
6y JACK LAYTON.

And Miss Barrie. who had no.
changed by fortunes wand fro,
merry Betty Berr!e of Willowda,
INTO serious minded "comnanion
closed 'ne desk over various Iayend,
united notes, and Gazed through n
window
1T Is raining" she murmured. :.
shall get a wetting"
Nonsense - calculated tbe III
lady. you will take my umbrella"
But it is such beautiful thing
Betty demurred-'if anything shouI
happen TO it"
What could happen TO an umbreII
between here and the restaurants
her employer cauStically remarked. (
So graciouSly thanking her. IN
companion" picked up the umbrelL
and went. Al least companion" wa
the word under which Betty's posi-
ton had been designated in the wan
columns of the city paper. whIcI
round IFS way TO her village home.
When she had closed the lateI,
desolated home and started out upor
the path Of Independence. Betty found
that being companion" in her case
meant. combination of nurse apo
secretary as well. And doing her
very best. met with slight reward.
She wondered wistfully. as she
trudged on toward the restaurant. WHY
II should happen that the formerly
cherished daughter of the old village
doctor should h. walking wet pave.
ments. with no rubberS TO protect her
! thin shoes. while other girls raised
no more carefully few past in luxurf1
Gus cars. These girls wore rich furs.
often their cwn hands controlled the.
shining machinesN while they laughed
back in confident happiness at Others
as fortunate as they. Sqale were mar
ried, Betty was sure Of this. frrS = 10;
proud proprietary air Of their mascu-l
line escorts. And the new thought
came to her. that she would never.
ride, a proud wife in her own auto
mobile. If. indeed. she married at aIi
II would be to some toiling man
whose humble home would necessitate
the constant labor Of her hands.
NO" reflected Betty, every way
you look at IL. life's Injuries are Bof
for me. And after all" her smile
flashed out at the thought-"the rain
Is not raining on me. and I'm carry
ing an expensive umbrella"
II was beautiful umbrella. The
imperious old lady's wealthy daughter
had given ii 10 her as a gift.
Her respondent mood had sudden
ly vanished--it was good TO be young
and alive, 1t was good to be-of use.
Through the gloom the restaurant
lights beckoned across the way.
Betty started to cross the road, then,
drew back at The warning horn OF an4
auto. She realized, as a girl threw
back an apologize smile, that one Of /
khe favored ones had almost run her
down. She must be more careful, the
alarming scream OF the auto horn
seemed still to ring confusedly in her
ears.
She had glimpse OF a wbite-faced
man at the wheel. and
hen desperately Betty clutched the
pearl handle OF the red silk umbrella.
with all her strength its fraii
protection against the black object
which almost crushed her.
Almost-but al that very moment
he brakes did their work. Painting
Ike frustrated animal the automo-
'ile stood still. while the white-faced
nan opened the door. and sprang to
setty's side.
"You are not hurt?" he gasped, sit
did not-hit your
Without awaiting an answer, he
licked her up quickly in his arms and
eated her in the car.
Didn't you hear me sound the
ornT' he gently persisted.
Then out Of her vast relief, Betty
lughed.
"Oh! I heard horns," she said,
everywhere. do not blame you
Ou see-Pm from the country"
The man heaved sigh of relief,
len he also smiled.
"And don't you know" he added
that it's useless to try
} stop automobiles with red signal;
train might stop perhaps, but not q
achine"
1T was not useless in this case"
city told him. then she looked down
CONSERVATION.
at is broken" she said aghast,
to pieces. 1t was a bor-
WED umbrella. and / never could
~ one like It."
"As for that" said the man, he was
Isily writing his name and address
ross a page from a note book-T
iii be glad to replace the umbrella
hats my plain duty. When you find
le just like it. send the bill to me.
nd now-sball drive you homer
Betty was reading with wide eyes
e mans scribbled name. II was a
,me Of prominence which she had
ten read quoted upon matters OF
At her hesitation, he turned again
ward her, and smiled.
"Or." he suggested "shall we 90
ID purchase that umbrella nowT
IF you please" Betty gratefully
reed.
And that ride. leaning back against