The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-11-02
Etening Story
The Green Umbrella.
BY JESSIE DOUGLAS.

The Green Umbrella.
BY JESSIE DOUGLAS.
The rain fell like long silver lances
from the skies. But Theodore had
reached the stage where she could see
no beauty in, 1t. At night the tiresome
rat-tat-tat on the eaves was only
monotonously wearisome, and at twi-
light-as it was now-it was madden
ing:
it keeps up much longer 1 shall"
she didn't quite decide what she should
do, for suddenly looking about the
Comfortable sitting room she knew she
couldn't stay in it one moment longer.
She hated it. She hated the pretty,
gray wall paper and the prints that
she had found at a quaint little book
shop and had framed herself. She
hated the long mahogany davenport
cushions and the low chair by the sec
rotary itself with its shining glazed
panes of glass.
For everything in this room meant
struggle to Theodore; the struggle to
make a charming, Hvable home for
herself and Will. They had come to
this strange mills town to live and
Theodore had had high hopes. She
would make real home for her only
brother, so that comfort would wrap
keep house and make friends and
bring them here to pleasant, glowing
roomi
And this was the way it had turned
out. Will was seldom home, and when
he was, he was too tired or too busy
or too interested in reading some
stupid article on mechanics even to
notice the flowers Theodore had ar
ranged SO carefully on the desk, nor
did he speak of the dessert that it had
taken her an hour to make. VIII was
dear in his way, but that way was
bachelor way, Theodore admitted
trutnfully.
She was sure he would have been
quite as happy living in club, or even
in dingy boarding house where he
could have things as ufitidy as he
chose.
AS for friends, Theodore had dis
covered that they could not be found
on every corner. And one cannot take
UP ones whole time writing to the
girls that live three hundred miles
away. r%
She stood in her tiny square of a
white bedroom and looked at herself
essentially, and then she shook
finger at her reflection. 1T an
comes of being a goose.' she said
severely. You thought-you know
you did--that Will would have friends
of his own, and that they would like
time all together
She pulled a soft little hat over her
soft brown hair and drew on her rain
coat over her slim shoulders and put
her feet into shining new rubbers.
Then she looked at herself, at the
hazel eyes and the white skin and the
piquant tip-tilted nose and said:
well, if people don't want to know
me. I don't want to know them!"
Just in time Theodore remembered
to get her green umbrella. She closed
the door behind her and put the house
key in her pocket and started out in
the slanting rays of rain. Under her
feet the water gurgied and lay in
pools of hidden deepneSs, for the side
walks of Ware were none too even.
She went on blindly for a moment,
holding with all the strength she had
she heard curt voice say: Look
where you're going!" a.
"Oh!" cried Theodore and straight
ened up and saw in the gray light that
she had. plunged her umbrella into the
neck of a stranger who had been COM
ing toward her with bent head.
I'm afraid" said Theodore, IT may
have, hurt you2" a. ~
only choked me bit," the ina7
said gruffly.
The rain was dripping from his ha;
in little rivulets and his shouldn't
were christening with drops; but The.
dora, looking into his half-hungr1
face. was suddenly too full of laughter
She had 4 delightful little laugh, it
sounded like a birds note and suc1
cession of trills; but the man seemed
to find nothing pleasant in it.
when you're thru" he said in that
same gruff voice, Il should be much
obliged if you would try to entangie
me-
It was true that the cord of her UNI
brella had managed to wind itself into
one of his buttons with hidden
maievolence; but with a twist of her
fingers Theodore set him free.
II hope" said Theodore. that you
won't suffer any bad effects The
mischief in her tone was not hidden
from the man.
He looked at her, and Theodora's
heart gave a funny, queer leap. for his
eyes were dark and fine and full of
trembling intensity, and in spite of the
rough workman's clothes she was
wonderfully drawn to him.
This isn't the best place for walk
ing he said gravely. Il should adj
wise you"
Thank YOU" Theodore answered
as seriously. but you see I have to
come this way"
She wondered as she plodded up the
dark, muddy hill why she had told
him such a fib. She knew he didn't
believe her and he was probably only
trying to be polite.
"I'n show him." said Theodore,
''that-it wasn't fib.'
The rain had not stopped the next
afternoon and Theodore was glad for
the first time that week. When the
clock said exactly ten minutes of five
she went upstairs, put on her rain
coat. took heN green umbrella and
started resolutelSZout.
Her heart was beating quite fast
when she reached the spot on the hill
where he should have been. But he
was not there. Theodore kept on.
however. staunchly. She had topped
the hill when she saw a dark figure
in rough workman's clothes coming to-
ward her and she kept on bravely.
He lifted his hat without smiling
and Thendnra sau- the crisn 1Eave of