The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-10-28
THE. q. DAILY
SHORT STORY
The Green Umbrella
BY JESSIE DOUGLAS
{ Copyright, 1920. by the Mcclure
Nawsbaper Syndicate

Theodore mad reachSG Inc
sage wnere Bhe could see 40 beau
~ 10 it. At night tho urvsume
on the caves was only
nlonotonoLsIy wearisome, AID at
tWIiight--as It was now II WIS
Laaddening.
" thing" said Theodore aloud,
"If 1t keeps up mucn longer
shall" sho didn't quite GeClde
wnal she should do, IOr suddenly
hooking abOat the comfortable sit
ting room she knew shS couldn't
stay in It one moment longer.
Sne huted II. She hated tho
pretty, gray wall payer aau inc
prints that she had found At
quaint little book shop and fran
I'D herself. She hated the long
mahogany davenport with It's wa
Wy back and comfortable cushions
and the low chair by tns secretary
and the secretary lt8eIt villa IL
aiming glazed panes u gas.
For everything Ia tins room
meant stIGbSIe 10 iheo-cr"; he
struggle u lnaLe Il ChafiniuG nv
able nome Tor herself anu " Ill.
They had come TO this strange mil
town to i've and theodore LAD
had high nUpSB. she would make
q real nume Icr her only DrotaeI,
so that comfort would wrap MN
Arounu. WHAT tun II would be
10 keep house ana maze llIcnGH
ana brlny them here to pleasant
gluwlhg room!
And this was the way I had
turned out. NIIl was se.0Um al
nome, ana when no Was lie was
+, too ureu or TOO busy or too in
lerested IN reading bome stupid ar
tIcIe Oh mechanics even ~ nOuce
the flowers 4 RGUuOTa HaI arranged
So carefully ON the GusH, nor uid
he Apeak u tie uesscIr tiIat II mad
!. taElsh net an hOur ~ maze. wan
was u dear IN his way, Dut II WAS
bachelor way, rheVdora admit
ted trutnIully.
fine was sure lie would have
been quite as happy living i'll
club, or even in u dIngy boarding
house where he could hare things
as untidy as he chose.
AS for friends. Theodore had
discovered that they could not be
found on every corner. And one
cannot take ones whole time
writing TO the girls that live hun
dreds of miles away.
She stood in her tiny square
OF a white bedroom and looked
at herself resentTul1y, and then
she shook finger at her reilcc-
ton. 1T all comes from being !
]goose!" she said severely You
thought-you knew you did
that VIII would have friends of
his own, and that they would like
you and you would have very
nice time all together.
She pulled soft little hai over
her soft brown hair ana drew on
her raincoat over her slim should.
ers 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 nosS and said: We'll II
people don't want TO know me,
/. don't wait to know them"
Just in tune Theodore r"mom-
hered TO get her green umbrella.
She closed the door behind her
and put the house key in her poe
kot and started out in the slant
ing rays of rain. Under her feet
the water gurgIcd and lay in pools
of hidden deepneSs. for The side
IfwallIs OF Ware We're none too
ievep.
Sha went on blindly for a mo-
8mlant holding with all the strength
had TO this amber topped han
* ie and then she heard curt
yb!S say: Look where you're
golng!"
"Ohl" cried Theodore. and she
Strengthened up and saw in the
gray light that she had plunged
the umbrella into the neck OF a
stranger who had been coming
toward her with head bent.
"I'm afraid" said Theodore, Il
may lave hurt pour"
.ionly choked me n bit, tho
man said grufily.
The rain was dripping from his
nat in little rivulets and his shout
ders were glistening with drops;
but Theodore, looking into his
face, was suddenly too
hull OF laughter TO stop.
She had a delightful little laugh
IL sounded like q birds note ana
succession of thrills: but the
man seemed to find nothing pleas
ant In 1t.
when you're through" he said
in that same gruff voice, Il should
be much obliged II you would olsen
tangle me"
It was true that the cord Of
her umbrella had managed to
wind itself IE.to one Of A!s tHttor.s
with hiddea plalevo!ous; 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 81 her tone was not
hidden from the nan.
He looked at her, and rheo-
dora's heart gave funny little
leap. for his eyes were dark and
fine and full Of a trembling in
tens!ty, and in spite Of the rough
workman's clothes, she was won
derruly drawn to him.
THAT isn't the best place for
Ehlking," he said grnvely' |
Should advise you"
THANK you" Theodore answer
Id as seriously, but you see l
A1.tn