Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1921-05-06
The
Green Umbrella
By JESSIE DOUGLAS

90 1920. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.)
The rain fell like long silver lances
from the skies. But Theodore had
reached the stage where she could see
no beauty in it. At night the tire
some rat-tat-tat on the caves was only
monotonously wearlsOme, and at twi-
light-as 1t was now-it was madden
ing.
II think" said Theodore aloud, "if
It keeps up much longer shall" she
didn't quite decide what she should
do, for suddenly looking about the COM
Portable sitting room she knew she
couldn't stay in 1t one moment longer.
She hated 1t. 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
with Its wavy back and comfortable
cushions and the low chair by the Sec
rotary, and the secretary itself with
its shining glazed panes of glass.
For everything in this room meant
struggle to Theodore; the struggle to
make charming. livable home for her.
self and VIII. They had come to this
strange mill town to live and Theo-
dora had had high hopes. She would
make real home for her only broth
er, so that comfort would wrap him
round. What fun it would be to keep
house and make friends and bring
them here to pleasant, glowing
rooml
out. VIII 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 Vase
dear In his way, but that was q bache-
lor way. Theodore admitted truth
fully.
She was sure he would have been
quite as happy living in a club, or
even In dingy boarding house where
he could have things as untidy 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.
She stood In her tiny square of q
white bedroom and looked at herself
resentfully, and then she shook a
finger at her reflection. ut all comes
of being goose" she said severely.
"You thought-you know you did
that VIII would have friends of his
own, and that they would like you and
you would have a very nice time all
together"
She pulled soft little hat over
her soft brown hair and drew on her
raincoat 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,
II people don't want to know me, /
don't want to know themr"
Jubt Ill llluC 1uCOuOId
to get her green umbrella. She closed
her 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 gurgled and lay in pools
Of hidden deepness, for the sidewalks
of Ware were none too even.
She went on blindly for a moment,
holding with all the strength she had
to this amber-topped handle, and then
she heard curt voice say: Look
where you're goingp
"Ohp cried Theodore, and straight
ened up and saw in the gray light that
she had plunged her umbrella into the
neck of stranger who had been COM
Ing toward her with bent head.
"I'm afraid" said Theodore, II may
have hurt your"
"0nly choked me a Bit" the man
said gruffly.
The rain was dripping from his hat
in little rivulets and his shoulders
were gllstening with drops; but Theo-
dora, looking into his half-angry face,
was suddenly too full of laughter to
stop.
She had a delightful little laugh, 1t
sounded like q birds note and a sue
cesslon of trills; but the man seemed
to find nothing pleasant In 1t.
"When you're through" he said in
that same gruff voice, II should be
much obliged If you would try to I'M
tangle me-"
1t was true that the cord Of her UNI
brella had managed to wind itself into
one Of his buttons with hidden malevo-
lence; but with twist Of her fingers
Theodore set him free.
II hope" said Theodore, shat you
won't suffer any bad effects" The mis-
chief in her tone was not hidden from
the man.
He looked at her, and Theodora's
heart gave funny, queer leap, for his
eyes we're dark and fine and full of a
trembling intensity, and In spite Of the
rough workman's clothes she was won
derfully drawn to him.
"Thls isn't the best place for walk
Ing" he said gravely. II should ad.
wise you"
THANK you" Theodore answered as
seriously, "but you see have to come
this way"
She wondered as she plodded up the
dark, muddy hill why she had told
him such a fb. She knew he didn't
believe her and he was probably only
trying to be polite.
'Tll show him." said Theodore,
"that II wasn't fib."
The rain had not stopped the next