The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1922-04-20
A BLUE UMBRELLA
BY AGNES c. sRoeAN


Blue engraved on the white knob.
have TO be very careful in describ-
ing ii, for this is part of the story.
Our new professor at college is al
ways harping on preparedness" and
what a great advantage it is TO sue
cess. Well. my thinking of carrying
the blue umbrella that day when 1t
looked like rain. wasn't any advantage
10 my success; but that begins the
story.
Mother sent me down To Babies
for some taffeta 10 match the dress
she was going TO wear TO the reception
that the faculty were giving for our
noted professor; I hurried along, pre-
ferring TO walk the short distance,
and when I met Nan Paige on the way
we stopped first, and had a soda. And
Nan told me of the books this Pro
lessor Laidlaw had written on the
deepest subjects. and how his picture
had been in magazines, and everything,
and was just wild to see him. She
said that he looked like anyone's
favOrite movie actor. and was an idol
with the women wherever he went.
But Nan said he was stern, too, and
would not stand for nonsense or
familiarity from his pupils. and we
had better impress him with our dig
nified behavior
Nan isn't very dignified herself, but
can be, on occasion. So as l walked
the rest Of the way alone to Bailie's.
I decided that would ask mother to
let me wear the plain navy blue dress,
which makes me look so old.
Aunt Betty Is critical where men
are concerned, and is always asking
who they are. and what they have ac-
complished. until Janet is often pro-
voked. regarding her own young men.
Janet has plenty Of beaus And
mother says that Aunt Betty might
have married times over, if she had
not been so particular Aunt Betty Is
awfully pretty and jolly. But there
stood waiting for that taffeta TO be
wrapped mp. and down came n shower.
outside the street grew suddenly dark.
and 1 was glad that had brought my
umbrella. I drew it with some diff
Guilty from before a man who stood
beside me ut the counter and stared
reprOvingly at him. when he failed 10
beg my pardon. And as I was hurry
ing down the aisle that man came
after me This time he did say beg
pardon" but ii was with the afrrOntery
of claiming the umbrella, or trying to
claim il. for I certainly did not give
il up to him. BEG pardon he began
you have taken my umbrella. under a
mistaken impression. no doubt, that ii
is yours
Mistaken" I asked disdainfully,
7 certainly know my own blue silk
umbrella. You will notice the letter
b; my name begins with b The
man stood still and stared at me dis
concertngly.
Notwithstanding the fact of your
name beginning with B." he said, 1.-The
umbrella is mine"
A crowding female with two jOstling
boys at her side came between us
just then, and I fairly laughed back
at the impOster over their heads, then
TO save trouble and publicity, I ran
out of the store, and down the
street and on to a street car; and
II was not until I had handed in my
fare that I took time to realize how
braZen that man had been. And he
was a nice looking man too, with fine
features that any physiOgnOmist would
say placed him above petty crime.
When I took the taffeta into mother
Aunt Betty was there. and Janet, and
they were all talking eXcitedly about
the evenings guest of honor. whom
Aunt Betty called "a young man of
sterling character"
Nan had spoken more concerning
dis eyes Which reminded me OF
what very nice eyes the thief had.
For even if it's only an umbrella you
are trying to steal, you're thief. And
by and by when I'd got on my
second best dress, I started down the
stair. Aunt Betty was going to have
one OF her friends in to dinner. And
then stood stOck-stin on the stair
For she was talking TO her friend in
the hall that minute, and he was my
umbrella man. Yes, really. And
couldn't help hearing him apologize
to her for not bringing back an UNI
brella she'd loaned him, and which
he insisted. had been pulled right out
from under his arm in store. AnC
all at once felt chilly; for the reason
that Janet had given me a blue sill
umbrella for Christmas was because
I had so admired Aunt Betty's, and
Aunt Betty Baisley's name. naturally
begins with B.
So there I Stood mystifed, yet be
ginning uncomfOrtably to see daylight
For 1t occurred to me that perhaps
had forgotten to take my umbrella
with me to Ballie's store, which upOl
later investigation proved to be true
The two silk umbrellas with thei
white bracelets stood side by side il
my clOthespress. And when 1 cam