Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1922-03-15
A BLUE UMBRELLA
BY AGNES G. BRoeAN

1t was a blue silk umbrella, with q
lovely white bracelet handle, and a
Blue B engraved on the white knob
l have to be very careful in describ-
ing it, for this is part of the story.
Our new professor at college Is al
ways harping on preparedness" and
what 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
to my success; but that begins the
story.
Mother sent me down to Bailie's
for some taffeta to match the dress
she was going to wear to the reception
that the faculty were giving for our
noted professor; hurried along, pre-
ferring to walk the short distance.
and when met Nan Paige on the way
we stopped first, and had soda. And
Nan told me Of the books this Pro
fessor Laidlaw had written on the
deepest subjects, and how his picture
had been In magazines, and everything,
and I was just wild to see him. She
said that he looked like anyone's
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
l can be, on occasion. So as walked
the rest Of the way alone to Bailie's,
I decided that I 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
"ioPPCu uP, anu uONA CdIlC n SNUWCI,
outside the street grew suddenly dark.
and was glad that had brought my
umbrella. drew 1t with some diff
Guilty from before man who stood
beside me at the counter, and stared
reprovingly at him, when he failed to
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 it was with the affrontery
of claiming the umbrella or trying to
claim it. for I certainly did not give
it up to him. BEG pardon" he began.
'you have taken my umbrella, under a
mistaken impression, no doubt, that 1t
is yours"
"AIstaken?" asked disdainfully,
81 certainly know my own blue silk
B; my name begins with B." The
man stood still and stared at, me dis
corcertingly.
Notwithstanding the fact of your
name beginning with B." he said, "the
umbrella Is mine."
crowding female with two jostling
boys at her side came between us
just then, and fairly laughed back
at the imposter over their heads, then
to save trouble and publicity, ran
out of the store, and down the
street and on to street car; and
1t was not until I had handed in my
fare that | took time to realize how
brazen that man had BEEN And he
was a nice looking man too, with fine
features that any physiognomst would
say placed him above petty crime.
When I took the taffeta into mother.
Aunt Betty was there, and Janet, and
they We're all talking excitedly about
the evenings guest Of honor, whom
Aunt Betty called "a young man Of
sterling character"
Nan had spoken more concerning
his 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, started down the
stair Aunt Betty was going to have
one of her friends in to dinner. And
then l stood stock-still on the stair.
For she was talking to her friend in
the hall that minute, and he was my
umbrella man. Yes, really. And l
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. And
all at once felt chilly; for the reason
that Janet had given me blue silk
umbrella for Christmas was because
had so admired Aunt Betty's, and
Aunt Betty Baisley's name. naturally,
begins with b.
So there l Stood mystifed, yet be-
ginning uncomfortably to see daylight
For 1t occurred to me that perhaps
I had forgotten to take my umbrella
with me to Bailie's store, which upon