Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1922-02-03
A 81 E u UMBRELLA.
sy AGNES q. eRooAN B

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Copyright. 1879. Western Newspaper Union.
It was blue silk umbrella, with a
lovely white bracelet handle, and
Blue B engraved on the white knob.
I 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 it
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; l hurried along, pre-
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 was just wild to see him. She
said that he looked like anyone's
fav0rite 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 digaified herself, but
can be, on occasion. So as walked
the rest Of the way alone to Bailie's,
decided that I would ask mother to
let me wear the plain navy blue dress,
which makes me look 80 old.
Aunt Betty is critical where men
are concerned, and Is always asking
who they are, and what they have &C.
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
I stood waiting for that taffeta to be
wrapped up, and down came shower,
outside the street grew suddenly dark,
and was glad that had brought my
umbrella. drew it 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 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
1t up to him. BEG pardon" he began.
"you have taken my umbrella. under
mistaken impression, no doubt, that it
is yours"
"Mistaken?" I asked disdainfully,
II certainly Know my own blue silk
umbrella. Ycy will notice the letter
B; my name begins with B." The
man stood still and. stared at me dis
concertingly.
Notwithstanding the fact of your
name beginning with b. he said, "the
umbrella is NINE"
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, l ran
out of the store, and down the
street and on to a street car; and
it was not until I had handed in my
fare that I took time to realize how
brazen that man had been. And he
was nice looking man too, with fine
features that any physiognomlst 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
{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 a 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 I 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 I
couldn't help hearing him apologize
to her for not bringing back an um-
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 a blue silk
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, mystified, yet be-
ginning uncomfortably to see daylight.
For 1t occurred to me that perhaps
l had forgotten to take my umbrella
with me to Rnllie's store, which upon
later investigation proved to be true.
The two silk umbrellas with their
white bracelets stood side by side in
my cl0thespress. And when I came
guiltily into the dining room, you may
fancy my next humiliation. 'Bab's,"
said Aunt Betty, "let me introduce you
to Mr.. Laidlaw, the new college pro-
fessOr."~
Well, L don't know how I ever
should have come out if it had not
blessedly happened that Professor
I .aidlaM is to ho of OIL. fo, mill.