Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1930-01-10
NANCY'S
GREEN SILK :
UMBRELLA
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
(@ by d. ]. walsh.l


you take the umbrella, Nancy.
That isn't asking you to do
very much"
It happened to be Nancy's own UNI
brella, a recent birthday gift. and an
expensive one-green silk with a
darling handle tipped with carved
ivory and silk cord to slip over the
arm. Nancy had wanted a green silk
umbrella for a long, long time and
had been too happy for words when
Aunt Jerusha gave Ter this one 1t
had meant something of a sacrifice
on the part Of Aunt Jerusha. and
Lydia, who could have afforded any
thing, had given her box of hand
kerchiefs. A box of handkerchief
when Nancy needed a dozen things
that had to be in sight all the timel
Lydia was six years older than
Nancy and married so comfortably
that she could offer her sister a home.
Not but what Nancy paid her way.
She earned fairly good salary doing
Office work and helped with the house
work besides But Lydia never gave
her any credit for such assistance
when 1t came to figuring Up the board
bill. a..
Nancy was rather tired, for the
week had been a full one at the office,
to say nothing Of the bridge party
Lydia had given on Thursday, and
she needed this Saturday afternoon to
rest. But Lydia had conceived a
longing for various things and moth
ing would do but they must go shop
ping.
It was forty miles to Bingham and
forty miles back again. Lydia scrib-
bled notes on a small pocket tablet
while Nancy sat with her head back
busy with her own thoughts.
II wish l could think Of another
man to ask to my Sunday night sup
per- Lydia said suddenly. "Some-
body that would do for Miss Mitchell.
There's Albert Huttonl wonder If
he would come. What do you think?"
II don't know" Nancy spoke as If
she had not at that instant been think
ing of Albert Hutton.
"I'd never forgive him If he de-
elined." Lydia unused. sand he might
e he felt like it. Old bachelors of
that age think they can do as they
please" She tapped her tablet i'm
patiently with the tip of her pencil.
"Since Albert got to be district at
torney he is too high-nosed for any
thing"
She returned to her notes and
Nancy returned to her thoughts Al
bert had a right to be high-nosed II
he chose; any man who had fought
his way up to position Of that kind
deserved his own respect as well as
that of the community. AS for herself
she admired him very much, had al
ways admired him. She would moi
admit that she loved him. although
that was nearer the truth. For what
was the use in loving somebody who
seemed almost totally oblivious OF
your existence? The old pleasant
friendliness Of their early youth had
with Albert, worn away and he some
times failed to see her. But there
was something in the sound Of his
steps even ..sr
Bingham was frostily fair yet Nancy
chung to her umbrella. It was Lydia's
way to "look" They trOoped up and
down, only causing for a cup Of tea
to lend them further fighting strength.
AS they tramped they accumulated
parcels.
~I'l have to order taxi" Lydia
said. She searched hastily through
her purse. "Nancy. car you pay for
O taxi?"
"Oh, yes" Nancy answered. It was
usually that way.
"Go order one, them" Lydia said.
Nancy ordered the taxi-"Side en-
trance OF the Fair store" And then
prepared to wait. There was one
available chair and Lydia took It.
"My feet are killing me-" Lydia
mOaned.
"Heres the taxi" Nancy announced
She started forward, but Lydia rushed
past her.
"Let me get In first and then you
can hand ME the parcels" she said,
and Nancy obeyed But as she her.
self entered she met with disaster.
She got caught in the doorway and
felt the crown of her hat smash In
Her best hat, her only hat, except that
old thing that she wore to the Office
on stormy days.
Nancy had reached the point where
she was merely enduring until she
could lani In her own bed. Thank
goodness, tomorrow was Sunday and
she could get an extra hour of sleep
A train was coming In. They made
a desperate scramble, only to find that
1t was not their train after all, and
breat!less with haste and burden. col.
lapsed into seats in the waiting room.
"Did you get everythlng?" Lydia
asked.
"Nancy, with IngrOwing suspicion.
was seeking frantically.
"My umbrella liz gone |" she breathed.
"Gonel" shrieked lydia. Then with
y conviction than was almost tri.
tmphnnt. "You left It somewherew
"NO. handed II to you with the
other things befC:e ! got into the
.axl You were the last one out. and
you know you said you had every.
thing"
"Dnhr tell me I M to blame for your
losing your old umbrella" she said.
TO lose Aunt Jerushy's glfl II was
too much
"Telephonp." suggested lydia "Of
course you remember the number OF
the tnxi'
uYDnNynNI a, n-vnNy