LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2015, 9 August 1880, Page 3

LITERATURE.

UNDER AN UMBRELLA. It was about sunset of a changeful, April day, when a youa.r girl, lightly descending the steps of a handsome residence, walked briskly down the street, which presently merged inti) a shaded avenue, sprinkled with modest villas and neat cottage). She was i nv-loped in a water-proof cloak, which revealed only the graceful contour of her shoulders, over which fall a cluster of golden brown ringlets. Her little feet tripped daintily along the rough road, until suddenly pausing she lifted . a fresh, sweet face, with laughing brown eyes and a dimpled mouth. ‘ Raining again V she said, aloud ; and stepping under the shelter of a linden, she pulled the hood of her cloak forward over her little hat. And then, ns the light April rain was driving directly in her face, she tied over it a thick, brown, doable veil. * Sunshine and shower all day,’ she murmured, ‘ Tho uncertain glory of an April day. Very provokb g weather wh n one is compelled to go out, but then everything looks so fresh and beautiful that it would be really a sin to complain.’ The sound of a quick step approaching from behind caused her to glance back. It was already growing dusk, rendered deeper by the lowering clou: 1 a, yet she coaid discern a very nice-looking young gentleman approaching, sheltered beneath a huge umbrella.

The girl walked on, but in a moment the step was by her side, the.shadow of the utabreba extended over her, and a gloved hand was eagerly held forth. ‘Cousin Nellie, is it really you?’ The girl started, and peered curiously through her thick veil. ‘ I am Nellie,’ she said, with some embarrassment; ‘but I—l don’t recognise you.’ 1 Not recognise me 2 and after only one year’s absence ! Why, Nellie, am Igo much changed ? And, besides, did yon not receive my letter saying that you might expect me this week 2’ ‘ I dont think I did,’ replied Nellie, demurely ; and at the same instant she thought to herself: *1 wonder who it is that he takes me for 2* ‘ It is strange that you should have missed the letter. But I hope I am not the less welcome for coming unexpectedly.’ He was silent for a moment; then said, in a changed tone: * Yon don’t seem a bit glad to see me, Nellie. And yet, if yon knew how I have looked forward to this meeting 1’ • That was very kind of you, and I am sure I ought to feel myself very much flattered.’ Another ominous silence, ‘ I don’t care who he is, or for whom he takes me,’ thought the fun-loving girl, as she walked Idemnrely along beneath the umbrella held over her. ‘ What right had ha to address me and call me his cousin before making sure who I was? Perhaps a little lesson will do him no harm.’ ‘Nellie,’said her companion, slowly, ‘do you remember the last night we were together—alone in the library ?’ ‘ I can’t say I do exactly.’ ‘lmposaib’o! You cannot have forgotten it, and what you said to me in adieu. Yon promised that yon would welcome me back with those words.’ ‘ What words V

‘ You said, ‘ dear Charlie, I do love yon!’ Nellie, dear, won’t you say them now, as you promised ?’ The young girl started. He spoke so earnestly that she was fairly frightened, and felt herself blushing as though the words wore addressed to herself. Nellie Caldwell. Who the other Nellie was—the Nellie beloved by this handsome young man she had no idea At any rats, though sbe began to think that it was time to put an end to this adventure. What right had she to suffer him thus to betray his secrets to her ? So she said, gravely, yet still with a spice of mischief : ‘ I think you are mistaken. lam quite sure I never said those words to any man.’ He bent a little forward and looked earnestly under the hood and at the brown veil. ‘Nellie, wi'l you take off that veil, I want to see your faoe, and to understand what you mean by talking in this strange way ?’ ‘ Oh, yon will understand it presently, when we come to that green gate yonder, there I will remove my veil. But how came you to raoogn : za me ?’ she asked curiously. ‘ How could I have have failed to recognise you, rather? You have grown slightly taller, perhaps, but I know your stop and your beautiful hair, more golden then everj Nellie. I wss on my way to yonr house, when at a distance I saw yon come down the steps, and I could not resist trying to overtake you for just one word and look.’

• Oh !’ said Nellie, as alight dawned upon her. and then to put a check upon her companion’s sentimentality, she added : ‘How it rains !’ and quickened her pace. ‘ Let it rain !’ he answered, impatiently—- ‘ cannon-balls, if it will. I want to talk to you, Nellie.’ ‘ Cannon balls may suit your taste, perhaps, bat would scarcely be agreeable to me; and as to talking out hero iu the rain and the darkness, I am not romantic enough for that.’ He was forced to keep by her side as she walked briskly on. ‘ Where are you going ?’ he asked presently. ■Home.’ ‘Home? Why you are taking a contrary direction from home !’ ‘ I think not; I believe I know where I live. ’ • I did not know you had removed.’ • Eld you not ? Ah, here we are, at the cate. Please open it, if you can. On the inside.’ He reluctantly obeyed, but raised the latch slowly so as to detain her while he whispered : 1 Nellie, you have not given me the welcome yon promised. You have not said those words.’

■ I don’t believe you really want me to say them,’ she answered, very much inclined to laugh, yet almost frightened at her own audacity. ‘Not want It! When yon know I love you I’ ‘ I don’t believe it is me that you love,’ she returned, pushing open the gate. * Good heavens, Nellie, how strangely yon talk? Who, then, do you imagine I love?’ * I am sure X don’t know, said Nellie, slowly raking her veil and pushing back the hood. ‘ I don’t know, but i am certain it can’t be me.’ And she looked up in his face with a demure, pnrsed-np little mouth, and brown eyes shining with suppressed mirth through tteir long, black lashes. Ho stood gazing upon her .as if petrified with astonishment. Then a deep flush crim-

sonod his handsome face, and his eyes flashed with an indignant light. ‘ I beg yonr pardon !’ he asid, with ceremonious politeness, ‘Of course it is a mistake on my part. ’ ‘ I suppose it was,’ said Nellie, demurely. ' I—l mistook you for another, ’he said, both embarrassed aud angry. ‘ Was that my fault?’ she returned* 4 But yon—you certainly allowed me to rest under the delusion.’ ‘Tnat was for fun.’ 4 Fan ?’

4 Perhaps I was wrong. Indeed I now ra her think that I was,’ said Nellie, coloring beneath his 'gaze. 4 But, as neither of us shall ever mention this adventure, I suppose no harm is done,’ she added, coolly. Be regarded her an instant with a strange, undecided expression. 4 1 beg your pardon! I am keeping yon in the rain,’ he said. 4 Good evening !’ And, lifting hla hat with icy politeness, he walked away. Nellie, as ehe entered the house, was met by her elder sisters with a shower of questions as to who was that elegaant looking man, how she met him, what he had said.

Unlike herself in general, she returned brief replies ; and, escaping to her own room, threw aside her waterproof, changed her dress, and, seating herself before the fire, eazed absently into the glowing embers Presently she laughed, then bit her lip with a vexed expression, and finally began to cry 4 1 wonder what makes me do such silly, unladylike things!’ she thought. 4 1 am always getting into some ridiculous scrape or other. What an opinion ho must have of me ? I shall be really ashamed to meet him again, as I snpposs I must, if he is Mr Gray.’ Then her mood changed. 4 1 don’t care. He may he as dignified as he pleases, bnt he shall never see that I trouble myself even to remember this ridiculoua walk, and the horrid umbrella !’ Presently another change camo over her. 4 Poor fellow! I can’t help pitying him, for I fear this has been merely a rehearsal of the real act. Why, Nellie Archer was in the parlor with Captain Lloyd neariy two hours this afternoon, when she must have known, from that letter, of “ Charlie’s” coming. I wonder if she ever said to the Captain—or toyoang Doctor Bliss—what she said to her cousin ? Poor fellow! And Nellie has been showing his letters to all the girls! She could not have done so had she loved him. Nellie Caldwell was correct in her anticipation of again meeting with Mr Charles Gray. The society of the little town was very gay ; and what with church fairs, and parties, and other social amusements, it was impossible that these two should not be thrown together. Nellie blushed, despite her utmost endeavors to look unconscious, when Mr Gray was first presented to her; but the gentleman was so cool and composed that she actually doubted whether he had recognised her.

He conversed with her a little, danced with her once, and, as she observed, was chiefly interested in watching Nellie Archer and Captain Lloyd. And Miss Archer, proud to show off her handsome cousin, and her own influence over him, treated him very sweetly in the intervals of her flirting with other admirers.

Some weeks glided by, in which the acquaintance between Miss Nellie Caldwell and Mr Gray imperceptibly assumed a more agreeable character. His coldness, and her equally cool indifference gradually thaw ed, and each vaguely felt that, despite their mutual efforts to keep apart, there was something which mysteriously drew them together. Nellie attributed this to her sympathy with his disappointment In regard to his cousin, and often expressed the wish that the latter would love him, as she was sure ho deserved, and make him happy by marrying him. It was inexplicable to her that any girl could prefer Captain Lloyd to Mr Charlie Gray. Neither had ever bat once allnded to their first meeting. Coming out of church one evening, Miss Archer said :

* Nellie, what have yon been doing with yeurself this last terribly rainy week ? Isn’t such weather enough to give one the blues ? ‘ Oh, no, ’ she answered cheerfully, * I like rainy days at home, and can always find something to amuse me.’ 1 Even in the rain itself,’ said Mr Gray on her other side. ‘ What an enviable disposition is yours, Miss Caldwell, to be able to find fun in such a situation !’

Nellie looked up quietly, and met tke half • laughing glance bent upon her. Instead of answering gaily back as was her wont, she colored and her eyes filled with tears. * Mr Gray,' she said, as Miss Archer fell behind with Captain Lloyd, ‘ I want yon to promise to forget that walk in the rain, and never again to allude to it.’ ‘ lam not sure that I could keep such a promise—at least the first part.’ ‘That means that yon haven’t forgiven

me.” ‘I really do not feel as though I had anything to forgive, or you to ask pardon for,' he said, pleasantly. ‘ I was very silly and wrong, but you see I have grown older and wiser since,’ said Nellie, demurely. ‘ If the increase of wisdom is in proportion to that of age— ’ he commenced, but was intercepted by Miss Archer. ‘ Nellie, are yon and Charlie flirting ? or what is that mysterious whispering about ? 1 We are not fl.rting,’ returned Mr Gray coolly. ‘Miss Caldwell does not flirt, I have observed ; and for myself, you know I detest it.’ ‘ I know you have some old-fashioned and absnrd notions,’ retorted his cousin laugh.ng. —One must be very prudish aud old-mii.ii.ih to meet your ideal of perfect womanhood, Charlie.' And again Nellie Caldwell felt conscious* stricked, remembering that unfortunate walk, and the impression which her conduct must have produced on this very particular young gentleman. Some time after this, there was a picnic at a picturesque old mill a few miles from town. Nellie Caldwell spent rather a tiresome day, wondering why it was she could not enjoy herself as usual, and envying

Nellie Archer her high spirits. To-day, at least, she observed, she and Mr Gray seemed to bo getting along unusually well tigeth ! r, she appeared radiant, and he serenely happy. ‘ I wonder if they are engaged ? she thought, and did not feel nearly so elated as she ought to have done at the probability of such a consummation. He sought her out occasionally, but had little to say, seeming to prefer reclining at her feet on the turf beneath the willows' looking dreamily on the water, or up into her face as she talked Several young ladies observed that they both looked very stupid and uninterested at each other. As the evening waxed late, there was a sudden stir among the company. It was certainly going to rain, some weather wise prophet had declared, and the chief portion of the company, at least, were anxious to get safely under shelter before the shower came. Mrs Caldwell collected her dessert-spoons and her daughters, who had come with her in the family carriage. ‘ Why, Nellie,’ said one of her young companions, ‘ yon are surely not going so soon. It would spoil the party ; and, besides you will miss the plantation song, and your favorite Virginia reel.* Mr Gray stepped forward. Would Miss Nellie accept a seat in his buggy? and would Mrs Caldwell intrust her daughter in his charge ? If so. Miss Nellie conld remain to enjoy the reel and the plantation melodies, which were really worth hearing, and yet arrive at home almost as soon as the carriage with the fat and lazy horses. So Nellie stayed, and [her spin's rose unaccountably. The plantation songs were scarcely sung, and the final favorite reel commenced, when a few scattered drops of rain startled the gay throng. An immediate rush was made to the conveyances. ‘ Don’t be alarmed,’ Mr Gray said, as he ras sted Nellie into his buggy. ‘lt will be hut a passing shower, probably, and we will take the road through the woods, which will afford some shelter in addition to that of my umbrella ’ A few other vehicles wore going the same way, Mr Gray’s was she last in the procession. ‘ You don’t object to the umbrella ? he said, raising it, and adjusting it to its socket in the back of the buggy. ‘I hate umbrellas !’ Nellie returned. _ ‘Do put that down—there is hardly any rain.’

4 Nevertheless, I am responsible for year safety aud good condition, so will keep it np till we get to the woods.’ 4 A little rain never hurts me.’

4 But it may hurt your hat. Are yea a woman, and never gave a thought to that important question ? Why, there was not a young lady on the ground to day who did not make that she first consideration.’

4 Well, said Nellie, laughing, 4 perhaps I am not mnch like other young women.’ 4 Perhaps so. In fact, that idea presented itself to me on my first meeting with yon.’ Fha colored and bit her lip, bnt made n answer.

* Nellie,’ he said, bending forward allittle, and looking in her face, 4 doesn’t this remind you of—that evening V 4 I thought,’ she answered, sharply, 4 that yon were never again to allude to that ssbect ’

4 I can’t help it; it is too often in my thoughts. In fact, I like to think of it’ Her heart beat a little at his tone, bnt she looked straight before her, without reply. 4 Nellie, do you remember the request I made of you that evening ?’ 4 That request was not for me.’ 4 It is now.’ Their eyes met for an instant 4 Are you sure,’ said be lie, half archly, but with a strange tremor ia her voice—--41 are you sure you are not still taking me for some one else ?’ 4 Quite tinre, despite your golden hair, and yonr voice and your similarity of name. It is Nellie Caldwell that I now ask to—to say those words !' ho whispered, as he clasped one of her hands in his. 4 How long,’ said Nellie, half mischieviously, half seriously, 4 how long since you said this to Nellie Archer. 4 1 never said it to Nellie Archer. When I left you and went to see the original Nellie,’ smiling. 4 1 f ound her to be quite a different character from the Ideal which my fancy had pictured, daring a whole year's absence. l£nongh : you know what I mean. I never spoke to her of love, when she informed me that she had engaged herself to Captain Lloyd. I love her well enough as a cousin, but not as I must love the woman whom I would make my wife.’ They were bowling along the narrow woodland track, where tbe trees made » verdant or ah overhead, through which the raindrops slowly dripped, like a shower of diamonds. Nellie bad never before felt how beautiful the world was. Th v ar/ir d at home in a drizzly shower* through which in the misty east, a glorious rainbow shone. At the door ho detained her for an instant under the umbrella, as three months before he had dono at the gate. 4 Nellie, darling, you have not said those words— 4 1 love yon, Charlie.’ 4 No,’ said Nellie, blushing. 4 No, I won’t say them now ; but ’ and she glanced up, rongishly, 4 1 do love that dear umbrella ! ’ And she rushed upstairs as her mother came into the hall, inquiring if they had gotten wet.