JUST A CRACK AND A JOIN.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10483, 23 October 1899, Page 2

JUST A CRACK AND A JOIN.

Bt LJLHAS QciUEt COCCH, M TBX WOUAX At HO» Crack! Crash! The yelp o f a dog, tne sa dden ejape of leet npon the wet pavement, a flying figure, a Wow and a thud; one after another, yet 6fcher ' and Andrew Hollins, bicycle and all, -was in a heap at Ursula Sturdy's "Oh!" exclaimed Miss Sturdy; then ebe straightened her hat. He had been introduced to her only the 5, bef<ae » w»d this did seem a rather sudden leap towards closer acquaintaneetx'JEt - * your pardon," declared Mr Mollma, picking himself up, panting and apologetic. "The dog;—under my wheel. I tried not to kill hhn. I hope you are not hurt? I am so sorry!" Hurt, no, Vva. not hurt, thank you ; only a little—startled. I didn't understand what doing. But you ?" 'Only a scratch or two tihanks. I managed to save myself. But," he looked at her hand, "I'm awfuUy afraid I've smashed your umbrella." Miss Sturdy looked also, quickly and rue™"y- "Yes, the stick is broken," she admitted. "Quinsy brute that I was Hi Please don't treat yourself any worse at present," she said smiling in spite of her chagrin. "Accidents and weather must be taken as they come f and the rain !has quite stopped, co I don't need it. Only,'? she added, with a rueful little laugh, #'if you were fated to tumble against- my umbrella, I could wish you had done it two days ago; I bought this new one yesterday." "I can't tell you ihow guilty I feeL" "Please don't. You will have so much else to bear with, I'm afraid, when those bruises assert themselves. I must hurry on now, Mr Hoflins; and I (hope there's not much real harm done, either to you or the bicycle." And Miss Sturdy hurried along windy little side street, leaving Mr HoEins to give his full attention to his bespattered appearance and his machine. Ursula Sturdy was a secretary the greater part of each day, and a music teacher three evenings a week. Andrew Hollins was making iis way as a young engineer, but was not dependent on his earnings. ■ The day after tine bicycle episode he overtook 'her in the same little street, bearing a charming new umbrella in 'his hand. Fortunately his bruises could not obtrude themeelves through 'his spick and span blue suit, and he looked only eager and sincere cc he offered his atonement to Miss Sturdy, and pleaded with her for its acceptance. Miss Sturdy, (however, seemed obdurate. "Oh, I "couldn't think of such a thing," she declared severely. "Pkase do think of it," he urged; "I ehall go about feeling myself to be such a ecamp if you don't allow mc to undo something of the injury I did you." "But it was quite an accident. No one can help an accident sometimes. Don't think of euah a thing. I couldn't accept it, reaflly." Mr HolHns looked nonplussed for a moment. "Wouldn't you wish mc to take it, if you were in my place and I in yours?" he asked strategically. "Ah, that is clever of you, but unkind," j she said, longing to smile, but afraid to j appear yielding. "But I will ask you a question. Would you take a beautiful new umbrella from a stranger——?" "Oh!" lie interposed reproachfully. "Even allowing for the circumstances?" she concluded severely. "Like a shot," he declared. "Picture" it," die persisted. "Would — you—really?" "Well, you know, it would be sodifferent. When the injured person as a lady " "Oh dear! oh dear!" she exclaimed impatiently, "that old tale again. I tell you I'm not a lady; I'm just a worker, facing the world, earning my own living (and liking to do it, too)," she declared. "I take the' position of a man. Look upon mc as you j would upon a man." "I—l'm afraid I can't, Miss Sturdy, really ; and if I could I should only have to go and get the umbrella a size larger." Miss Sturdy was forced to smile at last, and Mr Hollins saw his advantage. "If you are so terribly conscientious," she said, "you.can give •omefchiag to some good object." He looked at her as if about to speak, then hesitated. "No," she laughed, "you mustn't call mc an object—not even a good one. Do as I say, please." "But I've spent my money on the umbrella," he pleaded ; "and good objects don't care a bit for umbrellas. And if you are so conscientious, I'll take your broken one in return." • ' Mr Hollins'a strict justice proved too much for Miss Sturdy. She capitulated, and was the richer that evening by «n urn- j brella and a friend. "I don't think real matter-of-fact workwomen should do such things," she sighed at parting. "It's terribly feminine." But ebe smiled as she looked at the little umbrella when she was aSone. Two months later Artfcew Hollins and Ursula Sturdy sat together ht'tihe Park ; the umbrella shading them from the sun. The Park was a restful spot"Onthe way from Ursula's office. ■■■« b"I wish women didn't work," grumbled Andrew. •»' "No women?" she asked in mock amazement. "Well, I wish you didn't." A pause, while Andrew spoilt the path with his stick, and Ursula's eyes became mischievous. "You see, nobody ever asked mc not to," she said demurely. "Why, you ailways told mc Stow happy it made you," he cried. "A fellow feele a brute in asking a girl to give it up if he has nothing much to offer in return. Ursula," he looked at her insistently, "tell mc, why do you work?" "You, for one, never asked mc not to" she said laughing and spreading sherhancU in mimic hopelessness. "Ursula, darling, would you?" "Ye-es. I think, if pressure were brought to bear," she admitted softly. ***** "To tihink," declared Andrew, heUf an hour 'later, "that I have been fretting my [heart out, thinking you had no room in your life for' mc." ■ "And Ahere was I," she declared, "feeling just—as—lonely—as I could be." "And the very first day we were introduced, you declared you never felt lonely," he persisted: "now, "didn't you?" "Ah, but that was before you broke my own umbrella and took it away from mc," she whispered. "I've been lonely ever since —ti!H now."