The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1870-01-14

~ shall have the pleasure to scrv
madame one p'geon-pie," he announc
ed triunpbantly. "Certainment
find great difficulty to send Bill
twenty mile, and pay one dollar an
one quartare for a pair. I shall
charge madame but the half pric
extra, since madame was so good a
to ordare it express"
The pie came IN, rich and cris)
and savory. Never, aunt declared
had she seen more tempting one
and rarely had she more enjoyed ;
repast. When the cloth was remov
ed, and the host entered with what
he called zone leetle drop of wine,
Aunt Plympton's heart quite melted
toward him, and at his good ma turet
forgiveness of the slight, which she
had yesterday put upon himself and
his cherished pet, poor Isabelle.
Il hope your bird is better to-day,
NJ. Verdict she said, graciously
81 feel now so much better that I dc
not object to its presence. Pray
bring the poor thing back ~ its old
perch.'
Monsieur looked yisibly embarrass-
ed:
"Madame is very good,"> was his
answer, "but my poor Isabelle is
content. She shall trouble madame
nevare again. How did madame like
the pigeon-pic2"
The pie was perfect, Monsieur
Verdict, and / am much obliged for
your trouble about it. 1t has made
inc we'll again"
Monsieur bowed profoudly.
Madame does not think the hotel
could surpass it?''
"Certainly not. No table could
be better than yours. I am sure. -
AAl the host departed satisfied.
. That evening, as was our custom,
we walked in the garden. i
81 don't see the parrot,' observed
Aunt Plympton, looking around.
"Whcre is the parrot, Billy?' she
inquired of that youth, wh ose daily
duty it was at this hour to weed the
garden.
She's dead, num-
"Deal:'
"Herc's all as is left o her mum. -
And Billy pointed to little heap of
refuse, jut below the kitchen window.
There indeed were 1sabell's unmis-
taxable head and feet, and quanti-
ty of her. green and gray feathers.
wet and matted, and mingled with
potato peeliugs and apple parngs.
&c ood gracious! what have they
done with the bird?" l exclaimed in
voluntarily, 'not cooked it, l hope. -
My Aunt Plympton looked at me,
then at the scalded feathers, and
turned quito pale. The awful sus-
picion flashed upon US both at the
same instant.
Billy" said my aunt, solcmnly,
"did you 60 in search of a pair Of
pigeons to-day-or yesterday?'
Me, mum? No, mum! There
ain't a-pidgin to be had these fifty
mile round. La! bless you, mum, the
folks in these parts don't know what
pidgins is, and if you was to show
'em one, they'd think twas a hip
ponocarous!'
My aunt sank down, faint and sick,
on garden bench.
"For whom did they dress that
bird!'' said she, in an awful whisper.
''For the cat, num-" responded
Billy, promptly, and with an un-
doubtable expression of innocence.
"Master told me SO when | noticed
cook pickin of it in the kitchen.'
''Go call NJ. Verdict" said my
aunt sternly.
Monsieur came, rubbing his hands
and smiling.
''Monsieur-that pic-that pie"
said my aunt, awfully, pointing as
she spoke to the closed lids and gap
ing beak of the martyred Isabelle.
The host became pale in his turn.
"M. Verdict. is this true?' she re-
sumed, hoarsely.
"Ah, madame, have consideration.
What could I do?"
monsieur, / vtW nersr foryi're
you!"
There was no mistaking her tone
and manner The host saw in an in
stant that all was lost, and he as
sumed an air of calm desperation.
"Madame, did you not object to
my Isabelle, and desire that she be
remove!"
II did"
"Dia not madame insist to have q
pie, and pronounce that pie good
excellant--perfect?'
A qualm passed over my aunt's
eountenance.
Don't mention it, she said,
faintly.
"And--pardon me, madamc-is it
not known that the parrott was serve
to the Romans and to the Greeks,
and to the great Queen Cleopatra. on
4 golden dish ornamented with iew-
els:'
''Leave me, if you please, Mon
sieur Verdict, said my aunt, imperi-
ously; and he did SO whilst Billy,
obeying my direction, rushed off for
brandy and water aud eau de cologne.
1t took some time to recover my
aunt. And then, as she leaned back
beneath the bower Of honey suckle
which fortunately screened Us, she
gasped out her indignation.
'.The unfeeling, dcceitful man !.
The hard-heartea, unconscientous