Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-01-28

In common politeneSS, If not acncyo-
lence, | should have respected this
plea but | selhShly continued to talk
and excite her, until, III tluuer Of
rage, She ordered me to bring IL
coffee
passed over the insult Of being adj
dressed rs mental, and again
whistled, and called her Polly, pretty
Polly" when there came such a dis
cordant shrek Of angry resentment
mingled with Il torrent of French. En-
glish and German words, that | stood
quite astounded at Polls linsual ac-
complishmentS.
In the mist of il, the birds fair
young mistress stepped out ot the
house 10 quiet her.
"Oh, do hush, Pcepee, she said
do hush, OF You will disturb all the
neighbors, Its a shame 10 make such
Il noise"
As she spoke She cast up II me Il
glance, half shy and halfmischievouS.
rs though the reproof were intended
as much for me rs for Peepee, and |
felt, with some confusion. that she
must have overheard my aggravating
remarks to the bird.
Next day Marie and her pet were
again in the pavilion,and | i'll my jutty
and on my best behavior. Not IS,
Polly. She had evidently become ac.
cuStomed to my interference, and was
on the lookout for it. She wrigglcd
about, cooked up ner eve and watched
me viciouSly, while she informed the
neighborhood in general that Rowley-
howley sat on the wall, us if DESTROYS
of directing derisive attention To me,
i'll my airy elevation.
bore this and additional insults i'll
silence, and continued my double oc-
cupation of watching Marie and laying
III the background of a canvas Pres
entity there wsS tutt near me, and
looking arouud, hcheld T. my sur
plise P,epec. balancing herself on the
windo N-sill Whether she had come
with friendly or hostile intent, cou'd
not 1T once decide, for she RULED her
feathers and croa<ed in doubtful un-
decided sort Of way. lplaced before
her few strawberries, which she scat
tered con'emptuously
How do you do, Pcepce9" said |, in
my most insinuating tones Believe
me, | am truly glad to see you
Never despair" said Peepce.
Thank you, Pcepecl | never will
no, ncver.' replied, with unwontcd
earnestness.
"All's we'll that ends well?" croakcd
she.
Nothing more true, Peepee. Thank
you for the prophesy. Have i crack
err"
"Humbug" croaked the bird who
evidently did not believe in the disin-
terestednesS of my hospitality. But
she was undoubtedly Il bird of sense,
for when asked "How is your hcauti-
full mistress, Polly?' she replied, Beau.
tiful, beautiful with sort Of wild en-
thusiasm.
The idea occurred To me of securing
my visitor, and in person returning her
to her owner, and thus securing my
fair ncighbor's acquaintance. but on
my attempting to carry out this plan
she gave sudden sharp dig into my
fingers, stretched her wings and flow
away.
Next day She repeated her visit, rs
also on the next and the next. She
was evidently delighted ut finding some
variety i'll her tame existence. Onh
third visit She condescendcd to accept
of cherry or two, and even allowed
me to touch her.
And iii the meantime, Marie and |,
though to distant for speech had es.
tabhshed a sort Of pantomimic ac-
quaintance, and | often received
smile i'll return for my eloquent
glanccs. In fact don't hesitate to
confess that practiced these looks in
front of the mirror in order to throw
into them all the expression of which
my countenance was capable.
At length Nh idea occurred to me. |
hid benath Pollys glossy wing deli
cate roso bud; and this | saw Marie
with her own hands remove and
place i'll a little Bohemian glass on her
table.
Next day ! sent a violet and on the
day following ! ventured upon bit Of
original composition in verse address
ed TO Marie"
HdN llcI Itdu llp HuuIcSS, ana tnpD
She glanced shyly upward, with look
more Of amusement than sentiment
and went into the house to read il. |
felt little crestfallen, especially when
the sallow duenna with the curls pres
emily peeped at me through the roses
about the window like a sort of elder
~ Dryad
That day saw no more Of Marie,
but instead the duenna walked about
the garden as if TO assure me that she
was there and IN the watch.
Under these circumstances, | was de-
lightfully surprised to find under Polly's
wing on her next visit, tiny perfum-
ed card inscribed, Thanks, Marie"
OF course | sent another message
this time a biAet-in answer to which
came a written suggestion that, per-
haps, ] had better not intrust my mes
sages by 50 uncertain a carrier Ms
Peepee.
Of course, took the hint, and
thenceforth our correspondence was
transacted through the less romantic
but more reliable penny post
At length there came a day when r
ventured 70 ask my charmer perinis-
sion TO pay her visit. A gracious
assent was returned and ! duly after
a most elaborate toilet, and with a
beating heart, presented myself NJ the