The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-03-25

Just here Hero made diversion by
an unexpected and successful spring at
the chop on Jacks plate, with which he
vanished through the back door, while
Uncle Philip and Jack laughed and ap-
plauded.
Uncle Philip staid with us less than
week, growing daily more silent and
testy. When, on the fifth day, he an
nounced his intention of leaving US, I
could not feel deeply grieved; but Jack
was.
at was all very well for ycu," he
said. "Uncle Philip is no relation Of
yours, and you have no old claims of
affection and kinship pulling at you. It
is not his money, as you very well know,
but he is the last one of my mothers
family left, and to have him driven out
of his nephew house by those ridiculous
pets of yours-well, it's hard, and no
mistake"
Nonsense, Jack! The birds have
nothing to do with it." said; but Jack
shrugged his shoulders.
"All right" he said; "but man of
Uncle Philips age and habits can It stand
being wakened at daylight every morn
ing, and disturbed at all hours of the
day and night beside"
81 don't disturb him." said.
"You do" said Jack. you spend
your whole time prancing up and down
stairs, opening and shutting the window
just below his room, because you fancy
that those blessed birds are dying of too
much or too little air."
"But, Jack, said, "the poor things
are setting. and they need constant care.
You wouldn't have me let them die,
would you?"
"I'd have you consider the comfort
of human beings before that of animals"
said Jack. "However. the thing is done
now. Nothing would induce Uncle
Philip to spend another night here. He
has business to attend to in the city,
though, and has taken board in Ninth
Street for few weeks
Twas sorry that Jack was vexed, of
course, but really could not feel very
unhappy at losing guest 80 utterly un-
feeling and inconsiderate. Beside,
Aunt Clarice had written to ask when it
would be convenient for us to receive
her, and she could now come as soon as
she felt inclined.
It was the very day after Uncle Philip
left that I found Jou-jou, the female
bird, lying dead upon the floor. My first
idea was that it was mean piece of
vengeance upon Jacks part, and taxed
him with it, but he denied it indig-
nantly.
elm not such brute as you seem to
think, Madge," he said. 81 don't like
the birds, but wouldn't hurt feather
of their tails. Look here, though" as
he poked out with the point of his PEN
knife something that had lodged in the
tiny beak. ''Here is what did the mis-
chief. Stolen from my desk, too, by
Jove! A clear case of poetic Justice"
It was a tiny bit of red wafer which
he held out for me to examine, and of
course I had to acknowledge that it
alone had caused the catastrophe. I
buried my little pet mournfully, and
thought of bringing another to replace
her, but Jack put his veto upon any
such proceeding.
"But, jack said, "Bijou will die
of loneliness.
"Let him." said Jack, savagely, and
that was all.
Well, Bijou didn't die of loneliness.
On the contrary, after rejecting on the
situation for few days, he plucked up
heart, and launched himself into such q
torrent of rollicking song that Jack was
more frantic than ever. Not even the
melancholy sight of the nestful of cold
little blush speckled eggs seemed to
dash his gayety in the least. To tell the
truth, l was slightly disguised (though
I would have died before I would have
told Jack SOY, for, try as I might, l
could not pursuade myself that that tri-
umphant, rollicking, gurgling song bore
the slightest resemblance to vail of
despair.
We saw Uncle Philip tolerably often,
though he no longer staid with US. I
noticed, however, that he could with
difficulty be persuaded to enter the back
parlor. Even the sound of Bijou's sing
ing. which penetrated the closed doors,
made him start and vince in q manner
which was simply absurd, though he
never said anything.
We were in daily expectation of Aunt
Clarice's arrival, the date of which was
not quite certain, as she was staying
with friends who continually urged her
to prolong her visit. After the day for
her coming to us had been three times
fixed and as often postponed, made up
my mind not to expect her until 1 saw
her. Consequently I had dismissed all
thoughts of her from my mind.
l was sitting at my sewing one morn
ing, when Jane came up to tell me that
a lady was in the parlor, who declined
to send up her name.
can agent, no Doubt said. 81
wish you had asked her business, Jane.
But no matter; must 60 down soon, to
shut up Bijou, in any case"
So 1 sewed on TRANQUILITY until I had
finished the piece of work on which I
was engaged, and then ran down stairs,
humming blithe little tune as went.
I never finished that tune, though; for
the first thing my eyes fell upon in the
hall was Aunt Clarice. Yes, Aunt Clar-
ice, sitting demurely in the hall chair,
but with no very demure expression up
on her. face. On the contrary, it was q
much agitated and dishevelled Aunt