Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-08-15
A FRIENDLY REVENGE.


these many years, knew bar no nors for
ever.
A FRIENDLY REVENGE,
Henry TyrreIl In the Current
Yes, revenge was my motive acted II
obedience to that noble instinct Of retalia
ton which helps to distinguish our species
from the lower animals. The offence Of nv
friend Hornbeam was one Of those smiling
little social foil-thrusts. which must be 70
sented courteousiy il they be resented at all
So l gave him pair Of young kingfshsr1
must expisin here that Hornbeam Is an
amateur student Of natural history, and thai
birds are his speciality. Every feathered
creature, from q chick to Q condor, be love-
to infatuation.
Now. while the kingfsher species is com
mon everywhere in this wild state, domes.
ticated king-fsher is truly a rara avis il
terra 1t had been by q mere chance that
had secured the pair which presented T.
my friend, and he received them with an Of.
fusive delight which l am sure was not simu-
lated.
As soon As the two Aquatic beauties ar
rived at Hornbeam's country villa, he pur-
chased for them a magnificent cags, the Cpl
tome Of all modern pathological conven.
fences
Shy and sullen, though by no means silent,
the birds quickly made it understood that
their solace after all was but . prison, and
that they were very unhappy in it They BE-
gan to droop and pine.
@Libertyi" the kind-hearted Hornbeam
cried-@liberty for all, especially the fowls
Of the air."
There was a spare room under the roof of
the villa. This was cleared Of furniture, the
floor was gravelled, and the room trans
formed into q model aviary. The kingfsh-
ers were turned loose in it; but, instead of
rejoicing in their comparative freedom, they
sulked more than ever.
What can they want,' Hornbeam asked
with great solicitude, when I called to see
how the pets were getting on Il have done
everything can think of for their comfort,
and yet it appears that something or other
is lacking
"Water. perhaps suggested.
Water" he echoed, disdainfully. "Why,
you don't suppose after all my experience
with birds would neglect their water, do
you. They have more than they can drink,
twice day"
Enough to drink, doubtless" I replied,
affecting tone Of friendly counsel; ~but
that is not enough. Remember that in their
natural state OF freedom, these creatures
haunt the lakes and streams"
Hornbeam was silent for q moment
You arr right" he finally said in .
troubled tone. Then, after an interval of
deep abstraction, he suddenly Frightened up,
and cried: Il have it! my bathroom is
directly under the chamber they occupy.
I'll establish u communication"
The next day that part Of the house was
surrendered TO workmen The floor was
torn up, and the ceiling Of the bathroom
cut through. SO that the kingfisher. might
be free to descend AMI disport themselves on
the slashy brink Of the bathtub, which was
ordered to be kept always full Of fresh water
for their accommodation.
Hornbeam watched with eagerness the
result of his novel though somewhat CO thy
device. But even before he had finished
looking over tie bills Of the carpenters,
masons, painters plumbers and upholsterers,
relative to the lob it became evident that
the work had been done in vain. the birds
perched morosely in corner, as thou "a
afraid they might possibly tumble down into
the water AMI be .rowned.
Suddenly it occurred tn my friend that
the pool in his bath-tub was OF mirrow-like
serenity, whereas the kingfshers, it was
more than likely, had been accust med to
running water No doubt q gu hing.
sparkling stream was what they longed for.
HOrnbeam did not hesitate. He called
back the mechanics The whole Of the
plumbing would have to be altered, and q
special contract would have to be made with
the water works company. TIE financial
outlay would be considerable; but tho stream
Of running water would lie q triumphant
reality, and the poor birds would at last he
happy.
Alas! they were not
Their unhappy master-I should rather
say slave-whose devotion to them increased
in direct ratio with the trouble they cost
him. began to despair. He poured into
my sympathetic ear the whole history Of his
efforts to provide q pleasant
home for the precious birds had given
him, and besought my advice.
MY dear Hornbeam," / responded, with
Mephistophelian suavity, your error seems
to be in supposing that the kingfshsrs love
water for its own sake.
"Whet do you meanT
Il mean that what they really care for is
the fish that are in it, Put some fish in your
water, and l think you will find
that your birds will he as content with their
as the fish in their own natural
element"
"Ill do it,, the enthusiastic Hornbeam
cried "rll stock that bath-tub with live
fish, and the kinghshers can amuss them
selves diving for them"
Two weeks later Hornbeam found the ex-
pense of procuring the daily supply OF live
fish so enormous that no determined TO catch
them himself. OF course an anglers outfit
must be purchased A boat, also, would
be necessary, and man to row it, for the
would be no holiday sport
Hornbeam was q far-sighted man He
was not one to step at an expenditure which,
once made, would in the long run result in
An immense saving.
He bought a steam launch.
There were days when the fish were shy.
and then the task Of the provider W. very
hard one indeed. On other days the haul
would be so large that place 70 store the
supertiuous fish became q necessity. An ar
tifclal pond, and large reservoir to feed it,
were accordingly constructed just back Of
the Hornbeam villa.
An army OF Italian laborers are now at
work digging system OF canals to extend
over the entire grounds All the trees have
been cut down. and contracts are out for .
series Of hydraulic works on vast scale.
and representing a moderate fortune
The two kingfishers are doing as well a.
could be expected
Sometimes. lately, I have had q feeling
akin 10 remosre for my act of friendly TO
venge, and have begun 20 speculate As to
or not the birds will die Of over
feeding in time TO save Hornbeam from