The Washington critic., 1886-02-03
WESTM0RE'S CROW.

borhood who keeps a pet crow One
stole my working silk n few minutes
ago"
Laws, Miss NIargcry, It must be
that man over in the big house; it
pears he keeps everything to torment
a lady"
80 the old house is taken at last.
Do you know the tcnant2" Margcry
inquired eagerly; II fully intended
having run over there some day while
] was here. | never thought that IL
might be occupied"
Goodness knows who he is, Miss
Margery; he came about three weeks
ago with all the trunks, and baggage
you ever saw. guess he must be rich.
] heard Tim Lane saying that his name
was Wcstmore, but law, | don't know
whether that is true OF not"
"Wesimorc r. Margery Crosby face
palcd and she began closely examin-
ing the flowers she held in her hand.
II wish he had stayed away; he has
three dogs, and / was just lowing that
they had better stop romping among
my flowers The hateful critters broke
my pansies yesterday, and | declare.
there they are now ~
And Mrs. Green set her apples hur-
riedly on the floor and minute later
was waving broom threateningly at a
couple of dogs, which leaped the low
fence and disappeared.
Margery laughed at the chase, then
sauntcred down the walk to the gate.
She leaned there few minutes looking
inquiringly at the large stone house
that just peepcd through the grove Of
poplars opposite.
1t was a grand old place, though
showing signs of neglect, and she
sighed wearily as she looked at the
drives and walks partly covered with
shrubs and thought of the happy life
she had spent there, but that was be
fore the trouble came, and now for
years she had not stepped under those
trees; for this was her first return to
the scenes Of her youth since she left
them to make her own way in the
world.
"Caw Cav Caw.aw -
Margery glanced up through her
tears, and saw II pair of beady black
eyes watching her from the tree over.
head.
"Well, old crow ?" she said
"Caw caw.aw ~ answered the bird,
lluttcring its feathers and turning its
head on one side.
"You naughty fellow, | ought to
scold you for carrying off things" she
said, laughing, suddenly remembering
the tricks of crow she had owned; for
hers was not nature to brood over
sad thoughts, and it was to this that
her friends attributed her girlish ap-
pearance.
NIargery Crosby did scold in earnest
when, few days later, she saw the
crow disappear through the window
with the embroidery that she had just
finished.
81 declare, Mrs. Green, that bird
ought to be shot ! never saw such a
nuisance p she said, resting from the
chase she had had trying TO recover her
property, but without success.
Then she returned to her room, TO
he welcomed by that familiar
"Caw-aw from the crow, as he
stood on the dressing. case among some
old letters which she had been reading
letters which she had kept packed
away as relics of the past some from
her brother, just before he was lost at
sea, and others from one whom she
had tiicd to forget--and now, rs she
approached them, the crow seized one
and dashed out of the window, alight-
ing on a bush near by,
What should she do? She must get
that letter at any cost. For moment
she gazcd helplcssly around, then
hastily closed the window to prevent
its return, and hurried after the thief.
| doubt whether there ever was a
crow more provoking; 1t knew it was
| pursued, and would go Il short distance
lay the letter down, and turning its
head on one side, with its Cav! cav
cawn' wait until she approached, then
seize ii and fly OFF once more.
Margery Crosby was getting desper
| ate; she must rescue that paper. She
sped over bushes and flowers, now
| scolding, now coaXing, but all to nj
purpose. She paused as she entered
the grounds opposite-only for u mo.
ment, though-then ran up the wall
she had not uoddcn for years. On tc
the house, around the many -pilaret
verandas--the the bird paused, and II
last flew in through an open window
! and direct to table where a gentleman
was writing, and dropped the letter be
fore him,
"Why, jim, where did you sc
this?" he said. "Youvc been in mis-
chief again, you naughty fellow
What, miner" he exclaimed, glancine
| at the signature.
| "Caw! Cav! Caw-awl"
| Excuse me, sir, but your bird ha
stolen n letter, and / have followc,
him homel" and Margery Crosby ap
peared at the open door, flushed anC
breathless.
The gentleman glanced up, thcl
suddenly sprang TO his feet.
"Margeryr
"IawrenCe!'
For a few moments they stoo,
staring at each other in amaAement
The gentleman recovered himself first
This is the letter, Mrs, Wilson" h
said in a constrained tone, handing i
toher.
Il am still MOrgery Crosby" sh,
answered, tremulously,
"What! did you not marry you
cousin, Frank Wilson,"
II marry my cousin, Frank Wilson
Lawrence WestmOre i thought yo
knew me better than that. | have neve
married.
What does this mean? Please cX
plain" he said, opening his pocket
book and handing her scrap clippo
from newspaper,
Taking it She read as follows;
MARRmp-At the residence OF the bride
aunt, Mrs, Hector Proctor, Mr. Frauh WI
son to Miss Margery Crosby.
"Tha was Cousin MNrgery of Can
bridge. You remember she visited III
that summer" Margcry answered
coldly, turning away
"Margcry! Morgeryl Can you fo
give mey ] know have acted like
fool hut thought Won hal beon m