Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-09-19

moment her once saying she liked him
despite his want of polish, for he was
$50 genuine" So he was-a genuine
cub in society, whatever he was in the
Poultry.
And how's the wonderful Polly?"
said he after a few minutes to my great
annoyance.
"She still holds her tongue" said
Alice, as her mother entered.
Yes" said the poor old lady, ''she
is a very naughty bird. But that's not
Mr.. Philton's fault, is it Polly?"
Dear me-" said that football fiend
with sham commisseration; Its rather
hard on you, Philton. Twenty pounds
you gave, think you said?"
Il did say so. Mr.. Ruggle," an
swered. coldly, and. thought l, that 5
a correct answer anyhow.
Have you seen Mrs. Dynley's par
rot, Mrs. HiIlstone?" he said, with an
equal amount of sham enthusiasm.
No" said she, tartly. land l don't
want to-" much to my inward relief.
All said Ruggle, ''she's a splen-
did bird, talks French and English,
and sings songs; you ought to see her. y"
l really don't know which l most
wished to murder, Ruggle, that ac-
cursed bird moping on his perch, or
that wretch at Bethnal Green. At
least he promised me bird that could
talk for my two pounds. But l dis
sembled and sat Ruggle out. When he
had gone | saw, much to my regret,
that the poison had begun to work on
Mrs. H., who began to show her envy
of Mrs. Dynley, though vowing she
wouldn't please her by going to see
her parrot. Soon she left the room,
and l took up the running again.
Alice, 1 think, pitied me for my dis
appointment, and was proportionately
charming. At last l got so far as to
actually tell her loved her and she
| babe me wait week for an answer,
though from her blush and smile
had not much doubt as to what her
answer would be.
I'm a week then, dearest, may hope
/ for your answer. I'm going to East
bourne to see my cousins for that time.
and then-O, Alice! Ihope you'll make
me happy" l said as l pressed her
hand and went away. AS l closed the
door Polly screeched out again, IN
warm yer"
did not go to Eastbourne, nor ever
meant to, for hate my cousins, but it
sounded well. But 1 stayed away
from Bloomsbury. A night or two
later 1 was dining at well-known
restaurant, when Mr.. Dynley. who had
got rid of his wife for few hours.
came in and sat at the next table. We
got into conversation.
DO you know" said he, ''our par
rot is wonder? Everybody admires
her. She was well worth the money 1
gave"
Il thought" said 1 with hideous
forebodings, your wife had hers as a
gift from an amateur"
All" said he smiling, that was a
little ruse. My cousin Jim, poor fell
low, is not in her good books, so by
buying the bird and giving it to him
to present to my wife I've bettered mis-
position. But bought her in Bethnal
Green for ego, just what you gave for
yours"
made no reply. This was a nice
discovery. One ray of hope remained.
Has Mrs. Hillstone seen your par
rot?" l asked with assumed careless
ness.
NO" said he, there's. in fact. some
| GOODNESS between the ladies just now. "
o, blessed relief! resolved to make
assurance doubly sure, and the next
morning found me at the bird fancier's.
l suggested to him that. if at any time
any inquiry should by chance be made,
l should be obliged by his stating that
the parrot l had bought cost twenty
pounds, in consideration of which, on
the next quarter day, if such inquiry
were made, would hand him the bal
ance; and if none were made l would
give him two sovereigns. To this he
agreed, and l went home with light
heart. u
Three days now remained, and they
fed on wings. On the fourth l went,
having made myself as presentable as
possible, to the Hillstones, and was
shown into an empty drawing room
empty save for the vulgar parrot, who
eyed me most Inadvertently. And then
Alice came in, her face flushing and
paling. l hurried to her and tried to
take her hand, especially as l heard
the approaching cackle of the old lady.
But Alice changed to a statue of ice.
''Do not ask me for an answer, Mr..
Philton," she said, Il detest deceit"
Just then in came her mother, not at
all dignifed, but most vituperative at
being, as she vulgarly called it, made
a fool Of" Then it came out in sort
of duet that by persuasion of Mr..
Ruggle (ah, that execrable namely they
had visited Mrs. Dynley and heard the
story of her parrots purchase by the
cousin Jim and the vendors address,
which unluckily for me was at the
bottom of my cage, thus showing my
bird and were hollow shams.
Strong in my knowledge of having
squared" the bird fancier, 1 indig-
nantly denied the fact and repeated the
story of my Ego. when Mrs. H. VIC
lently pulled the bell, and Yates
ushered in the wretch from Bethnal
Green himself, to whom the old lady
turned for his story.