The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1889-09-26

bade me wait q week for an answer.
though from her blush and smile I
had not much doubt as to what her
answer would be.
I'm 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! hope you'll make
me happy" I said as I pressed her
hand and went away. As ! closed the
door Polly screeched out again, ''I'n
warm YER
Ibid not 60 to Eastbourne, nor ever
meant to. for hate my cousins, but It
sounded we'll. But I stayed away
from Bloomsbury. A night or two
later [ was dining at q 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 we'll worth the money I
gave.'
Il thought" said I with hideous
forebodings, ''your wife had hers as a
gift from IN amateur
"Ah." said he smiling, "that was q
little ruse. Ny 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 his
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?" I asked with assumed careless
ness.
NO." said he, there's, in fact, some
GOODNESS between the ladies just now. -
O, blessed relief! Iresolved to make
assurance doubly sure, and the next
morning found me at the bird fancier's.
suggested to him that. if at any time
any inquiry should by chance be made,
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 I would
give him two sovereigns. To this he
agreed, and l went home with a light
heart.
Three days now remained, and they
| fed on wings. On the fourth 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. 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, II detest deceit"
just then in came her mother, not at
all dignified. but most vituperative at
being, as she vulgarly called it, ''made
a fool off, Then it came out in a sort
of duet that by persuasion of MIR.
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, I indig-
nantly denied the fact and repeated the
story of my ego, when Mrs. H. vio-
lently pulled the bell, and Yates
ushered in the wretch from Bethnal
Green himself, to whom the old lady
turned for his story.
'pm honest man. I am" said this
ruffian, land thought there was a little
game afoot agin my old customer. Mr..
Dynley, who's a good customer" And
then the sordid villain told the whole
story, including my attempt to bride
him.
AS left the house that low, vulgar
beast of a bird crooned out, IN warm
yer!"-Belgravia.