The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-09-21


despite his want of polish, for he wa
/ $50 genuine" So he was---a genuine
cub in society, whatever he was in TN
, Poultry.
"And how's the wonderful Pollyp'
said he after few minutes to my grea
annoyance.
She still holds her tongue" SAID
Alice, as her mother entered.
Yes" said the poor old lady, "sht
is a very naughty bird. But that's no
Mr. Philton's fault, is IL PollyP"
Dear me-" said that football fend
with sham commisseraton; its rather
hard on you, Philton. Twenty pounds
you gave, think you said?"
81 did say so, Mr.. Ruggle," ] IN.
swered, coldly, and, thought ], ''that's
correct answer anyhow"
Have you seen Mrs. Dynley's par.
rot, Mrs. Hillstone?" he said, with an
equal amount Of sham enthusiasm.
NO" said she, tartly, "and l don't
want to-" much to my inward relief.
''Ahr' said Ruggle, shes a splon-
did bird, talks French and English,
and sings songs; you ought TO sec her. -
| really don't know which / most
wished to murder, Ruggle, that ac-
cursed bird moping on his perch, or
that wretch at Bethnal Green. AT
least he promised me a bird that could
talk for my two pounds. But | dis
sembled and sat Ruggle out. When he
| 1N,1 i i, o.
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 i took up the running again.
Alice, think, pitied me for my dis
appointment, and was proportionately
charming. AT last l got so far us to
actually tell her | loved her and she
bade me wait a week for an answer
though from her blush and smile /
had not much doubt as to what her
answer would be.
"1n a week then, dearest. / may hope
| Tor 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" l said as l pressed her
hand and went away. AS | closed the
door Polly screeched out again, "1'll
warm yer"
did not go to Eastbourne, nor ever
meant to, for l hate my cousins. but it
sounded well. But L stayed away
from Bloomsbury. A night or two
later l was dining at Il 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.
ado you KNOW" said he, ''our par
rot is a wonderP Everybody admires
her. She was well worth the money /
gave"
81 thought" said L with hideous
forebodings, your wife had hers as
gift from an amateur"
"Ah." 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 his
position. But l bonght her in Bethnal
Green for EGO, just what you gave for
yours.
/ made no reply. This was nice
discovery. One ray of hope remained.
HAS Mrs. Hillstone seen your par
rot?" / 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,
| should be obliged by his stating that
the parrot 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 / would |
give him two sovereigns. To this he
agreed, and / went home with light |
heart.
Three days now remained, and they !
fled on wings. On the fourth / went,
having made myself as presentable rs
possible, to the Hillstones, and was
shown into an empty drawing room
empty save for the vulgar parrot, who
eyed me most malevolently. 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 caclSle OF the old lady.
But Alice changed to Il statue OF ice.
"Do not ask me for an answer, Mr..
she said, Il detest deccit!'
Just then in came her mother, not n
all dignifed, but most vituperative at
being, rs she vulgarly called it, ''made
a fool Of" Then it came out in a 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 unluclily for me was at the
bottom of my cage, thus showing my
bird and | were hollow shums.
Strong in my knowledge of having
the bird fancier, indig-
lantly denied the fact and repeated the
story of my G20. when Mrs. ii. vio-
emily pulled the bell, and Yates
ishered in the wretch from Bethnal
Green himself, to whom the old lady
,urned for his story.
"lm honest man, am" said this