The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-06-27

an extraordinary and at Ine saulo 0ine
most unsatisfactory one. In the hrst
place she left me her house and furnl'
ture. This was all right, and just what
l had expected.) In the second place
she beaueathed the sum of two thousand
pounds to Bob Steele. (This was not Sc
satisfactory. but of course could make
no obiection.) Next, with many lnJunc
lions as to proper diet and treatment
she gave to me her dear white cocka-
too. his cage and contents" (This was
a legacy Iwould willingly have passed
over to Cousin Bob, and one which did
not at all appreciated Then came the
climax. The residue of her estate, con-
sisting of some three to four thousand
pounds invested in bank stock, was to
remain so invested, and the annual in
come therefrom was to be paid to me so
long as the cockatoo lived! At his death
the stock was to be realized and the pro-
ceeds divided equally between Bob
Steele and myself.
To say that was disappointed would
be putting the case rather mildly. Here
was I saddled with the custody of a crea-
ture detested, and my income depend
ent on my care of the wretched bird.
This was my aunt's idea of mot forget
ting" me. AS for Bob Steele, he was
infinitely better off than l was. Not
only had he a substantial sum at once,
but he also participated to the same ex-
tent as l did at the ultimate division.
| No doubt my immediate income was
| I. Io,,4
how long it might continue? The whole
affair was obviously clever plan of my
Aunt Matilda's to ensure her favorite's
being we'll looked after. Of course my
interest would be to keep the bird as
long alive as possible, and I tried to
console my wounded feelings with the
knowledge that cockaJoos frequently
lived to great age. inwardly vowed
that nothing on my part would be want
ing to keep Cousin Bob out of his share
of the residue as long as possible. From
the look on his face / could very we'll
see the latter was enjoying my ill-con-
cealed disappointment. He, doubtless
knowing the bird to be very old, ex-
pected he would soon receive his legacy,
which would put him in much better
position than l would be. On one point,
however, he was disappointed, and said
so openly; this was about the total
amount of our aunt's estate. I agreed
with him in this, having always con-
sidered her to be worth about as much
again as her will showed. There was,
however, nothing to do but accept the in
evitable, and the testator's instructions
were carried out with the least possible
delay. l Immediately took possession
of my aunt's residence, and devoted my
self with as good a grace as possible to
the care of the cockatoo.
For some time after this 1 saw little
of Bob Steele. We occasionally met in
the street; but rather stiff nod was
all the recognition that passed between
us. Then l heard he had got married
and had given up his situation and
taken to specializing on the Stock Ex-
change. Rumor said his life was not
particularly happy one. His wife was
somewhat eXtravagant, and spent his
money freely. Meantime, with nv
salary and my annual income under my
aunt's will, I lived very comfortably.
At the same time there was something
unpleasant in the thought that my
position depended on the life of
wretched old cockatoo. The latter,
however, continued in most lively
state of health, and to all appearance
seemed likely to last my time No
effort on my part was wanting to as
sist him in becoming a veritable
Methuselah of the parrot tribe.
My aunt died in February; and one
evening in the following Decem Der 1
was surprised to receive visit from my
cousin, Bob Steele. He looked rather
detected, and for some time did not in
form me OF the object of his visit. He
talked on things in general; but al
though he must have seen the cocka-
toO's cage standing on table, he
never once referred to it. We had bit
of supper, and were enjoying a quiet
pipe afterwards, when at last he blurted
out his reason for calling. 1t was
simply this-his speculations had not
turned out as he anticipated; he was in
immediate need of four hundred
pounds, and wished me to put my name
to bill for that amount.
This, l thought, was rather cheeky on
his part, and I had little difficulty in
giving him point-blank refusal. He
talked and implored for some time
longer, declared he would be ruined,
ETC.; but at last, seeing me perfectly
obdurate, he gave it up and rose to de-
part. l accompanied him downstairs,
and was assisting him on with his over
coat, when he suddenly remem bered he
had left his pipe in the sitting-room.
He at once ran upstairs for it, leaving
me standing in the hall holding his
overcoat In few minutes he returned.
said goodnight in a somewhat curt
manner, and took his leave. I felt
honestly was justified in refusing his
request. In all probability he would
have failed to meet the bill when it
came due, and would have had to re-
tire 1t, which would deprive me of any
little savings l had. Besides, he had
got good sum in cash by my aunt's
will, whilst 1 at present had not re-
celved one penny of principal. l &C.
cordingly went to bed that night with
clear conscience. Before doing so, how
ever had my usual look at my charge,
who was all right, and sound asleep on
his perch.
Next morning when I awoke heard
the cockatoo squawking away in his
usual vociferous style. Whilst was at
breakfast, my housekeeper, as was her
daily custom, removed the cage to give
1t its regular clean out, at the same
time giving the bird fresh supply OF
1000 and water. / then went to bust
ness and returned home at my usual
hour-half-past four. Imagine my con-
sternation on being met with the