The morning call., 1894-12-14

An NY S"cot pcls WUu Jou AioS hno'
Kiss me now"
But the bird would not kiss her. BE
moved back and forth little on his perch.
and ruf1ied bis feathers in dignihed alarm
as the protestations of affection grew
warmer, and refused to recognize the old
lady by look or word, and at last she rose
up with heart that had broken III the
interval.
1 could not swear to the Bird" she
said, looking down upon him disconsoate.
FRANK MurasKy, the Donnelly lawyer,
suggested that no polly with the good
breeding that their bird had enjoyed could
be expected to kiss lady in this public
manner. Ii they could be permitted some
privacy he had no doubt that the old love,
which separation of three months could
not have wholly destroyed, would be re-
established and made apparent in the con-
yentional tokens.
No objection was tffered and room
across the hall was given over to them,
and the bird and Mrs. Mccarthy and the
attorneys went into 1t aud shut the door.
Shortly they returned, Mr.. Martin leading
tie way, holding high the big cage. and
the smile upon his face making 1t plain
That the bird had withstood every advance.
Mrs. Mccarthy followed slowly in, utterly
crushed. Hers had remained the same,
but Dolls heart had not been true.
1t was suggested that the cat be intro
duced, for the Martins declared that their
bird had been brought no with the cat
and Mrs. Martin had taught them to be
playmates, and they could be depended
upon to perform anywhere, while the Don
nelys admitted that while their bird could
sing. and sing well, he did not play with
cats. But they objected TO this move. for
they did not know what new tricks it had
learned under other peoples teaching
since their bird was stolen from them
three moons ago.
Mrs. Martin, feeling the triumph that
lay in the refusal Of her bird Ito recognize
Mrs. Mccarthy of the enemy, volunteered
to show how differently the bird would
meet her advances, and walking to the
table where he was, leaned over and said
sweetly, kiss me. POLL" placing her lips
to the cage.
Poll reached up his big bill and kissed
her again and again. as best poll can,
and was seemingly greatly pleased at the
chance.
This seemed to settle it. Mrs. Martin
looked at Mrs Donnelly with new triumph
in her eyes, and disconsolate Mrs. Nc
Carthy was amazed. Mrs. Donnelly, how
ever, was confident. She stepped up and
pushing Mrs. Martin away, lifted her veil,
and, with her lips close to the cage, ex-
claimed, tearfully: "Oh. my pet, they
have taken you from me. Kiss me-Eiss
me, pet"
And Poll. who had not moved back from
his place, lifted his big bill and no one
could have said that there was one whit
less of warmth in the kisses he bestowed
upon Mrs. Donnelly.
Thus was the balance re-establis he'd to
nicely. and with it the doubt. The Don
nelly contingent was delighted. and Mrs.
Donnelly. in her burst of pleasure. re-
peated several times. 'Ah. they have
stolen you, my beautiful" until Mrs.
Martin exeitedly interfered. snatched away
the cage and said, 81 will not allow you to
say that; this bird is mine, and no one
stole it from you"
Mrs. McCarthy's blood. fretted by the
birds reputation of her before all these
people, would have welcomed some move
that might enable her to reassert herself.
Old woman that she was, and with her
lOuS DidCh VCIl lhilluS mall wa W U0I lcel,
she took on jaunty air, and, stepping to
Mrs. Martins side. said:
1.-THE court will decide for the bird. and
if we had you down in Minna street per-
haps you wouldn't be SO Impairment"
With regiment of people on one side
saying that this was Mrs. Donnelly's bird,
and another regiment saying that it was
Mrs. Martins bird, and the bird himself
keeping the secret with disin terestedness
that left the court in a cloud of doubt,
came a suggestion that Justice Dunno take
polly home with him and keep him for six
days, and If in the interval he gave sign of
knowing the things that Mrs. Donnelly's
bird was said to know and which Mrs.
Martins bird confessedly did not know,
then let that decide it,
The Donnellys reluctantly consente to
this arrangement as the best that could be
done, bat declaring that even if the bird
did not sing in that time, "Pm going to
write letter to papa" the proof would
not be conclusive. for bird did not always
sing to strangers the things that were
taught him at home. and had he not pub
licly repudiated Mrs. Mccarthy, when they
all knew that he loved herp But there
was no other way. Solomon himself could
have devised no better method.