The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1895-01-18

NOulll sCCTclly nave Deeu Ill uCn QlSappOlDG-
ed in me if l had leaned toward selling
the bird, knew, SO 1 replied that that
must not be thought of-certainly not
and inquired, merely as a matter of curl
osity, how the offer happened to be made
We'll, said my wife, sally called me
down stairs this afternoon, as was tax
ing last look to Jacks clothes, and espc-
cially to his buttons, poor lad-for it is
not likely that any Welshwoman will I'M
dcrstand such things-and who should be
in the parlor but female in widow S
clothes, sitting at our table with the par
rot before her, like poor savage worship
ing an idol She had taken it down from
its hook outside and carried it in, notwith-
standing it had sworn at her in manner
dreadful to listen to and was even then far
from paciffed.
: Madam, l beg your pardon, ex-
claimed the visitor, but this parrot IS the
most admirable bird
''Pn0f. po"fl' cried Dick
lis sagacity, pursued the widow, 'is
beyond all belief. Now, dote upon par
Tots. Is, 'cialiy black ones, that having
been my beloved husbands favorite color
s'and If could only get possession of this
admirable creatuEe'-
XIII the captain Scuttle the shipr
screamed Dick.
-" by paying any compensation in rea-
son l should consider myself truly fortu-
nate. Of course I'm taking great liber-
ty. l have no right to come into your
house and open a negotiation of this kind.
I am fully aware of the false position in
which have placed myself; still voice
from beyond the tomb seems to have wills
pered to me-
"'Tolderolol' exclaimed Dick, perform
ing succession of somersaults within his
gilded ring. Who's your halter? How's
your poor feets'
- seems to have whispered, repeated
the widow, calmly waiting until the bird
had finished its remarks: Buy that par
rot. Buy it, cage and all Take it home
and treat it kindly" 1t is impossible for
me, madam, to neglect such solemn in
timation of the wishes of the departed.
! Five pounds for the bird and two ten for
the cage is an offer which, think, you
will allow is handsome and ought to be
conclusive And with these words she
took out her purse and laid down the
money on the table,
Il confess, George, that the sight of so
much gold was not a little tempting, but
after just one look at it thanked her and
Dtlllo pun IL DthCA again, 1OE Iuetb WI
| us also the matter was one of feeling and
memory, and that we could not part with
Dick upon any such consideration.
Ten for the bird and five for the
cage, observed the visitor, with quiet dis
tinotness and doubling the sum already
spread before me. hesitated a moment,
fairly fascinated by the glitter of all this
| treasure. I thought of score of things
that it would buy for you and the children
and did not know what to do.
Poor Dick, poor Dick, poor DickP re-
iterated the parrot mournfully. Give
him a dozen, keel haul him, throw him
| overboard!'
Madam, cried I, Il cannot sell that
bird, so please do not tempt me any fur
thcr. ~
Well, Lucy, and you did quite right,
quoth /, kissing away tear that lay upon
her honest check And then I suppose
the tcmptress took herself Off"
No." returned my wife, she did not
and horo comes the strangest part of the
story, and that which may have most in
teFest for you and me. We'll, If you won't
sell your parrot, said the widow in the
same determined way as before, and with
out any appearance of disappointment
will you lend 1t to me for a week in Au-
gust next? will give you 10 guineas for
the loan of it. "
LEND it, LucyI'
THAT is certainly what she said, George
and replied that would speak to you,
and if she would call tomorrow at 10
O'Clock let her know to what decision you
had come"
At first thought this offer could not
have proceeded from any but a mad wom
an and made up my mind to refuse her re-
quest. She might do some harm to our
parrot, and possibly even eat it, in which
case the law itself could afford us no re-
dress, but on second thoughts determined
to see the woman myself before rejecting
so favorable proposition. Accordingly
delayed going to my usual place of bust
ness the next day until after the hour
named by the mysterious visitor As the
clock struck 10 she rang the doorbell, and
telling Sally not to be in a hurry In open
ing 1t made recognizance through the
parlor blind.
The Widows cap framed quiet, reso
lutte face and hard blue eyes that certainly
exhibited no trace of insanity. Her voice,
as she spoke to the servant, was calm and
collected. Her garments were new and of
good material. If appearances were to DC
trusted, she was not mad, and she was SOL
vent-the two points about which had
naturally the greatest solicitude
Mr.. Wilson, concluded" observed she
as she entered the parlor Il am glad that
See you In person, so that there need be
no more uncertainty about this little af
fair. offered your wife 10 guineas for
the loan of your black parrot from the 9th
to the 18th of August think that Is
hanHson,n xraalyIo for bird -
Madam, " returned 1, that is undoubt-
edly true, still the proposition is such
very uncommon one that you must pardon
my hesitation in acceding to 1t. How do
/ know
III you require references as guarantee
of my respectability, interrupted the
widow, you may have bushel of them.
Ny name is Hubble. live at 8S4 Pitt
street. was housekeeper to the late Gen
eral Sir Fiddle Paddle for 90 years, and
my bankers are the Messrs. Child. If you
are merely curious to know why want
your parrot, that curiosity will not be
gratifled. Don't be fool, now. / am pre-
pared to pay guineas at once on deposit
and in advance, to convince you that my
intentions are In good faith. What would
tou have mores'
Nothing more, indeed, " said 1, taking
bp tho money. II am perfectly satisfied
But supposing that in the interim the poor
parrot should"-
Never say diel' exclaimed Dick from
his cage without who's afraid Chick,
chick, chick, chick, chickP'
could not help laughing heartily at
this apropos interruption, but the widow
never moved a muscle If it dies, you
may keep the deposit. 1t is hard, )" added
she, with sort of spasm, that poor folks
should be disappointed in their cxpecta-
tions, through no fault of their own, but
as for their giving money back again
think nobody ought to expect 1t. have
nothing further to remark except that tho
whole arrangement is to be kept dead
secret. That may seem very whimsical,
perhaps, but then I am prepared to pay
for my whims. 1t will be better that one
of you two should both bring Dick to Pitt
street and take him away again, and for
this trouble you shall have a guinea ex-
ira" She rose to leave the room, but
while held the door open for her she sud
denly observed by the bye, don't like
the name of Dick. It's vulgar. Have you
any nice little boy at home who has moth
ing particular to do and will teach the
parrot to speak of himself as Poor Tom
my, Poor Tommyi' 1t is very easily done,
and here Is little present for his future
tutor"
She was gone in a moment, leaving in
my wifes hand a half sovereign wrapped
up in silver paper, and all my apprehen-
sions Us to the state of her mind returned
to me Immediately with redoubled force.
"She must be mad, )" thought I, Ito scat
ter her gold about with such reckless pro-
fucioD md tn nntertaiD tho idea that