The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1896-12-24

ger. What's boon upe Rachel has beer
talking about coming In to inquire aftel
your health as she was afraid something
must be wr ,ng"
Eyes, have been bit poorly" said L
Oh how easily the words slipped out, al
though had been as right as ninepcnce
why that particular sum should he en-
dued with more rectitude than its fellows
have never been able to discover-this by
the way. f.
| "A bit of cold, perhaps, {" said Captain
Travers swell, come over the fence and
have dish of tea In the summer house,
and Rachel shall come in afterward and
mako you good glass Of something stiff
for a nightcap."
I inwardly trembled, but / knew that
sooner or later the plunge would have to
be made, so put as good face on tho
matter as ! could and promised to be
there.
Punctually at 8 O'Clock l donned my
sprucest attire, and with a smart flower in
my buttonhole-gay dog that was-slip-
ped over the fence. Miss Rachel was there,
looking as fresh as spring cabbage with
the dew on it-wbich consider a very
pretty simile-and she bade me welcome
with one of her beaming smiles. There,
too, was the uniucky parrot in its cage
and standing just outside the summer
house. j had noticed that it had been set
out to sun itself as usual on all fine days
and as far as / could see nothing had
transpired to make me think they had any
cause to suspect my imposition.
/ purposely sat with my back to 1t and
avoided taking notice of 1t In any way
whatever.
1H oil -. IL "a
was very CHEEKY, and Miss Rachel showed
me great attention. i could hear Polly
rubbing her beak up and down the wires
Of the cage and swinging backward and
forward In the metal ring.
After the meal Captain Travers went
indoors to get his supply of necessaries for
the evening, and turning to me Miss Trav-
ers commenced:
"By the bye, Captain Manley, how Is
your parrot? / have not seen 1t out in the
garden lately
felt my heart beating bit faster, but
with every semblance of outward calm I
said:
"Nc-the fact Is, it's not been at all
we'll In fact, it's dead"
"Deadr' she exclaimed. "Well, / never.
What did it die OFF,
al really don't know" replied. "It
died quite suddenly about q week ago."
~ hope our Polly isn't going to follow
suit she continued. "She has been very
dull and quiet the last few days, but seems
q bit more lively this evening L don't
think she has spoken a word all the week. -
"TbaDk goodnessp' inwardly ejacu-
lated.
Things were beginning to look q bit
awkward, and I cast about for something
to change the course Of conversation.
am not a quick thinker, however, and be-
fore could collect my wits Miss Trayers
continued:
Dear, dear, to think your poor Polly's
dead! Well, l am sorry. / should be sorry
to lose you, Polly, dear she said, ad-
dressing the parrot "But really, Captain
Manley," looking me straight in the face,
81 can't make our Polly out. Sometimes
could almost believe she was different
bird She hasn't once seemed pleased to
see me all the week.
/ felt the blood rapidly rising to my I
cheeks and forehead, but trusted to my
tanned complexion for it not to show.
feebly replied, Perhaps she's molting."
1t was an unlucky slip. well, now I
come to think" said Miss Travers, 81 no.
ticed that its tail looked much paler after
it's bath the other morning, and the water
was quite red. Is that sign of their
molting?"
Things were getting serious, but, feeling
i might as well be hung for a sheep as "A
lamb, said, with tho profoundest look Of
knowledge that could assume at so short
q notice:
"Yes, often used to notice it about my
own parrot"
"But thought your bird had no red
about 1t, she pursued.
"Confound the wop--,,s nors;stencep,
thought, but ] st.umerod. ct ,naan
that is to sa- -vop GOO I've noticed A. IN
". parrots / have ever come across.
.ey shouldn't be bathed at all. 1t in
jures their constitution"
"Oh, 1 thought you recommended itp'
she said.
So had dozens of times. "Only for
the gray ones,' said, forming a conven-
lent distinction on the spur of the moment.
Miss Travers did not seem inclined to
pursue the subject further, much to my
satisfaction, and then there was dead
pause.
During the whole OF our conversation
the subject Of IL had not ceased to continue
was the sound of my voice that caused 1t
to be thus excited, do not know, but at
this opportunity it burst In with HI, hip
I was getting desperate and could think
| of nothing to change tho subject, and yet
| II l didn't say something was terribly
| afraid the parrot would
A bicycle bell sounded down the road.
"Are you thinking of getting bicycle,
| AGSs, Troyore9p said
"No, certainly not, she replied. "How
can you ask suoh question:"
| Another awful pause, during which
mopped the perspiration from my brow.
era Ra- Rachel l love your came ir
clear tones from behind my back. Th'
wretched bird had even caught the exac
tone of my voice.
"Captain Manley! Sirr' said Mis-
Travers, raising herself to her full heigh
of 6 feet TX inches. "Did you addrcs
that remark to me, sirp"
had, however, utterly collapsed, an'
burying my head in my hands leane'
down on the little round table. Whethc