The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-02-09

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~ - ~ - s'zss, snss sssins M
Ssk ~ fsfo4 ~ 0ll4A 10
6nsjl6 osp1sipi 46u'rs qults q stran-
RI. WhaSss seen uYf- hssbs ~. bssnp
taking about coming In 10 inquire after
your hSaith, % she was afraid Something
must bs wrong"
dyes, I have been . ut poorly. !" said I.
Oh, how sasily the words slipped out al
though had been as right as ninepence
why that particular sum should be en-
dued with more reotitude than Its fsllows
/ have never been able 10 disooyer-this by
the way.
"a BIT of q cold, perhaps" said Captain
Travera. "WsIl, come over the fence and
have dish Of ten in the summer house,
and Rachel shall come In afterward and
make you good glass Of something stiff
for nightcap."
I inwardly tronbled, but knew that
sooner or later ii > plunge would haze to
be made, so / pitt as good face on the
matter as ] could and promised TO DO
there.
Punctually at O'Clock donnel my
sprucest attire, and with 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 dsw on it--wbioh oeIsider very
pretty simile--and she babe ME welcome
with one; of her beaming smiles. There,
too, was the unlucky parrot In Its case
and standing just outside the summer
house had noticed that IL had been set
out to sun itself as usual on all fine days,
and as far as ! could see nothing had
transpirod to make me think they had any
cause to suspect my imposition.
/ purposely sat with my back to it and
avoided taking notice Of 1t in any way
whatever
Tea went off all right. My old friend
was very CHEEKY, and Miss Rachel showed
me great attention. could hear Polly
rubbing her beak up and Down the wires
of the cage and swinging backward and
forward In tho metal ring.
After the meal Captain Travers went
indoors to get his supply Of necessaries for
tie evening, and turning to me Miss Tray
ers commenced:
"By the bye, Captain Manley, how Is
your parrot2 have not seen 1t out in the
garden lately"
felt my I,eart beating bit faster, but
+ with every somblanoe of outward calm /
said:
"No-tho fact is, it'a not been at oil
we'll. In fact, It's dead"
"Deadp' she exclaimed. "Well, never
What did ID die OFF,
II really don't know" replied. "It
died quite suddenly about week ago."
~ hope our Polly isn't going to follow
suit" she continued. "She has been very
dull and quiet the lastfew days, but seems
bit more lively this evoning / don't
think she has spoken u word all tho week. "
"Thank goodness" / inwardly ejacu-
lated.
Things were beginning to look n bit
awkward, and cast about for something
to change the course of conversation. |
am not quick thinker, however, and be-
foro could collect my wits Miss Travers
continued:
"Dear dear, to think your poor Polly's
doad! Well, am sorry. should BIO sorry
to lose you, Polly, dear, she said, ad-
dressing the parrot. "But really, Captain
Marley" looking me straight in tho face,
~ can't make our Polly out, Sometimes
could almost believe she was different
bird. Sho hasn't once seemed pleased to
SEQ me all tho week.
l felt the blood rapidly rising to my
cheeks and forehead, but trusted to my
tanned complexion for 1t not to show. l
feerly replied, Perhaps she's inolting."
1t was an unluoky Zip. '.Well, now I
come to think, )" said Miss Travers, i no
tced that its tail looked much IGieF after
its bath tho other morning, and tho 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 rs II
lamb, said, with tho profoundest look Of
knowledge that l could assume at SO short
notice:
Eyes often used to notice it about my
own parrot"
"But thought your bird had no red
about it," she pursued.
"Confound the woinan's persistencel''
/ thought. but stammered: ~ mean
TINT is to say--you sec, Two noticed 1t In
all red parrots I have ever como across.
They shouldn't DO bathed at alL It in
lures their constitution"
ooh, l thought you recommended It'll"
she said
So had dozens Of times. "Only for
the gray ones" ] said, forming q conyen-
lent distinction on the spur of the moment,
Miss 1rayers did not eoem inclined to
pursue the subject further, much to my
satisfaction, and then there was a dead
pause.
During the whole Of our conversation
the subject of it had not ceased to continue
its antics in tho wire cage, Whether it
was the sound Of my voice that caused ID
to BIO thus excited, do not know, but at
this opportunity it burst in with Hi, hip
l was getting desperate and could think
of nothing to change the subject, and yet
If l didn't say something was terribly
afraid the parrot would.
A bicycle bell sounded down the road.
care you thinking of getting bicycle,
Miss Traversp" l SAIL
"No, certainly not" she replied. "Hcw
can you ask such question:"
Another awful pause, during which l
mopped the perspiration from my brow.
IRA Ra- Rachel, I love your came In
clear tones from behind my back. The
wretohed bird had even caught the exact
tone Of my voice.
Captain Manleyl Sirr' snid Miss
Trayers, raising herself to her full height
of 5 feet n inches Odd you address
that remark to me, sirP''
l had, however, utterly collapsed, md
burying my head in my hands ! leaned
down on the little round table. Whether
the sight of a poor old ship in distress
touched her tender heart, don't know;
but she added in softer tones:
"This is very unexpected, Captain Man