The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-01-30

my sprueest attire, and with u smart
flower in my hole-gay dog that
l was-slipped over the fence. Miss
Rachelwas there, looking as fresh as
a spring cabbage with the dew on it,
which l consider a very pretty smile,
and she babe me welcome with one of
her beaming smiles. There, too, was
the unlucky parrot in it's cage, and
standing just outside the summer.
house. l had noticed that 1t had been
set out to sun itself US usual on all fine
days, and as far as | could see nothing
had TRANSFERRED to make me think they
had any cause to suspect my imposition
l purposely sat with my back TO it..
and avoided taking notice of it 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 swing
ing backwards and forwards in the
metal ring.
After the meal Capt. Travers went
indoors to get his supply of necessaries
for the evening, and, turning to me,
Miss Travers commenced:
"Bythe-by, Capt Manley, how is
your parrot? have not seen it out in
the garden lately"
l felt my heart beating bit faster,
but with every semblance of outward
calm, l said:
"No-the fact is, it's not been at all
WE'LL in fact, it's dead"
"Dead!" she exclaimed. "Well, l
never What did it die Off"
81 really don't KNOW" replied. at
died quite suddenly about week ago.
81 hope our Polly isn't going to fol
low suit" she continued. "She has been.
very dull and quiet the last few days,
but seems bit more lively this even
ing. | don't think she has spoken
word all the week."
THANK goodness!"I inwardly ejacu-
lated.
Things were beginning to look bit
awkward, and | cast about for some
thing TO change the course of CONVERSE
ton. l am not quick thinker, how
ever, and before could collect my wits,
Miss Travers continued:
"Dear, dear, to think your poor Polly's
dead! Well, am sorryl l sould he sorry
to lose you, Polly dear" she said adj
dressing the parrot. But really, Capt,
Manley," looking me straight in the
DnlIun1t
Sometimes l could almost believe she
was a different bird. She hasn't once
seemed pleased to see me all the week.
felt the blood rapidly rising to my
cheeks and forehead, but l trusted TO
my tanned complexion for it not tn
show. / feebly replied: Perhaps she's
moulting."
1t was an unlucky slip. "Well, now
come to think" said Miss Travers, Il
noticed that its tail looked much paler
after it's bath the other morning, and
the water was quite red. Is that
sign of moulting?"
eyes, l often used to notice it about
my own parrot"
But / thought your bird had no red
about it," she pursued.
"Confound the woman's persistence"
l thought, but l stammered: 81 mean
that is to say-you see-Ive noticed il
il, all red parrots have ever come
across. They shouldn't be bathed al
all, it Injuries their constitution"
"Oh thought you recommended it,"
she said.
So / had, dozens of times. "Only for
the gray ones,"I said, forming a con.
venient distinction on the spur of the
moment.
Miss Travers did not seem inclined tc
pursue the subject further, much to
my satisfaction, and then there was a
dead pause.
During the whole of our conversa'
ton the subject of it had not ceased
to continue its antics in the wire cage.
Whether it was the sound of my voice
that caused it to be thus excited do
not know, but at this opportunity it
burst in with Hi, hill"
/ was getting desperate, and could
think of nothing to change the subject;
and yet if / didn't say something
was terribly afraid the parrot would,
A bicycle bell sounded down the
road
Are you thinking of getting a BIZ
cycle, Miss Traverse" l said.
"No, certainly not" she replied;
show can you ask such a question:
Another awful pause, during which
l mopped the perspiration from my
brow.
"Ra-Ra-Rachel, love you'll" came
in clear tones from behind my back
The wretched bird had caught the ex-
act tone of my voice.
Capt. Marley! Sirl" said Miss Trav-
ers, raising herself to her full five feet
one and one-half inches. did you nd
dress that remark to me, sir?"
had, however, utterly collapsed, and
burying my head in my hands, | leaned
down on the little round table. Wheth-
er the sight of the poor old ship in dis
tress touched her tender heart | don't
know, but she added, in softer tones:
"This is very unexpected, Capt. Man
ley"
could hold out no longer.
"Miss Rachel" | cried, I'm a thun.
dering old hpyocrite. My parrot isn't
dead at all; there it is in that cage; it's
yours that's dead; l shot it. | didn't
mean TO. Can you forgive me for all
the lies l told you?"
"All right! All right" said the so;-
cmn voice Of the parrot behind me.
at was Polly that made that remark
lilo. 80 ~