The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1897-01-29

| ner Deaming smiles. There. too Ly:ls
the unlucky parrot in its cage. and
/ standing just outside the summer
house. / had noticed that 1t had been
set out to sun itself US usual on all fin.
days, and as far as 1 could see nothinc.
had transpired TO make me think they
had any cause to suspect my imposition.
L purposely sat with my back to II
I and avoided taking notice of it in apv
way whatever.
Tea went off all right; nv old friend
was very CHEEKY and Miss Rachel
showed me great attention. l coulJ
hear Polly rubbing her beak up and
| dcwn the wires of the cage. and syvipa-
| 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:
"By-the-by, Capt. Manley. how is
| your parrot? l have not seen it out in
the garden lately"
felt my heart beating a bit faster.
| but with every semblance of outward
calm, said:
"No-the fact is, it's not been at all
well; in fact, it's dead
Dead" she exclaimed. We'll.
never What did il die of?'
really don't know l replied eft
died quite suddenly about a week ago"
Il 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 a bit more lively this even
| ing / don't think she has spoken a
word all the week"
Thank goodness!''I inwar,iIv eiacu-
lated.
| Things were beginning to look a bit
| awkward, ard / cast about for some
thing to change the course of CONVERSE
| ton l an not a quick thinker. how
ever, and before L could collect my wits.
| MISS TTavers continued:
Dear. dear. TO think your poor PoIIv's
| deadi Wei. I am sorry, =ould be sorry
to lose YOU, Polly dear she said. ad-
dressing the parrot. But really. Capt.
| Manley." looking me straight in the
| face, Il can't make our PoIlvout
| Sometimes | could almost believe she
was different bird She hasn't once
seemed pleased TO see me all the week"
L felt the blood rapidly rising TO nav
checks and forehead, but l trusted To
ny tanned complexion for IL not 10
! show. 1 feebly replied: Perhaps she'.;
moulting."
1t was an unlucky slip. We'll. now
l come to think" said Miss Travers. u
noticed that its tail looked much paler
after its bath the other morning. and
the water was quite red. Is that 4
sign of moulting?"
| YES, l often used to notice il about
my own parrot
But l thought your bird had no red
about it," she pursued.
| ''Confound the woman'S persistence
| thought, but l stammered: Il mean
that is TO say-you see-I've noticed it
liza all red parrots | have ever come
across. They shouldn't be bathed II
all, it Injuries their constitution
..Oh. L thought you recommended il, -
she said.
So l had. dozens of times Only for
the gray Ones,'I said, forming con
venient 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 conversa-
tion 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 l do
not know, but at this opportunity it
burst in with Hi, hii''
| l 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.
\ bicycle bell sounded down the
road.
| Are you thinking of getting a bi-
c. Gle, Miss Traverse 1 said
'No, certainly not" she replied:
''bow can you ask such question:
| Another awful pause. during which
l mopped the perspiration from ms
brow.
| Ra-Ra-Rachel. love you!" came
in clear tones from behind my back
The wretched bird had caught the ex-
act tone of my voice.
| Capt. Manleyl Sir!'' said Miss Trav-
ers, raising herself to her full five feet
one and one-half inches Did you ad-
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 l don't
know. but she added, in softer tones:
This is very unexpected, Capt. Man
ley"
| l could hold out no longer
Miss Rachel cried, I'm a thun-
dering old hpyocrite- Ny parrot isn't
dead at all; there il is in that cage; its
yours that's dead; | shot it l didn't
mean to. Can you forgive me for all
the lies 1 told you?"
'-AH right All right said the sol
emn voice of the parrot behind me.
lit was Polly that made that remark
Just now, not L: but, believe me, she
speaks the truth, if L don't. Rachel, i
do really love YOU
| l ventured TO look up. Tears were
standing in her eyes. and the expression
on her face made me hope that did not
look quite such a big BOBBY in her eyes
| as l felt l did in my own
Moving nearer. I clasped her hand.
| and as il was not withdrawn. put one
arm gently round her ample waist.
''Now we shan't be long, said the
| gray parrot.-Tit-Bits.