The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1897-04-27

expect never wore anything harder
than nightcap, but, true as it may be-
com pared to the torture of my mind,
now launched on O. course OF dupiicity,
il would be bed of roses.
II was towards the end of the follow
ing week that happened to he out in
the garden and saw my old friend come
stamping down the path of his own
garden in his dot-and-carry-one style,
and, seeing me on the fence, he cried:
"Holloal captain, you're quite
stranger. What's been up2 Rachel
has been talking about coming in to in
qnire about your health. as she was
afraid something must be wrong"
ayes. have been bit poorly" said
/. OH how easily the ordsslipped
out, although | had been as right as
ninepence why that particular SUM
should be endued with more rectitude
than its fellows [ have never been able
to discover-this by the way.
"a bit of cold. perhaps" said Capt.
Trayers. "Well, come over the fence
and have dish OF tea n the summer
house, and Rachel shall come in after
wards and make you a good glass or
something stiff for a night-cap."
Principally at five O'Clock | donned
my sprucest attire, and with u smart
flower in my button-hole-gay dog that
was-,slipped over the fence. Miss
Rachelwas there, looking as fresh as
a spring cabbage with the dew on IT,
which [ consider a very pretty simiie
and she babe me welcome with one of
her beaming smiles. There, too, was
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 fine
days, and as far as | could see nothing
had transpired to make me think they
had any cause to suspect my imposition.
Il 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. l 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 Trayers went
indoors to get his supply of necessaries
for the evening, and, turning to me,
Miss Trayers commenced:
"By-the-hy, Capt. Manley, how is
your parrot? i have not seen it out in
the garden lately"
felt my heart beating a bit faster,
but with every semblance of outwarH
calm, / said:
"No-the fact is. it's not been at all
well; in fact, it's dead"
"Dead" she exclaimed. "Wen,
never. What did il die Off"
81 really don't know" replied ut
died quite suddenly about week ago"
II hope our Polly isn't going TO fol-
low suit" she continued. she has been
very duh and quiet the last few days,
but seems bit more lively this even
ing. l don't think she has spoken a
word all the week"
Thank goodness!'I inwardly ejacu-
lated.
Things were beginning to look a bit
,aw llward. and cast about for some
thing to change the course of conversi-
ton. 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 sorry! sould be sorrg
to lose you, Polly dear" she said, adj
dressing the parrot. But really. Capt.
Marley" looking ME straight in tho
face. II can't make our Pollyout.
Sometimes | could almost believe she
was u different bird. She hasn't once
seemed pleased to see me adj the week"
felt the blood rapidly rising to nv
cheeks and forehead, but trusted to
my tanned complexion for it not to
show. | fecbly replied: perhaps She
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 moultng?"
"Yes, 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, -
thought, but / stammered =" mean
that is to say--you see-l'yc noticed il
ia all red parrots ] have ever come