Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1897-01-16

Hover III my DulluH-holc- gay Jug 'h"o
| was-slipped over the fence. Miss
Rachel was there, looking as fresh as
a spring cabbage with the dew on it.
which | consider n very pretty smile,
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 l could see nothing
had transpired to make me think they
had any cause to suspect my imposition.
| 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. Travers went
indoors to get his supply of necessaries
for the evening, and, turning to me,
Miss Travers c~ommenved:
"By-the-by, Capt, Manley, how is
your parrot? 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. "Well,
never. What did it die of?'
81 really don't know" | replied. ut
died quite suddenly about a 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 n bit more lively this even
ing. | don't think she has spoken a
word all the week."
THANK goodness!"I inwardly ejacu,
lated.
Things were beginning to look a bit
awkward, and | cast about for some.
thing to change the course of CONVERSE
ton. | am not a quick thinker, how.
ever, and before l could collect my wits
Miss Travers continued:
"Dear, dear, to think your poor Polly's
dead! Well, | am sorry! sould be sorry
to lose you, Polly dear" she said, adj
dressing the parrot. But really, Capt
Manley," looking m straight in the
face, II can't make our Polly out
Sometimes / 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 | trusted tc
my tanned complexion for it not tc
show. feebly replied: perhaps She;
moulting."
1t was an unlucky slip. "Well, now
| come to think" said Miss Travers, @
noticed that its tail looked much palel
after its bath the other morning, ant
the water was quite red. Is that {
sign of moulting"
Things were getting serious, but
feeling that | might as well be hung
for a sheep as IA lamb, l SAID, with tn,
profoundest look Of knowledge that
could assume on short notice:
Yes, | often used to notice it abou
my own parrot"
But l thought your bird had no rec
about it," she pursued.
'Confound the woman's persistence,
l thought, but l stammered: Il mean
that is to say-you see-Tve noticed i
III all red parrots | have yer com,
across. They shouldn't be bathed q
all, it Injuries their constitution"
"Oh! | thought you recommended it,
she said.
So | had, dozens of times. "Only TO
the gray o%nes,"l said, forming Il cor
~yenient distinction on the spur of til
moment.
Miss Travers did not seem inclined t
pursue the subject further, much t
my satisfaction, and then there was
dead pause.
During the whole of our converse
ton the subject of it had not cease
to continue its antics in the wire Gag
Whether it was the sound of my Voic
that caused it to be thus excited | d
not know, but at this opportunity
burst in with Hi, hill"
l was getting desperate, and coul
think of nothing to change the subject
and yet If l didn't say something
was terribly afraid the parrot woul'
, A bicycle bell sounded down IL
l road.
Are you thinking of getting a L
cycle, Miss Traverse" l said.
"No, certainly not" she replied
! show a you ask such o question:"
: Another awful pause, during whic
, I mopped the perspiration from n
:. brow.
/, "Ra-Ra-Rachel, l love you'll" can
:, In clear tones from behind my bac
! The wretched bird had caught the e
. act tone of my voice.
= Capt. Marley! Sir!" said Miss Ira
, ers, raising herself to her full five fe
! one and one-half inches. ibid you q
: dress that remark to me, sir?"
/. Ihad, however, utterly collapsed, al
burying my head in my hands, lean
: down OH the little round table. Whet
er the sight of the poor old ship in d
:. tress touched her tender heart | dol
:, know, but she added, in softer tones:
~ "This is very unexpected, Capt. Ma
d ley"
could hold out no longer.
"Miss Rachel" / cried, "I'm a thu
y dering old hpyocrite. My parrot Isl
dead at all; there it is in that cage;
i yours that's dead; l shot it. l did
mean to. Can you forgive me for
II the lies / told your"
| "All right All right" said the S
d emn voice of the parrot behind me.
,e ut was Polly that made that remu
;: just now, not 1; but, believe me. {
speaks the truth, II l don't. Rache
# do really love you"
4 ventured to look up. Tears WI
standing in her eyes, and the expressl
:. OIL her face made me hope that did !
d. look quite such a big BOBBY in her e.
=. as / felt I did in my OWL.
Moving nearer, I clasped her ha'