The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-10-03
He don't mind that" said Mrs. Gam

nett.
The parrot, hopping to the further
corner of the bottom Of his cage, said
something feebly; finding that nothing
dreadful happened he repeated his re-
marke somewhat more boldly, and, be-
ing convinced after all that the appara-
ton was quite harmless and that he
had displayed his craven spirit Tor
nothing, hoped back on his perch and
raved wickedly.
IF that was my bird" said Mrs.
Cluffins almost as scarlet as her para
SOL Il should wiring its neck.
mo, you wouldn't, said Mrs. Can
nett solemnly. and having quieted the
bird by throwing a cloth over its cage,
explained its properties.
What" said Mrs. Cluffins, unable to
sit still in her chair. You mean to tell
me that your husband said that"
Mrs. Gannett nodded. He's awfuily
! jealous of me- she said with a slight
shipper.
7 wish he was my husband" said
Mrs. Cluffins in a thin, hard voice. Il
wish c. would talk to me like that. l
wish somebody would try and per-
suade G. to talk to me like that"
1T shows he's fond of me- said
Mrs Gannett, looking down.
Mrs. Cluffins jumped up and snatch
ing the cover off the cage, endeavored,
but in vain, to get the parasol through
the bars
And you believe that rubbish, she
said scathingly. Bob, you wretch"
4 don't believe it," said her friend,
taking her gently away and covering
the cage hastily just as the bird was
recovering, but I let him think I do"
L call it an outrage" said Mrs Cluf-
inns, waving the parasol wildly, Il
never heard of such a thing. I'd like
to give Mr.. Gannett a piece of my
mind. Just about half-an-hour of it.
He wouldn't be the same man after
ward-Td parrot him.
Mrs. Gannett, soothing her agitated
friend as well as she was able, led her
gently to a chair and removed her bon
net, and finding that complete recov-
cry was impossible while the parrot
remained in the room, took that won
der working bird outside.
BY the time they had reached the
docks ana boarded the Curlew, Mrs.
Cluffins had quite recovered her spirits.
She roamed about the steamer asking
questions which savored more of idle
curiosity than a genuine thirst for
knowledge, and was at no pains to con-
ceal her opinion of those who were
unable to furnish her with satisfactory
replies.
4 shall think of you every day.
Jem, said Mrs. Gannett tenderly.
Il shall think of you every minute"
said the engineer, re3roachfully.
He sighed gently and gazed in a
scandalized fashion at Mrs. Cluffins,
who was carrying on a desperate fir
tation with one of the apprentices.
Shes very light hearted" said his
wife, following the direction of his
eyes.
She is said Mr.. Gannett CURLY, as
the unconscious Mrs. Cluffins shortened
her Darasol and raped the apprentice
playfully with the handle
She seems to be on very good terms
with Jenkins, laughing and carrying
on. l don't suppose she's rever seen
him before" said the engineer.
Poor young thing" said Mrs Cluf-
fins solemnly, as she came up 10 them,
don't you worry, Mr.. Gannett, I'll
look after her, and keep ner from mop
ing"
You're very kind" said the engineer,
slowly.
Wen have a jolly time" said Mrs.
Cluffins. Il often wish my husband
was seafaring man. a Wife does have
more freedom, doesn't she?'
huskily.
More freedom" said Mrs. Clufins.
gravely. Il always envy sailors wives
They can do as they like. No husband
to look after them for nine or ten
Before the unhappy engineer could
put his indignant thoughts into words
there was warning cry from the
SanSWay, and, with haSty farewell,
he hurried below. The visitors went
ashore, the gangway was shipped, and,
in RESPONSE to the clang of the tele-
graph, the Curlew drifted slowly away
from the quay and headed Tor the
swing bridge slowly opening in front
of her
The two ladies hurried to the pierhead
and watched the steamer down the
river until a bend hid it from view.
Then Mrs. Gannett, with a sensation of
having lost something, due, so her
friend assured her, to the want of a
cup OF tea, went slowly back to her
lonely home.
In the period of grass widowhood
which ensued. Mrs. Cluffins' visits
formed almost the sole relief to the
bare monotony of existence. AS a COM
panion the parrot was an utter failure,
its language being so irredeemably bad
that IT spent most of it's time in the
spare room with cloth over its cage
wondering when the days were going
to lengthen bit.
Mrs. Cluthns suggested selling it, but
her friend repealed the suggestion with
horror. and refused to entertain it at
any price, even that Of the publican at
the corner, who had heard of the birds
command of language, and was bent
upon buying it.
Il wonder what that beauty will have
to tell your husband" said Mrs Cluf-
fins, as they sat together one day some
four months after the Curlews depar-
ture.
Il should hope that he's forgotten
that nonsense" said Mrs. Gannett, red
dening, The never alludes to it in his
letters"
Sell it, said Mrs. Cluffins, peremD-
torily. Its no good to you, and jim
son would give anything for it, al
most"
Mrs. Cannett shook her head. 1.-The
house wouldn't hold my husband if l
did, she remarked, with a shiver
''Oh, yes it would" said Mrs. Cluf-
fins, you do as 1 tell you, and a much
smaller house than this would hold
him. l told G. to tell Unison he should
have it for e1O."
But he mustn't said her friend, in
alarm
Leave yourself right in my hands,"
said Mrs. Cluffins spreading out two
small palms and regarding them COM
placently. It'll be all right, 1 promise
YOU
She put her arm around her friends
waist and led her to the window, talk
ing earnestly. In five minutes Mrs
Gannett was wavering, in ten she had
given away, and in fifteen the energetic
Mrs. Cluffins was en- route for Jimson's
swinging the cage so violently in her
excitement that the parrot was reduced
to holding onto its perch with claws
and bill and could only think Mrs.
Gannett watched their progress from
on