Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-10-01

| horror and refused to entertain it at any
| price, even that of the publican at the
| corner, who had heard of the bird COM
| mand of language and was bent upon buy
ing it.
Il wonder what that beauty will have
| to tell your husband said Mrs. Clufiins
| as they sat together one day some four
| months after the Curlew's departure.
! Il should hope that he has forgotten
that nonsense said Mrs. Gannett red
| dening. He never alludes to it in his let
| ters''
Sell it," said Mrs Cluftins. perempto-
| rily. It's good to you, and Unison
would give anything for it. almost"
Mrs Gannett shook her head. THE
house wouldn't hold my husband if I did,
| she remarked, with a shiver.
on. yes, il would said Mrs. Cluffns
You do as 1 tell you. and much smaller
| house than this would hold him L. told
! G. to tell Unison he Should have it for
| five pounds
But he mustn't" said her friend IN
| alarm.
Leave yourself right in my hands, said
mrs CIuflnS, spreading out two smalls
| palms and regarding them complacently.
| ltH be all right, | promise you
She put her arm around her friends
waist ana led her to the window talking
| earnestly. In five minutes Mrs Gannett
was "arerlng in ten she had given away
anu IN flteen the energetic Mrs. Cluffins
! vas en- route for Jimsons swinging the
/ cage 50 violently in her excitement that
! the parrot was reduced to holding on 10 its
| perch with claws and bill, and could only
| thnk. Mrs, Gaunett watched their orop-
| ress from the window. and with q queer
| look on her face sat down to think out the
| points of attack and defense in the an
preaching fray.
A week later a four-wheelar drove Nv, To
| the door, and the engineer darting upstairs
| three steps at time, dropped an armful of
| parcels on the floor and caught his wife in
! an embrace which woaid have done credit
|
which lack of muscle was only one re-
sponGed less ardently
"Ha! it's good to be home again.. sail
Gannett sinking into an easy chair and
pulling his wife on his knee. And how
| have you been? Lone.y?'
| softly.
| The engineer coughed you had the
parrot. he remarked.
| Yes. mad the magic parrot said Mrs.
| Gannett
"Hows it getting on?" said her husband,
boxing round. Where is it?''
| Part of it is on the mantelpece" said
Mrs. Gannett, trying to speak calmly, part
| of 1t is In a bonnet box upstairs, some of
It's in my pocket and here is the remainder.
She .fumbled in her pocket and placed in
| his hand cheap two-bladei claspknife.
| 'On the mantelpiece?' repeated the en-
! Gineer, staring at the knife, lin bonnet
| box
Those blue vases" said his wife
| Mr. Gannett put his hand to his head If
he had heard Alright. one parrot had
| changed into pair of blue vases, a bonnet
and knife. A magic bird with a ven
geance.
| Il sold it, said Mrs. Gannett suddenly.
The engineers knee stiffened inhos-
pitaby. and his arm dropped from his
wife's waist. She rose quietly and took a
| chair opposite.
! Sold it, said Mr.. Gannett in awful
tones. Sold my parrot!'
Il didn't like it, Jem." said his wife. Il
mt hat hirI
| did want the vases and the bonnet and the
little present for you"
Mr.. Gannett pitched the little present to
the other end of the room.
You see it mightn't have told the truth.
! Jem. continued Mrs. Gannstt 1T might
| have told all sorts of lies about me and
| made no end of mischief
| 1T couldn't lie," shouted the engineer
passionately, rising from his chair and
| pacing the room. ITS your guilty cen
science that's made coward of you. How
| care you sell my parrot?
| Because it wasn't truthful Jem" said
| his wife, who was somewhat pale.
| II you We're half as truthful you'd Co."
vociferated the engineer standing over her.
| 'Ycu. you deceitful woman"
| Mrs Gannett fumbled in her pocket
again. and, producing a small handkerchief
applied it delicately to her eyes.
| Il got rid of it for your sake" she
| stammered- 1t used TO tell such lies about
you, couldn't bear to listen to it."
About me!' said MI. Gannett. sinking
| INTO MS seat ana staring at his wife with
| very natural amazement- Tell lies about
me. Nonsense. How could itc'
| Il suppose 1t could tell me about you as
| easily as it could you about me-" said Mrs
| Gannett. There was more magic in that
bird than you thought, Jem 1t used to
| say shocking things about you; 1 couldn't
| bear it."
| DO you think you're talking to a child
| or fool? demanded the engineer, hotiy.
Mrs. Gannett shook her aeaI feebiy. She
| still, kept the handkerchief-t to her eyes but
allowed portion to drop over her mouth
Il should like to hear some of the lies 1t
| told about me-, said the engineer with bit
ter sarcasm, IF you can remember them -
/ The first he,' said Mrs. Gannett, in a
| feeble but ready voice, was about the
time you were at Genoa. The parrot said