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


ard having placed everything he could think
of uDon the table and then added every
thing the chief could think of, mad assidu-
ously poured out two cups of tea and with
drawn b. request. The two men ate stead
lily. conversng between bites and inter
rupted occasionally by a koarse and sepui-
chral voice. the owner of which being much
exercised by the sight of the food. asked
for it, prettiiy at first, and afterward in
way which at least compelled attention.
That's pretty good for a parrot said
the third critically. Seems TO know what
he's saying. too No. don't give it any
thing. It'll stop if you do"
There's no pleasure to me in listening to
coarse language" said the chief with dig
nifty
He ahsently dipped a piece of bread and
butter in the thirds tea. and, losing it.
chased it round and round the bottom Of
the cup with his finger, the third regarding
the operation with an interest and emotion
which he at first unable to understand.
You'd better pour yourself out another
cup he said, thoughtfuly. as he caught
the thirds eye.
I'm going to- said the other dryly.
The man | bought it Of, said the chief.
giving the bird the sop. said that it was
perfectly respectable parrot and wouldn't
know a bad word If it heard it. I hardly
like to give it to my wife now"
IT S no good being too Particular said
the third, regarding the other with an i'll
concealed grin: that's the worst of all
You young married fellows. Seem to think
your wife has got to be wrapped up in
brown paper Ten chances to one she'll be
amused
The chief shrugged his shoulders disdain-
fully. II bought the bird to be company
Tor her. he said slowly: she'll be very
lonesome without me, Rogers"
How do You know inquired the other
SHe SAID SO. the r1Dly
w hen you've been married as long as |
have. said the third, who, having been
married some fifteen years. felt that their
usua! positions were somewhat reversed
you II know that. generally speaking
they re glad to get rid of you
nat Tor? demanded the chief, in a
voice mat otheilo might have envfed
Well. you get in the way a bit said
rogers. with secret enjoyment: you see,
yoI upset the observation-disclosures
TI.I an thSit sort OF thing gets interrupted.
Lhe' re Siid 10 see you back at first and
then glad to see the back of YOU
There's wives and wives" said the
bridegroom tenderly.
And mines a good one" said the third.
registered Al at Lloyds but she DOM
worry about me going away Your wtfe's
tntI.y years younger than you. isn't she?r
J. twenty-five" corrected the other. short
~ You see. what I'm afraid of is that
shell get too much attention.
third. Aeu tiie
tIo4 l, I'LL II, cried the chief
hotIy When 1 think of it 1 go hot ali
Overlooking hot" GA
That won't lest said the other reas-
s stl You won't care two pence this
Were not all alike growled the chief.
some of US have got finer feelings than
others have 1 saw the chap next door
looking at her as We pas sed him this morn
irg-"
Good heavens said the third, wildly,
don't want any of your id i'm
Pua9nce said the chief sharply. He put
MS nat on straighter when he passe1 us
What do you think of that?"
Can't say" replied the other with COM
mendahle gravity, lit might mean any
If ne has any of his nonsense while I'm
away. I'll break his neck" said the chief
passicnately. L shall know of it,.
The other raised his eyebrows
I've asked the IaEdlady to keep her ewes
open bit, said the chief; my wife's
Very young and simple so that it is quite
right and proper for her to have q mother
ly old body to look after ner"
Told your wife, queried Rogers.
No said the olher. Fact is. Rogers,
I've got an idea about that parrot. I'm 60
ihg TO tell ner it's a magic bird and will
tell me everything she doe while I'm away
Anything the landlady tells me | shan lei
her | got from the parrot. For one thing
l don I want her TO go ont after 4 IF an
evening. and she's promised me she won't.
II she does l shall know and pretend shat
l know through the parrot. What do you
think Of it,
Think Of it," SAID the third. staring at
him. think of it? Fancy a man telling a
sroNn-up woman yarn like that
she believes in warnings and death
Watcnss and all that sort of thing" said
the chief. so why shouldn't she?''
W ell, you'll know whether she believes
In II or not when you come back said
Rogers. and it'll he u great pity because
It's beautiful talker and the best swearer
i ever heard"
What do you mean?" said the other.
Il mean it'll get its little neck wrung,"
said the third.
We'll. we'll see said Gannett II shall
know what TO think if it does die
Il shall never see that bird again" said
Rogers. shaking his head as the chief took
up the cage and handed it to the steward,
who was to accompany him home with it.
The couple left the ship and proceeded
down the East India dock road side Ivy
side. the only incident being a hot argu-
ment between a constable and the engineer
as to whether he could could not be held
responsible for the language in which the
parrot saw fiji TO indulge when the steward
happened to drop it.
The engineer took the cage at his door
and not without some misgiyingS, took il
upstairs into the Farlor and set it on the
table Mrs. Garrett, a simple-looking wo-
man with sleepy brown eyes and a docIIe
manner. clapped Ter hands with JOY
Isn't it a beauty" said Mr. Gannett
looking at it; Il bought 1t to be company
for you while I'm away"
You're too good to me Jern'' said his
wife. She walked AL round the cage ad-
miring ii. The parrot. which was of a high
ly suspicious and nervous disposition hay-
Ing had boys at its last place, turning with
her After she Rad walked around him
five times he got sick of il. and. in a SIM
Iie, sailorly fashion. said so.
"Oh. Jem,'' said his wife.
It's beautiful taIker." said Cannot.
hastily. and IFS ever that it picks UP
everything 1t hears. but i'm soon forget it
1T looks as though 1t knows just what
you are saying" said his wife. Just look
a: K. the artful thing"
The opportunity was too good to be miss
ell. and in a few straightforward lies the
engineer acquainted Mrs. Gannett Of the
miraculous powers with which he had
chosen To endow It,
But you don't believe it, said his wife
staring at him opsn-nIouthed.
Il DO. said the er greer, firmly
But how can ii know what I'm doing
when m away persisted Mrs. Gannett
An. that's its secret" said the engineer:
a good many people would like to know
that. but NOBODY has found ont yet. It's a
magic bird. and when you've said that.
you've said all there is to say about it,
Mrs Ganlett. wrinkling her forehead
eyed the marvellous bird curiously