Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1898-12-19

lost, and quietly getting by airgun,
took a steady aim and fired. There
was no mistake this time, and with
out sound poor puss dropped on to
my flower bed as dead as the proven
bal door nail.
My exultation, however, was OF
short duration, for to my horror and
dismay, on proceeding to pick up his
unfortunate carcass anu give it de-
cent burial, I saw that my shot had
passed right through the unlucky
animal and killed my neighbours par
rot, which had been put out to sun it
| self in a little summer-house that
stood at the bottom of the garden.
was staggered at my position;
knew the parrot was supreme ia
vorite with Miss Travers, and how
could ever explain my carelessness
could not imagine. Suddenly a way
out of my dilemma presented itself to
my mind, and FASTENED to put it into
execution. | knew that the Travers
were out, and would not be back for
some little time, SO hurrying indoors
and taking my own parrot from its
cage, carefully painted the end of it's
| tail with red ink in imitation Of it's
deceased comrade, and finding no one
was about, stepped lightly over the
fence and substituted the living for the
dead bird, which I buried, together
with the cat, in my own garden. |
knew that my parrot would not readi-
ly talk before strangers, and / hoped
that " the time it had got used to
it's new surroundings, it would have
forgotten its former accomplishments;
at any rate, must risk it.
Alas! Uneasy lies the head that
wears a crown" sang some poet, who,
| expect, never wore anything harder
than nightcap, but, true as it may
be, compared to the torture of my
mind, now launched on a course of
duplicity, it would be bed of roses.
It was toward the end of the fol-
lowing week that I happened to be
out in the garden and saw my old
friend come stumping down the path
of his own garden in his dot-and-
carry-one style, and, seeing me on the
fence, he cried:
"Holloa! captain, you're quite a
stranger! What's been up? Rachael
has been talking about coming in to
inquire about your health, as she was
afraid something must be wrong.
y Is, 1 lave uve44 y. U4e lool4v, said
/. GA! how easily the words slipped
ouL, O4Cnousu l nau Deen do rlsnL ao
/ ~
,,44uu4u onuuceu VIA A4o4c tec1l-
e,..e Ae4lomo 441sse ley "a Decn
oD4e u4oeote4 --lu4s Wy TIE way.
a bit or cold, perhaps, salu oApl.
anu naye d soou glass u soneenlns
stiff FOR a nightcap."
Principally at 3 clock | donned my
sprucest azure, ana WIN. smart
that | Was-slipped over the fence.
MISS RachaeI Was there, looking as
fresh as a spring cabbage with the
dew on it, which I consider very
pretty simile, and she bade me well
come with one of her beaming smiles.
There, too, was the unlucky parrot in
it's cage, and standing just outside
the summer house. had noticed
that it had been set out to sun itself as
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.
| [ 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 Rachael
showed me great attention. | 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 neces-
saries for the evening, and, turning to
me, Miss Travers commented:
''By-the-by, Capt. Manley, how is
your parrot? l have not seen it out
in the garden lately"
I felt by heart beating "a bit faster
but with every semblance of outward
calm, | said:
"No-the fact is, it's not been at al
well; in fact, it's dead
"Dead!" she exclaimed. well,
never. What did it die OFF,
81 really don't know" I replied. ii
! died quite suddenly about a week
ago."
i 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 bit more lively this
evening. / don't think she has spoken
a word all the week"
THANK goodness" I inWardlJ
calculated.
Things were beginning to look BIZ
awkward, and I cast about for some
thing to change the course of CONVEX
: sation. am not a quick thinker
however, and before I could collect my
WIGS, Miss Travers continued: