The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1898-02-08
at any rate. l must risk II.


expect. never wore anything harder
than a. rightcap, but, truc as it mny oe'
compared to the torture OF my n'lru'
now launched on course OF dupllcilS'
It would he a bed of roses
Itva cwards the end Of the follow
inc ves rat | happened to be cut II
the c. ard saw my OLD ir'ard co.ar
stur.o..g ,ow:: ;As rctA g E@ oit T.
arden b l.is dot.@nJ-cGl-y-cr style,
and. rssir- ne ca She fence, be cried:
"Ilcl.oa. captain, you're quite a
stranger. What's been Up? Rachel
has been talking about coming in to in
onirc about your health, MS she was
afraid something must be wrong"
eyes. I have Leon q Bit poorly aaid
l. Oh! how easily the wordse!.pped
out, although had been as right as
nincrence-why that particular sum
should be endued with more rectitude
than its fellows have never been able
to DISCOVER by the way.
"a bit of cold, perhaps" said Capt.
| Travers. swell, come over the fence
and have dish of tea n the summer
house, and Rachel shall come in after.
wards ard make you good glass OF
something stiff for night-cap."
Punctually at five o'clock l donned
my sprucest attire, and with smart
flower in my button-hole-gay dog that
/ was--slipped over the fence. Miss
Rachelwas there, looking as fresh as
spring cabbage with the dew on it.
| .,,I, 4 ~, ell Ia
and she babe me welcome with one of
her beaming smiles. There, too. wa,
the unlucky parrot in it's 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 us 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. / could
hear Polly rubbing her beak up and
down the wires of the cage, aud swing
| ing backwards and forwards in the
metal ring. i..0r
After the meal Capt. Travers went
indoors to get his supply of necessaries
for the evening, and, turning to me,
Miss Travers commenved:
"By-the-by, Capt. Manley, how is
your parrot? / have not seen it out in
the garden lately"
l felt my heart beating a bit faster,
but with every semblance of outward
calm. / said:
"NoA-the fact is. it's not been at all
well; in fact, it's dead"
| "Dead!" she exclaimed. "Well,
never. What did it die Off"
II really don't know" l replied. "lU
died quite suddenly about a week ago.
Il hope our Polly isn't going to fol-
low suit" she continued. "Sbe has been
very dull and quiet the last few days,
but seems bit more lively this even
! ing. ! don't think she has spoken n
word all the week."
THANK goodness!"I inwardly ejacu-
lated.
Things were beginning to look bit
awkward, ard / cast about for some
thing to change the course of conversa-
ton. / am not quick thinker, how
ever, and before 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, ad-
| dressing the parrot. But really, Capt.
Marley" looking me straight in the
face. II can't make our Pollyout.
| Sometimes l could almost believe she
was different bird. She hasn't once
seemed pleased to see me adj the week. =
/ felt the blood rapidly rising to nv
cheeks and forehead, but trusted to
my tanned complexion for it not TO
show. feebly replied: perhaps she's
moulting."
1t was an unlucky slip. well, now
come to think" said Miss Travers, ~
noticed that its tail looked much paier
after its bath the other morning, and
the water was quite red. Is that a
sign of moulting?"
Eyes, often used to notice it about
my own parrot"
"But thought your bird had no red
about it," she pursued.
'Confound the woman's persistence"
/ thought, but stammered; 81 mean