The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-10-21
Two People and a Parrot.
Bid me, indeed, to be
Open your heart and take US in.
LoVe-loYe and mep'

LoV6-lONe ana uls.
E. ]. Henley.
| Edgar Marston had never seen the
woman whom he longed TO ask to share
| his life. And he was 30 years old Bur
as autumn came with its robes of rus
set splendor and naples burning like 70
| the bush the prophet saw in the scrip
tural past a strange sense OF dissatis-
faction grew upon him. He looked
around his luxuriously furnished hache-
lor apartments almost with resentment.
Other men had homes-homes where it
was pleasant 10 sit in the fireshine, IL
only there was some one across the
hearth. He looked over at a vacant
chair And as he smoked and med tate1
it seemed TO him the char was occupied
Through the blue wreaths of smoke he
seemed to see gown-a gown OF a soft
rose hue, with narrow rows of gold
braid encirc.ing the collar and broader
band Of the glittering material girdling
slender waist. Then there was a face
nome face, with a serene white brow
and the square-cut lips which betoken
laughter.
When had he seen it-where? OF late
that was sure And it had haunted
him. But he could not recall haxing
ever met
"Bad-bad-bad, C-r-rr! Lemme go!
Good-day = good-day - good-dayl Bad"
The shrill squawk assaihng his ears grew
londer 'fMaisie-Maisie-coi J;ad!"
Lemme-goi"
The final piercing. discordant appeal
brought Marston angrily erect.
"Confound that parrot! If there's
beastly bird in existence it's one of those
chattering, diabolical, mimicking things.
1 wish every one had its neck wrung!
I wish"
"Jab-jab-jab! Maise-Maisie! Lem
me"
Now, Marston was not malicious fell
low He and vindictiveness had never
even q bowling acquaintance with one
another. But 1t isn't the pleasantest thing
in the world to be wrenched body and
mind out of delicious day ream-and
by the tortured cries of a blatant bird a.
that. The third protesting torrent or
chatter was however, too much for Mar
ston. He flung around to the window
the next instant was out of his apart
ments. dashing down the short flight Of
marble steps, and across the street.
Hello, there!' he cried to the group
of youngsters who were plucking green
and scarlet feathers from the body Of
protesting parrot. What are you up
to? Where did you get it? How the
deuce can you act like that. anyhow"
A shriH babel of responses rose in re-
ply.
body" 1T Just few out here"
well, supposing 1t did, Is that any
reason you should torment it-you infan-
tile boxers, you! Even if it doesn't be-
long to anybody"
but it doesi'' cried a young, excited
voice. 20, it does! It's mine-its
mine!"
Then Edgar Marston had turned-was
looking down on a girl with merry,
mignonne face-a girl in soft rose
gown with a tracery of gold at the neck
and a girdle of gold at the round, young
waist.
Ali Now he remembered She and the
parrot were part and parcel of the peo-
pie who had moved into the suite over
his in the ST. Stevernus Flats. But the
face of his smoke-framed, dreams was
not merry now. Indeed, it was dis
tinctly distressed The blue eyes were
fearful and the lips had quite a piteous
curve.
THE housemaid left the window open
and tit flew out. I wouldn't have lest
it for anything This with most des-
perate earnestness. I've had 1t since a
sea-captain brought it TO me when 1
81 don't believe" quizzically, that
was so long ago!'
Marston was placing the rescued bird
in her arms.
'It was-ages ago, And those dreadful
boys How good you were TO rescue
Medora-yes, that's her name the sea
captain said. He was always reading
Byron, How" glancing up at the bare
headed young gentleman at whom the
dispensing boys looked malevolently back,
chow can I ever repay you?''
al IF no
said, smiling 81 have the first floor
suite My name is Marston. And yours
-" He paused tentatively.
"Maisie!' shrilled the rejoicing bird in
her arms 'fM-a-i-s-i-ei"
That's itr' She laughed noddlng and
caressing her ruffled and bedraggled
pet
Don't you think It's beautiful bird?'
Marston looked down on the little
lumpy, falf-picked, quivering heap in the
shelter of a ~0se-robed arm upon which
a slim. white hand rested. Then his eyes
met those of confident appeal uplifted
to his. He pulled himself together for
a plunge.
good many parrots, but I have never
seen one like that-nevern'
Maisie Allison fairly glowed with pleas
ure.
I'm so glad! 1t Is not every one VINO
can really appreciate Medora."
They were walking back across the
street to the apartment building.
81 hope" ventured Marston. as they
separated in the tessellated hail before
the office, that Medora will not be the
worse for the recent ordeal through
which she has passed. May 1 come up
to inCuire?'
YES But here is papa-o, papar
Then Mr.. Allison. portly and pink. with
the ponderosity begotten of prime roast
Reef and rosy with the glow of unim-
peachable Madeira, listened interestedly
70 his daughters account OF her COM
panion's humanity and asked him TO
come I'D after dinner for smoke.
Marston went-that goes without say
ing. Medora, recuperating in grateful 81
lence. was more to be admired in~her
moments Of repose than in those IT AMI
nation. And Maisie-wsll, when Ns~ston
got hack to his easy chair he could see
the form opposite him distinctly-mucA
more distinctly than ever.
To be brief. the cage in which Medora
hangs in the window Of the fat below
the Allisons today And-regarding the
4ranscendent beauties and PROJECTIONS Of
that bird. Marston perjures himself daily.
wouIda't stand Questioning
From the Philadelphia Press)
Mrs. De Kanter-"You said you were