The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-07-20
RISING sun, COUNTY. MD, FRIDAY 90 1900.

chanically bringing her parasol to the
charge.
Don't do that" said her friend has
tily.
"Why not" said the other.
"Languagew said Mrs. Gannett SOL
emnly.
"Well, must do something to it,"
said Mrs. Cluffins restlessly.
She held the parasol near the cage
and suddenly opened it. 1t was fam
ing scarlet, and for the moment the
shock took the parrots breath away.
"He don't mind that" said Mrs. Gan
nett.
The parrot, hopping to the farther
corner of the bottom of his cage, said
something fcebly. Finding that moth
ing dreadful happened, he repeated his
remark somewhat more boldly and,
being convinced after all that the ap-
partition was quite harmless and that
| he had displayed his craven spirit for
| nothing. hoped back on his perch and
| raved wickedly.
IF that was my Bird" said Mrs.
Cluftins, almost as scarlet as her para
| SOL 81 should wiring its neck"
mo, you wouldn't" said Mrs. Can
nett solemnly and, having Quieted the
bird by throwing cloth over its cage,
explained its properties.
"WhatY said Mrs. Cluffins, unable
to sit still in her chair. "You mean to
tell me that your husband said that?"
Mrs. Gannett nodded. Hes awfully
| Jealous of me-" she said, with a slight
simper.
81 wish he was my husband" said
Mrs. Cluffins in a thin, hard voice. IL
wish G. would talk to me like that.
wish somebody would try and per-
suade c. to talk to me like that"
at shows he's fond of me-" said
Mrs. Gannett. looking down.
Mrs. Cluffins jumped up and. snatch
ing the cover off the cage, endeavor-
ed. but in vain. to get the parasol
| through the bars.
"And you believe that rubbish?" she
said scathingly. bah. you wretchv'
II don't believe it." said her friend,
taking her gently away and covering
the cage hastily just as the bird was
recovering, but l let him think do."
81 call it an outrage" said Mrs. Cluf-
fins. waving the parasol wildly. 81
never heard of such a thing. I'd like
to give Mr.. Gannett a piece of my
mind lust about half an hour of it
He wouldn't be the same man after
ward. I'd parrot him."
Mrs. Gannett. soothing her agitated
friend as well as she was able, led her
gently to chair and removed her bon
net and, finding that complete recov-
cry was impossible while the parrot re-
mained in the room. took that wonder
working bird outside.
By the time they had reached the
docks and boarded the Curlew Mrs.
Cluffins had quite recovered her spir-
it's She roamed about the steamer
asking questions which savored more
of idle curiosity than a genuine thirst
for knowledge and was at no pains to
conceal her opinion of those who were
unable to furnish her with satisfac-
tory replies.
II shall think of you every day,
Jem.' said Mrs. Gannett tenderly.
Il shall think of you every minute"
said the engineer reproachfully.
He sighed gently and gazed in a
scandalized fashion at Mrs. Cluffins,
who was carrying on desperate fiirta-
ton with one of the apprentices.
"She's very light hearted" said his
wife, following the direction of his
eyes.
''She is." said Mr.. Gannett curtly as
the unconscious Mrs. Cluffins shorten
ed her parasol and raped the appren-
tice playfully with the handle.
"She seems to be on very good terms
with Jenkins, laughing and carrying
on. don't suppose she's ever seen him
before" said the engineer
Poor young thing" said Mrs. Cluf-
fins solemnly, as she came up to them.
Don't you worry, Mr.. Gannett. I'll
look after her and keep her from mop
ing"
You're very kind" said the engineer
slowly.
We'll have jolly time," said Mrs.
Cluffins. Il often wish my husband
was seafaring man. A wife does
have more freedom, doesn't she?'
"More what?" inquired Mr.. Gannett
huskily
"More freedom" said Mrs. Cluffins
gravely. 81 always envy sailors wives.
They can do as they like. No husband
to look after them for nine or ten
months in the year."
Before the unhappy engineer could
put his indignant thoughts into words
| there was warning cry from the
gangway, and with hasty farewell he
hurried below. The visitors went
ashore. the gangway was shipped. and
in response to the clang of the tele-
graph the Curlew drifted slowly away
| from the quay and headed for the
swing bridge slowly opening in front
of her.
The two ladies' hurried to the pier
head and watched the steamer down
the river until bend hid 1t from view.
Then Mrs. Gannett. with sensation of
having lost something. due, her friend
| assured her. to the want of a cup Of
| tea, went slowly back to her lonely
| home.
In the period of grass widowhood
which ensued. Mrs. Cluffins' visits
formed almost the sole relief to the
] bare monotony of existence. AS a COM
Danion the parrot was an utter failure,
| its language being so irredeemably bad
that it spent most of its time In the
spare room with a cloth over it's cage