The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-03-16
THE BIRD FANciER.

| fataoned mystery. His easy control Of
money eliminated the idea that he i'm
gorred rare and beautiful birds from
| tropical lands and raised Brahma and
Cochin China poultry as a means Of sup
port. Observing him closely, it seemed
TO me his tender care, given 50 devotedIy
TO the innumerable twittering inmates
| Of the cages ranged around a lofty circu-
lar room built across his paved court
yard indicated a passionate love for
those pretty playthings of nature, which
served 70 occupy some Of the monotonous
/ hours Of life on which no one seemed
| 10 have any claim.
I fell into conversation w-.h the queer
owner OF the shop, and making & Latin
quotations. lawyers will do-he capped
| It with another from Ssllust. Then we
drifted into q discussion of ancient and
modern law, ard while saunter1ng toward
Canal street afterward I was astonisned
at the scholarly attachments Of the man
as revealed during the heat Of an argu-
ment.
Out Of casual acquaintance quite
friendship grew between US, although I
never crossed the impenetrabIs barrier
OF reserve which surrounded MonfOrt-
I stroHed up Charities street late one
afternoon with a fixed purpose.
Monfort, come up and dine with me
Christmas eve" I said.
He was taking back to their nest two
beautiful white and bronze pigeons of a
rare variety. They were his special pets,
and they seemed wonderfully fond OF
their master Standing on his shoulder
they would COO in his ear in soft, melo-
dious fashion, would nestle close to his
cheek and always left himmost relue-
family.
Mon ami" Monfort said, taking down
his pigeons, your idea is TO get some
one to share your solitude, as madame is
not here. Some one whose society wiz
relieve your duIluess. You desire the con-
versation of an agreeable companion to
help you while away your evenings. so
that whatever tedious thoughts threaten.
they win not take advantage Of cir op-
pOrtunity TO creep out and seize upon
you, nest ce-pas?"
Exactly, that's why I ask you, my
dear fellow, to share my solitary even
ing 1 want you to come and cheer me
up"
Cheer you upI And if I come, will you
bargain to comfort me in return?'
4 certainly viii, I promptly respond
ed.
You promise to so cheer q heart as
withered as this cheek, to so brighten
the dark hooks Of brain and memory that
from within viii radiate d warmth ana
heat as bright as your fire and Ia
pers?"
Z will do more than that" said, con-
plish the feat I had not the faintest idea.
I'm brighten you up. old man, until you
feel young again. You viii throw off
your musty moods and rank PHILOSOPHERS,
and you'll bloom out into the genial fell
low you were once on q time
$50" MOnfort said grimly: You VIII
do such generous work for one you know
so little OFF,
NO, I said, my generosity is not phe-
nomenaI I bind myself to give you back
your old veritabIe self on Christmas eve
if you'H come and dine with me, just for
the pleasure of having on the opposite
side Of the table a man who would be
recognized as a genius if he would let
his light shine ~efore men"
During the pause w--ch followed my
rash remark Ronfort stroked his white
bird.
Z accept your invitation"
7 was more perplexed than I cared to
acknowledge that Christmas eve morning
as TO how I was to carry out my promise
to interest and amuse my friend Mon
fort
Suddenly bright idea struck me. Right
next door lived an old, white-haired lady
and her grandchild, who was an orphan.
This little girl was the lOveliest bit of
mercurial life have ever seen. Brilliant
and exquisite in cOloring, of either
French or Spanish descent, RENE was
a EarVeIOuSIy beautiful child.
She often ran over to play with our
little girl Alice, and had been quite in
consolidate when my wife, going off to
spend her holidays with her inva4-s moth
er, took Alice along. SO 1 determined 10
entice Refine over for the toys Alice
charged me to give her. feeling sure her
exuberant spirits and picturesque beauty
would amuse and interest him, for he
was always tender to children in q gen
tie, pathetic way.
When a carriage rolled up and Monfort
was announced 1 was thunderstruck. Al
though singuiarly neat, almost dainty, I
had never seen him except in a sort Of
wOrkngunan's blouse. lat night he was
in evening dress, faultessly correct and
when he placed his right hand on the
mantel while We stood before the fire l
noticed an antique ring with a eoat-of-
arms cut in a stone 3 marvellous ruby.
I was so taken back that I gave a cor
dial but confused greeting tc my guest.
Who on earth was this man? Now I I'M
derstOOd his facile. scholarly language,
the culture of tone and movement, which
had partly escaped me when ne tended
me his birds.
With coffee and liquors., we adjourned
to the library and I sent for Refine.
There was a rush Of light feet. a burst
of joyous laughter. the door was thrown
open and, breath1ess with pleasure and
excitement, ReIue QdSiIeQ IN.
MOnfort stood gazing at RENE with so
poignant an anguish on his asheu face
that it took my breath away and cut me
to the heart. The hand he stretched out,
either in entreatey or to warn her of,
trembled and shook so that the ruby in
his ring flashed FIRE.
Turning away in Difference to his pain,
I called Refine to come and get her toys.
But Refine seemed fascinated Always
fearless. she stood close to Monfort, hold
ing to his hand to see his ring and chat
ted gaily, asking what he wanted Santa
Claus to bring him for Christmas.
Drawing her in his arms Monf0rt sat
and held neT. talking whisperingly and
questioning the pretty child as TO all her
wishes. with a strangely loving sOlicitude.
When a maid came for RENE at quite
late hour, with madan's thanks for my
Kindness to her granddaughter. the same
ashen gray shadow Eel over MonfOrt 6
face Reluctantly the little girl kissed us
both while the maid gathered up her
TOYS Monfort held her close and long in
his arms while he whispered something TO
with one more kiss Refine went out, her
last look being for Monfort before the
door closed.
slowly he rose TO 60. Stretching out
his hand be said, You have nohlF kept
your word You have driven away the
hideous specters Of many years May the
blessings Of Christ descend upon YOU.
Silently accompanied him Go the door
ard we parted Up 70 2 late hour I sat
bordering on the strange mystery sur-
rounding my friend il was camp arative-
ly early next dsy-ChTistues day-When
the front door bell rang clamorousiy.
had been sent for hurrldlF 10 g down 10
Chartres street Something had harpen-
81 u the bird fancier : house. But thu
boy could not tel what Il uss. hie had
been told 10 GENE fer ne.
WITH au haste and a presantme1t -