The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-07-18
PONSONBY'S POLLY


iShed brass cage found n place In the
parlor Of the PonSonbyS' dwelling place
where he could look down in the street
and Scold and fret parrot fashion Mt
whatever went on to incur his diSpleaS-
ure. The care of the pet was new
thing to Alice. and Polly was allowed
to 60 hungry more than once in her
early days in the new abode. But
Alice soon became accustomed to the
new care. and almost before she knew
It she had developed decided fondncss
for the bird.
In her spare moments of play with 1t
she tried to teach it to say few things
in addition to the Polly wants a crack
err" and the other stuff that all parrots
seem to know as soon as they have
first cracked their shells. And in the
course of time the thing began to like
Alice also and TO sidlc along its perch
and appear pleased whenever she came
into the room.
But somehow it didn't seem to like
Tom Ponsonby and always Sputtered
and scolded whenever he came near.
Queer brute. amt it, Tom would
say to his wife. Then he would tease
It by poking is fingers into the cage
and pretending to abuse his wife.
which the parrot very soon learned to
resent. The bird was jealous, in fact,
and il soon came about that whenever
Tom POnSOnby gave his wife a fare
well kiss in the morning or took her IN
TO his arms when she welcomed him
home in the evening pretty Polly"
would put in an oar. so to speak. and
sputter ont its angry diSpleasure.
Break away, break away" it learn
ed to say on such occasions and seldom
failed. Tom thought it was clever of
the beast" and it not infrequently
happened that he embraced his wife
more for the sake of hearing the parrot
sputter than to demonstrate his real af-
lection.
In this way the parrot became an i'm
portant member of the household, and
it was really a pleasure for Alice Pom
sonby to report that her pet was get
ting along just fine" when she met Hell
en- Waters at tcatime one Sunday even
ing at the senior PonsonbyS
Really, | wish you could see it now
and hear it talk" said Alice. Wont
you come over to dinner next Sunday
And well bring you home in the after
noon"
Helen Waters did come the next Sun
day. but not to dinner, according to the
original plan.
IN drop in during the afternoon.
she wrote in a note, changing the time,
"and. if you don't mind. I'll bring my
friend. Mr.. Stevens. who has asked 20
call that day. He is pleasant fellow,
and | should like you to know him."
Miss Waters and her escort sauntcrcd
into The POnsOnbys' fiat about o'clock
that Sunday afternoon. and their first
thought, after a few words about the
parrot and an exchange Of compliments
between the young ladies concerning
their clothes, seemed TO be to get away
again.
"But you mustn't be going way over
TO the North Side at this time Of day
until you have had supper" said Alice.
"I'm sure you must be hungry, and
you've been here such a short time.
Tom and can have the supper things
ready in a jiffy if you'll only stay"
1T would be a pleasure for me to
stay" replied Helen. "if Mr.. Stevens
doesn't mind"
Mr., Stevens didn't mind, Of course.
and the Ponsonbys hustled back to the
kitchen to fix up a Welsh RABBIT and
the accompanying indigestibles, leav-
ing their guest to talk TO the parrot
and look over the books in the front
room.
They had been gone but q moment
when they were startled by the most
excited sputterlngs and squawkings
that came back through the open door
ways.
Break away! Break away! Lego
therel Break awayw
The parrot was in a fury Of excite
ment and was strutting around his
cage at a great rate when Alice dashed
in from the kitchen. She found Helen
Waters standing far back in corner
blushing to the roots of her hair while
Mr.. Stevens, very much flushed and
fustered, stood close by awkwardly
trying to untangle his cuff button from
the lace at the back Of the young lady's
neck
"Why, what's the matter with the
parrot?" demanded Alice. her eyes
starting with wonder. whats all the
racket aboutY'
81 don't know, Alice, I'm sure,
stammered Helen. becoming more con-
fused every moment. Hes frightened
me nearly to death with his screech-
ing. don't know what started him,
I'm sure, Only-Only when you and
Tom went out of the room, why, joe
] mean Mr. Stevens-got foolish and
put his arm around me and kissed me.
But, Alice, Alice. it's all right, Alice
dear, for we're engaged and have beef
for a month, only we didn't want any
body to know just yet because we can't
be married for year, and, Alice, dear,
you must promise me not to say any
thing about it till tell you."-Chicago
Record Herald
Not Gained without Labor.