The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-07-30
+ aN5oMBY'S l.

present. They did not consideiit either
ornamental CT useful and nos in the
least essential to their newly married
happiness.
"It seems to be a sort of joke" said
Alice Fonsanby to her husband. 81
cane think what she meant by it,"
And so pretty Polly" in a finely pol
ished brass cage found a place in the
perlor of the ~Ponsonbys' dwelling place
where lie could look down in the street
and scold and fret parrot fashion at
whatever went on to incur his displeas-
IRE. The care of the pet was a new
thing to Alice, and Polly was allowed
to go 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 a decided sondness
for the bird.
In her spare moments of play with it
she tried to teach it to say a few things
in addition to the Polly wants a crack
Ell" and the other stuff that all parrots
seem to know as soon as they have
first cracked their shells. And in the
course CT time the thing began to like
Alice also and to side along it's 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 neal.
Queer brute, amt it?' Ton would
say to his wife. Then he would tease
it by poking his fingers into the cage
and pretending to abuse his wife,
which the parrot very soon learned 10
resent. The bird was jealous, in fact,
and it soon came about that whenever
Tom Ponsonby gave his wife a fare
well kiss in the morning or tool her in
to his arms when she welcomed him
home in the evening pretty Polly"
would put in al oar, so to speak, and
sputter out 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
ldptClSu Siul liz CIliOldSSo hio II
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 teatime II Sunday even
ing at the senior ~Ponsonbys.
Really, l wish you could see it now
and hear it talk" said Alice. Wont
you come over to dinner next Sunday?
And We'll bring you home in the after
noon"
Helen Waters did come the ext Sun
day. but not to dinner, according to the
original plan.
.'EH 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 70
call that day. He is a pleasant fellow,
and l should like you to know him."
Miss, Waters and her escort sauntered
into the Ponsonbys' fiat about 5 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 ovel
: to the North Side at this time of day
until you have had supper" said Alice
I'm sure you must be hungry, anC
,,o,.,o J,nn,, I,,o e.,,aG n c,bnrt tip,a
Tom and I can have the supper thing:
ready in a jiffy if you'll only stay"
at would be a pleasure for me tt
stay" replied Helen, "if Mr.. Steven:
! doesn't mind"
Mr.. Stevens didn't mind, of course
and the ~Ponsonbys hustled back to- thu
kitchen to fix up a Welsh RABBIT an
the accompanying indigestibles, leav
ing their guest to talk to the parro
and look oyer the books in the from
room.
They had been gone but a momen
when they were startled by the mos
excited sputterings and squawking
that came back through the open door
ways.
Break away! Break away! Legg
there! Break away"
The parrot was in a fury of excite
ment and was strutting around hi
cage at a great rate when Alice dashe,
in from the kitchen. She found Hele.
Waters standing far back in Il corne
blushing to the roots of her hair Will
Mr.. Stevens, very much flushed an
fustered. stood close by awkward
trying to untangle his cuff button fror
the lace at the back of the young lady
neck.
le .'Why, what's the matter with tn
parrot?" demanded Alice, her eye
starting with wonder. whats all til
racket about?"
I'll don't know, Alice, I'm sure,
r. stammered Helen, becoming more col
I fused every moment. Hes frightene
IL me nearly to death with his screecl
- ing. l don't know what started hin
I'm sure, only-only when you an