Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-25

she decided that her nephew should have
the best that she could obtain for him. He
should go forth into the world armed with
no less a weapon than a college degree.
And with this great end in view the little
woman Strove and labored
1t had been hard struggle, involving
years of unceasing toil-the best years of
Miss Pinch's life-and finally the sale of the
Old home and bit of farm land about it.
Yet she never grumbled Even the removal
to the great city, where she had been as
sured ready market awaited all the work
her Skillful fingers could turn out, did not
discourage or embitter her. Her object was
being accomplished and she never doubted
that Richards love and care would repay
her tenfold.
But somehow the two-edged sword of
knowledge, which it had cost Miss Pinch
such a struggle to place in her nephew 8
hands, did not enable him to cut his way
with great CELEBRITY. 1t was now two years
since he graduated and he was still draw
ing heavily upon her slender resources.
For wrote he, though l have pretty
good job at tutoring. don't get enough out
of ii to keep me as man in my position
has need to keep himself. In the mean
time. l am making myself solid with a lot
of wealthy. influential fellows"
Thus matters stood on the Saturday after
neon when Miss Pinch and the parrot first
heard the photograph. 1t was early in
SON The little woman had thrown open
her window, so that any breath OF fresh
air that crept down between the tall houses
might find an entrance to her room Miss
Pinch was embroiderng violets on white
satin. while the green parrot pecked Ian
gudly at a bit of watercress held gingerly
In his claw. Suddenly the strains of a pop
ular air. executed by some one or some
thing in one of the apartment houses oppo-
site. rent the air. AT first the indiscrim-
mating Miss Pinch inclined to the idea that
u was human voice. But at length she
discarded this theory in favor of the belief
that it was a monograph. And very
pretty. too, she unused. leaning back con-
tentedly in her chair to listen. As for the
parrot. he dropped the watercress and
chuckled with delight. cooking his head on
one side and lettering back and forth from
one short leg to the other. When 1t was
almost dark Miss Pinch. with a pang of
seif.reproach for her idleness, jumped up
hasuiy. saying with something like a sigh:
It's beautiful world, Polly dear; but
am wasting time, so we'll light the lamp
and go to work"
IT'S a beautiful world shrieked the
parrot in response. and. rolling himself VI
/ into ball. he put his head under his wing
and went to sleep.
Often after Miss Pinch heard the phono.
graph. Indeed. she grew to expect it at a
certain hour ca ch day and was disappOinted
If. by chance. it remained silent. She
thought the sound proceeded from the
apartment nearly opposite, where lived the
tall man whom she had sometimes seen
looking over at the green parrot
early one bright morning Miss Pinch
having hung the parrots cage in the open
window. put on her hat and went out To
deliver piece of embroidery
Goodbye, Polly. dear" she said as she
left the room. All the way down stairs She
could hear the bird calling, Goodbye,
Good-bye."
1t was an hour before she returned. and
as she opened the door of her room a
strange, unusual quiet seemed to steal out
like cold breath and chill her. She stood
sun upon the threshold. possessed by a
sudden fear.
Polly" she said softly, Polly
There was no croak of welcome from the
hoarse voice that had never, for many
years. failed to answer her.
Polly" she called. and with an effort
dragged her unwilling feet across to the
cage. The door was open just as she must
carelessly have left it, The bird was gone
Miss Pinch stood for a minute staring
hxedly at the empty cage, then began a
hurried search in every possible and i'm
possible corner of the room. Craning her
head out of the window she called "Pollyl
Pollyi' till the neighbors came out to see
what was the matter. Never had the quiet
reserved Miss Pinch attracted so much at
tention. To her oft-repeated inquiry Have
you seen my parrot anywhere?" the re-
Spouse was always. Amt seen no parrot
at all" Finally she fastened out into the
street to search. she knew not where for the
bird. returning TO her room after time
lonely and miserable For the first time in
many years Miss Pinch wept.
1T may be wrong To take on So" she
sobbed. but he was the best friend had