The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1903-03-27
CUPID AND THE
PARROT ~
BY Elizabeth Cherry Waltz
Copyright, 1902, BY the
- - lTrIJ,,.

The captain was Il jolly man of fifty
one. with fine blue eye and Il pleasant
If rather reserved manner. He stood
at the door Of Il neat cottage one MORN
ing in spring with rather diSconsolate
air
Il do miss Sis Thercse," ne said re-
gretfully, land her dying so unexpect-
ed-like has upset all my ideas of life
He turned and GaZcd ruefully at the
comfortable sitting room. now in the
utmost disorder. On the top of the
sewing machine box paradcd fine
gray and red parrot that seemed to Oh
joy the situation.
Hello. captain" she cried ship
ahoy,'
wish there was. Polly" retorted the
captain, but there's none in sight. I'll
go down town and advertise for II
housekeeper to clean up this place"
Ship ahoy, ship ahoy." screamed
the parrot, and again the captain re-
turned rs he locked the door:
Il wish there was, Polly"
After he had put an advertisement
in several newspapers the captain
walked slowly along the streets to-
ward the markets. His eye caught
sight of q large blue and white sign.
Servants Supplied
1T will not do any harm for me to
stop in there" quoth the captain.
AS he stepped into the entry he saw
q woman heSitating i'll front of him.
The captain declared ever afterward
that when she turned about you could
have knocked me down with n feath-
err" She was not girl. but woman
approaching middle age and with n
pale and gentle face.
"Scuse me, ma'am. l am trying to
find me housekeepcr."
The woman looked intently at him.
81 am trying to find 4 place where
can do something" she said YEARLY.
"If you would not mind trying to put
up with me and ny Polly eagerly
began the captain.
as Polly your wife?' she queried.
"Oh, no; she's the parrot"
The woman hesitated.
81 have always lived in the coun-
try" she answered. but my brother
died, and 1 thought I could do better
in the city. l haven't money enough to
go bacE-ln fact. l haven't any at all"
The captain looked at her and speed
lily grasped the facts OF the case.
I'm most old enough to be your ia
ther," he said kindly, although he was
not, land you must come right along
and straighten up that house for Polly
and me. First we will get some break
fast
An hour later the captain unlocked
the house door. Polly, much excited at
the advent of Il woman, swung and
screamed in her cage:
Captain, ship ahoy! Captain, ship
ahoyn
A week went by, and the burly cap
tain stood trimming his grapcvines
when he saw 4 woman of rather gen
erous proportions coming in at the
front gate, followed by a bog carrying
q large valiSe. He knew that this must
be his sister Melinda from California,
who could not attend her sisters fu-
neral on account of illness. His spirits
sank lower and lower as he climbed
the back steps. The new houSekeepcr
had proved quiet, clean and very indus
trfouS. Polly WAS never happy unless
she was in sight. In short, his sorrow
for the death OF Sister Theresc was
now softened because Of no lack OF
creature comforts.
In the little sitting room Polly began
angrily screaming. One of the first
acts of the newcomer was to throw
heavy wrap over the cage.
You'll smother her." said quiet
voice. "I'll take her out on the porch"
"Who are you, anyhow quoth an
iratc female voice. "Wherc's the cap
tain?"
Here 1 am said that individual
weakly, appearing at the door. I've
didn't expect you, Melinda"
81 suppose not. l came as soon as l
could Thcresc left me all her things,
you see"
The captain looked about him, much
amazed.
"What things?'
"Why, the housekeeping things. You
won't want to keep house. You can
board"
''No; l won't board" protested the
captain. Polly and me are comforta-
BILE right here
But you cannot live this way" re-
peated the California sister. You will
be stolen from and imposed upon.
Theresc wrote me that if she ever had
to go 10 come right on and break up
for you So I've come"
The captain gazrd ut her. awcStruck,
fascinated ut her daring. What wom-
an was this. even of his own blood,
who would so ruthlcssly destroy all
his comforts? The captain began to
realize. lie went out on to the porch
and brought in the parrot.
ITS too sunny for Polly out there"
he said. Il never set her out until to-
ward noon
The quiet woman entered with Il cup
of tea and SnE,Ir sandwiches. The Wis.,