The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1903-06-05
CUPID AND THE
PARROT -
By Elizabeth Cherry Waltz
Copyright, 1902, by the
S. S. Mcclure Company


one, with fine blue eye and a pleasant
If rather reserved manner. He stood
at the door Of a neat cottage one MORN
ing in spring with rather a disconsolate
air.
Il do miss Sis Therese," he said re-
gretfully, land her dying so unexpect-
ed-like has upset all my ideas Of life"
He turned and gazed ruefully at the
comfortable sitting room, now in the
utmost disorder. On the top of the
sewing machine box paraded fine
gray and red parrot that seemed to ell
Joy the situation.
Hello, captain" she cried. "Ship
ahoyw
..'Wish there was, Polly" retorted the
captain, "but there's none in sight. I'll
60 down town and advertise for
housekeeper to clean up this place."
"Ship ahoy, ship ahoy" screamed
the parrot, and again the captain re-
turned as he locked the door:
II 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 large blue and white sign,
Servants Supplied"
ut will not do any harm for me to
stop in there" quoth the captain.
AS he stepped into the entry he saw
a woman hesitating in front of him.
The captain declared ever afterward
that when she turned about you could
have knocked me down with feath-
err" She was not a girl, but woman
approaching middle age and with
pale and gentle face.
"Scuse me, ma'am. l am trying to
find me housekeeper."
The woman looked intently at him.
Il am trying to find place where
can do something" she said YEARLY.
IF you would not mind trying to put
up with me and my Polly eagerly
began the captain.
us Polly your wife?' she queried.
ooh, no; she's the parrot"
The woman hesitated.
Il have always lived in the coun-
try" she answered, "but my brother
died, and l thought l could do better
in the city. l haven't money enough to
60 back-in fact, 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, "and 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 n
the advent of woman, swung ant
screamed in her cage:
captain, ship ahoy! Captain, shil
ahoy!"
A week went by, and the burly cap
tain stood trimming his grapcvine
when he saw Il woman of rather gen
erous proportions coming in at tn
front gate, followed by a boy carryin!
q large valise. He knew that this mus
be his sister Melinda from California
who could not attend her sisters fl
neral on account of illness. His spirit
sank lower and lower as he clmbe
the back steps. The new housckeepc
had proved quiet. clean and very indus
trious. Polly was never happy unles
she was in sight. In short, his sorro'
for the death of Sister ThereSe WA
now softened because of no lack {
creature comforts.
In the little sitting room Polly bega
angrily screaming. One of the fir
acts of the newcomer was to throw
heavy wrap over the cage.
You'll smother her" said qu
voice. "Ill, take her out on the porch
''Who are YOU, anyhow" Quoth {
irate female voice "Whcrc's the ca
tain?"
Here l am" said that individu
weakly, appearing at the door. "l-v
didn't expect you. Melinda"
Il suppose not. l came as soon as
could. Therese left me all her thing
you see"
The captain looked about him, mu
amazed.
"What things?'
"Why, the housekeeping things. Y
won't want to keep house. You G.
board"
'No; won't board" protested t
captain. "Polly and me are comfor
BILE right here"
"But you cannot live this way"
peated the California sister "You "
be stolen from and imposed up'
Therese wrote me that if she ever h
to go to come right Oh and break
for you. So I've come"
The captain gazed at her, awestru
fascinated at her daring. What VIC
an was this, even of his own bio
who would so ruthlessly destroy
his comforts? The captain began
realize. He went out on to the POI
and brought in the parrot.
Its too sunny for Polly out ther
he said. 81 never set her out until
ward noon."
The quiet woman entered with {