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

with a cry of relief the little woman
grasped it recklesSly.
The warning came too late, for the bird
with a fendiSh Shrek, buried his sharp
beak in her finger, almost to the bone. But
Miss Pinch grltted her teeth, and turning
quietly away, put the parrot in his cage.
Hes frightened, poor thing. and don't
know what he's about she said, wrapping
the injured finger in her handkerchief.
Let me bind it up her visitor insisted
kindly, but peremptorly. Il know what a
parrot bite is, and that brute amt any ex-
ception"
You must not call him a brute" re-
monstrated Miss Pinch, with pale dignity.
HE is most faithful and affectionate. And,
OH" she continued in burst of gratitude,
Il am SO thankful to you for bringing him
back to met
But he had finished banda ging and start
ed abruptly for the door. Just across the
sill he turned and said
Il hope my monograph don't annoy you,
mann"
Then it is your phonographr she OK
claimed eagerly. "Oh, no, like to hear il
very much"
Its good company for me-" looking
pleased. Il live alone. Goodbye. nam,
and hope your ffnger'll soon heal up"
Perhaps during the fortnight her kindly
neighbor was more frequently in Miss
Pinchs thoughts than she herself realized
When she met him one warm evening walk
ing in the square near her home there came
d
warm glow IN her bright dark eyes.
"How's the finger. mam?" he asked, stop
ping directly in her path.
'Oh, quite well, thank you"
Parrot amt tried to get away since?'
''Oh, no. He's really very fond of me. He
didn't realize what he was doing when he
flew away the other day
He couldn't have. man." said the man.
man," he continued, somewhat hesitatins
ly. walking round the square with me once
or twice?'
She glanced up quickly with little I'M
certainty. But the eyes that looked down
at her were such honest kindly and re-
spectful eyes that she accepted the invita-
ton quite cordially.
1t Is not very long way about the
square. but they had made the journey just
twice when Miss Pinch knew that her
neighbours name was Tom Downing, and
that he was bachelor: that he was
an electrician with a modest but suffi-
cient salary: that he found the monograph
a great solace in his loneliness and that he
more and Tom Downing knew that Miss
Pinch had not relation in tho world. ex-
cept her nephew, Richard, who was grad
uate OF Harvard and Every learned man."
that some day Richard would settle down
in a little home and that she. Miss Pinch,
would keep house for him. He knew,
moreover. as well as IL Miss Pinch told
hinl-which she certainly did not-that 1t
! was she who had paid for Richards educa ).
ton.
That night as Miss Pinch was preparing
for bed she said to the parrot:
Polly. dear, 1 think l nave found a
friend"
And across the court rang with blatant
energy the strains Of Annie Laurie" al
played by Tom Downing's photograph.
Spring had come. The square was q
bower of green. and whenever Miss Pinch
could snatch half an hour from her work.
she fastened thither to sit by the fountain
or walk the asphalt paths. 1t was here one
evening she told Tom Downing a most i'm
portant piece of news. Richard was COM
ing to New York early in June.
He $ coming with college friend" she
recounted proudly and eagerly. only for
day or so. but l shall see him.
I'm very glad, nam: and if there's any,
thing l can do to make his visit pleasant
I'll be glad to do 1t. Perhaps you'd like
the loan of the monograph for an evening I"
THANK you; but think Richard and his
friend will be sure to want to go some
where. See something of the city. Most
likely they'll want me to go, too
oh see. You'll go to the theater."
Il don't know where they may wish to
go. and l shan't care much as long as
I'm with Richard" she concluded with a
happy little laugh. Il haven't seen him for
over two years"
Tom smiled sympathetically.
On the morning of the eyentful day on
which Richard was to arrive Miss Pinch
was up bright and early seated by her
window at work. with the parrot In hia
accustomed place on the table opposite.