The Daytona gazette=news. (Daytona, Fla.) 1901-1922, 1904-07-23
A PARROTS
CA RETAILER
fOrtRfnall

~eS coming 10 our last cent. and
vas No nearer finding ANYTHING IN Din
"nen one morning took up IA paper
70 examine the want column. when
l came upon this
Wented.-A person to take charge of n
pei during owners absence
Thinking that might mike n feu
collars a week by keeping the pet in
our rooms, | determined TO answer the
advertisement in person. since the adj
dress was given.
found an old lady who I'm appear.
ance reminded me OF pictures l Ind
seen In Dickens "Dombey and Son"
OF Mrs.. Ffpchin. only the lady who re-
csved me was spinster and her
name was Miss Brattle. The Oct she
required caretnker for was a par
rot. When | proposed to take It home
with the she declared that Alonzo
would not be contented away from
home and whoever took charge Of him
must stay In her house. which would
b kept open during her absence. She
vas q kindly old lady. and | told her
how l was situated, whereupon she
told NE could bring my mother to
stay with me. Since the salary she
06ered was considerable for such "A
work, after talking the matter over
with mother we decided TO accept the
proposition.
The house was to be left In charge
OF manservant and his wife No one
el0e was expected To be there unless a
nephew OF Miss Brattle should take
Il into his head to come to the city.
Miss Brattle departed for II three
months absence, and mother and
took possession Of suit OF delightful
rooms. OF course We We're in clover"
the whole house To ourselves. not
creature to intrude upon us. But one
morning the manservant Informed us
thnt the nephew, Mr.. Chester Graves.
would be there for dinner and would
occupy the room which had always
been set apart for him We We're nor
~ for this. but hoped he would spend
most Of his time elsew here Indeed. the
servant told me that usually when In
town he was either engaged In bust
nsss or at his club.
Mr.. Graves proved to b. young
man Of twenty-five. He was very una
bic, Chattssi PLEASANTLY Mt dinner and
afesfwsrd proposed three handed
game Of cards. Mother never plays
cards. 70 l declined Also. but the young
man remained with US and did not 80
out till we went upstairs.
expected that Chester Graves
would stay I'm town but few days
or ut most IA week since the man
servant said that was his customary
visit He remained several weeks
speeding most OF the early part OF the
evenings with mother and ME Then he
went away, but In IA week he was back
again. Mother was not at all well and
would 90 upstairs very early, but as
lonely Ia such Il large house without
any one to keep him company mother
s8id l had better remain In the parlor
till he went to his club, which was
about ~ O'Clock
Well. Mr. Graves was IN the city
more than half the time during his
aunts absence and insisted on my
keeping him company every evening
after dinner TN 10 O'Clock. We usually
sat In the drawing room. AlonZo being
Gagged I'm the library adjoining. Some
how | felt that ne served for chap
erOn
At last Miss Brattle wrote that she
would be ut home IN few days, and
my heart sank at the prospect OF leav
ing such pleasant quarters for our un
inviting rooms. Mr.. Graves was In the
city when his aunt's letter came, and
be said he would remain and welcome
her. thought this Was partly because
be wished to cheer me up, seeing that
| was plunged In melancholy. Miss
Brattle arrived about half past )
o'clock one evening Mother had gone
to bed. but Mr. Graves and | met the
old lady ut the door. The first thing
she did was to 20 into the Library 10 see
that AlonzO WAS all right Then we
three sat In the drawing room chatting
Presently the old clock in the hall
whsezed out ten slow strokes.
Ten O'Clock. Chester came voice
from the library
Mr. Graves cast frightened glance (
ut me. while well. l was IN an agony
Of terror. For heavens sake, what
more was to Gomez
VI hpa RI
Miss Brattle possibly might not
have noticed the parrots remarks had
not Chester looked shecpish. | blush |
inR to the roots OF my hair. Then what
should the nbominabie bird do but
scre.ch. You shant,' Il shall" fol /
lowing up the last remark by AL imi
tation OF "A dozen or more smacks.
Mr.. Graves embarrassment and ny
telItsIe bushes gave his aunt per
fectIy true account OF what had been
transpiring during her absence Win
out word she arose, evidently with
the intention OF leaving us to make our
sdieus In our usual way, but as she
vas going out Mr.. Graves stopped her
He had not asked me to tie his VIE
He had merely chosen IL suspected' 10
pass time pleasantly with me But he
was q true man and, now that We were
caught. spoke like a man.
Aunt Sara ne said. IL am indebt
Cd to you for going away and getting
4 keeper for Alonzo, though he ID
very ungrateful TO give Us away. Tor
take pleasure in presenting you 70 my
promised bride
What an unblushinG lie!
49,. -,,- ~, rrt n 90 Niss Rrattle con