Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1904-07-07
A PARROTS
CA RETAkER
IOriginal.l

10 examine the want" column, when
came upon this:
Wanted.-A person to take charge of a
pet during owners absence.
Thinking that I might make a few
dollars week by keeping the pet in
our rooms, determined to answer the
advertisement in person, since the adj
dress was given.
l found an old lady who in appear
ance reminded me of pictures l had
seen in Dickens "Dombey and Son"
of Mrs. Pipchin, only the lady who re-
ce1ved me was spinster and her
name was Miss Brattle The pet she
required caretaker for was a par
rot. When proposed to take it home
with me she declared that Alonzo
would not be contented away from
home and whoever took charge of him
must stay in her house, which would
be kept open during her absence. She
was a kindly old lady, and told her
how l was situated, whereupon she
told me l could bring my mother to
stay with me. Since the salary she
offered 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 a manservant and his wife. No one
else was expected to be there unless a
nephew of Miss Brattle should take
it into his head to come to the city
Miss Brattle departed for three
months absence, and mother and l
rooms. OF course we We're "in clover"
the whole house to ourselves, not a
creature to intrude upon US. But one
morning the manservant Informed US
that 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 sor-
ry for this, but hoped he would spend
most of his time elsewhere. Indeed, the
servant told me that usually when in
town he was either engaged in bust
ness or at his club.
Mr.. Graves proved to be young
man of twenty-five. He was very affa-
BILE, chatted pleasantly at dinner and
afterward proposed q three handed
game of cards. Mother never plays
cards, so declined also, but the young
man remained with us and did not go
out till we went upstairs.
expected that Chester Graves
would stay in town but few days
or at most week since the man
servant said that was his customary
visit. He remained several weeks,
spending most of the early part of the
evenings with mother and me. Then he
went away, but in a week he was back
again. Mother was not at all well and
would go upstairs very early, but as
Mr.. Graves declared that he should be
lonely in such large house without
any one to keep him company mother
said had better remain in the parlor
till he went to his club, which was
about 10 o'clock.
Well, Mr.. Graves was in the city
more than half the time during his
aunt's absence and insisted on my
keeping him company every evening
after dinner till 10 o'clock. We usually
sat in the drawing room, Alonzo being
Gagged in the library adjoining. Some
how felt that he served for a chap
eron.
At last Miss Brattle wrote that she
would be at home in a few days, and
my heart sank at the prospect Of leav-
ing such pleasant quarters for our I'M
inviting rooms. Mr.. Graves was In the
city when his aunts letter came, and
he said he would remain and welcome
her. thought this was partly because
he wished to cheer me up, seeing that
I was plunged in melancholy. Miss
Brattle arrived about half past 8
o'clock one evening. Mother had gone
to bed. but Mr.. Graves and met the
old lady at the door. The first thing
she did was to go into the library to see
that Alonzo was all right. Then we
three sat in the drawing room chatting.
Presently the old clock in the hall
wheezed out ten slow strokes.
Ten o'clock, Chester!o came a voice
from the library.
Mr.. Graves cast frightened glance
at me, while well, was in an agony
OF terror. For heavens sake, what
more was to come?
Zone more kiss, sweetheart"
Miss Brattle possibly might not
have noticed the parrots remarks had
not Chester looked sheepish, blush
ing to the roots of my hair. Then what
should the abominable bird do but
screech, "You shan't" II shall!" fol-
lowing up the last remark by an imi-
tation of dozen or more smacks.
Mr.. Graves embarrassment and my
telltale bushes gave his aunt a per-
fectly true account Of what had been
transpiring during her absence With
out word she arose, evidently with
the intention of leaving us to make our
adieus in our usual way, but as she
was going out Mr.. Graves stopped her.
He had not asked me to be his wife.
He had merely chosen Il suspected) to
pass time pleasantly with me. But he
was true man and, now that we We're
caught, spoke like a man.
"Aunt Sara" he said, II am indebt-