The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1904-07-13
A PARROTS
CA RETAKER
[Original.l

was no nearer finding anything to do
when one morning took up a paper
to examine the want" column, when
came upon this:
Wanted. person to take charge of a
pet during owners absence.
Thinking that l might make few
dollars a 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 had
seen in Dickens "Dombey and Son.
Of Mrs. Pipchin, only the lady who re-
ceived me was a spinster and her |
name was Miss Brattle. The pet she
required a caretaker for was 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 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 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
took possession of suit of delightful
rooms. OF course we We're lin clover
the whole house to ourselves, not
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
J ry for this, but hoped he would spend
most of his time elsewhere. Indeed, the
servant told me that usually when III
town he was either engaged in bust
! ness or at his club.
Mr.. Graves proved to be young
BILE, chatted pleasantly at dinner and
afterward proposed a 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 q 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 we'll and
would go upstairs very early, but as
t Mr.. Graves declared that he should be
lonely in such large house without
any one to keep him company mother
9 said l 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
q after dinner till 10 o'clock. We usually
sat in the drawing room, Alonzo being
( Gagged in the library adjoining. Some
how l felt that he served for a chap
eron.
g At last Miss Brattle wrote that She
would be at home in few days, ant
Z, my heart sank at the prospect of leav
f ing such pleasant quarters for our un
inviting rooms. Mr.. Graves was in the
it city when his aunts letter came, ant
he said he would remain and welcome
e her thought this was partly because
he wished to cheer me up, seeing tina
: l was plunged in melancholy. Mis-:
Brattle arrived about half past
II o'clock one evening. Mother had gon'
to bed, but Mr.. Graves and met TIL
it old lady ut the door. The first thing
she did was to so into the library to SCI
that Alonzo was all right. Then W,
)" three sat in the drawing room chatting
S. Presently the old clock in the hal
wheezed out ten slow strokes.
20 "Ten O'Clock, Chesterw came voic
from the library.
y, Mr.. Graves cast frightened glanc
at me, while well, was in an agon.
.p more was to come?
zone more kiss, sweetheart"
Miss Brattle possibly might nc
lie have noticed the parrots remarks ha
to not Chester looked sheepish, l blush
th ing to the roots of my hair. Then wha
" should the abominable bird do bu
IS screech, you shan't.' Il shall.' TO
I'd lowing up the last remark by an i'm
ed tation of dozen or more smacks.
a Mr.. Graves embarrassment and m
is telltaie bushes gave his aunt a pc
fectly true account of what had bee
ed transpiring during her absence. Witt
he out w4d she arose, evidently wit
the intention of leaving us to make OF
"a adieus in our usual way, but as ST
he was going out Mr.. Graves stopped he
20 He had not asked me to be his wifi
eli He had merely chosen q suspected
an pass time pleasantly with me. But
L. was true man and, now that we WEI
caught, spoke like man.
- u ssI oh