The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1905-10-18

"The hypocrite! the scoundrelr' I
cried, between my teeth.
"Why, what's the matter, Carl?" "he
exclaimed, as he came near enough
to read the expression of my face. "Are
you i'll? Has anything happened?"
"How dare you speak to me?" cried,
furiously raising my cane as though to
strike him. "Villain! Traitor! Liarr'
Tom started. "Bless my soul, the
fellow has lost his wits! he's stark,
staring madv' he exclaimed. With
parting scowl passed on, not delgning
further words. AS emerged from the
office, glanced up the street, and saw
Tom enter Ewes gate. l could have
killed him on the spot! My blood
boiled, my brain whirled. 1 resolved
to cool the fever that ragged within me
by long walk, and struck off into
lonely lane. How many miles l kept
up that steady tramp, tramp know
not, but l came to one resolution-to
20 and see Eve, and denounce her to
her face; then-well, Heaven alone
could tell the sequel
1t was twilight when walked up the
little familiar path, and entered the
vine-covered porch, where l had had
the last glimpse of Eve. The front
door stood open, no lamps were yet lit,
all was still. / walked boldly into the
little parlor. The room was shadowy
and dim, but over in the bay window.
the big bay window among whose
vines, and flowers, and gilded bird
cages / had proposed and been ac-
cepted, a white-robed figure stool lean
ing against the window frame. She
was sobbing-I could not be mistaken
sobbing softly to herself.
"Oh, Tom" l heard her murmur at
last, you love me, do you not"
l clinched my fist. Where was Tom?
In the darkness 1 could see no figure
but her own. Before l could move,
however, a harsh voice vociferated:
"Tom loves you, Tom loves you"
The next moment it added:
"Carl loves Eve" and followed up
the announcement with discordant
cackle that set my teeth on edge.
NO, no." she cried, mournfully.
"Carl does not love me. Carl has for
gotten me!'
l could keep silent no longer.
an Heavens name," l cried, what
is the meaning of this?"
Eve turned, stared wildly, and, with
a shrill scream, fell fainting at my
feet.
In an instant the room was filled with
n crowd of children and servants.
Ewes father and mother appeared on
the scene, and general hubbub en-
sued, in the midst of which an im-
mense green and gray parrot coolly
issued from its cage and, perching on
the centre table, hoarsely announced:
tom loves Eve. Carl loves Eve.
Carl and Eve are going to be married.!
Here. Nancy, put that noisy Tom in
his cage, and run for smelling Salts"
commanded Mrs. Mallory.
So that was Toni That croaking,
green and gray abomination my deadly
rival!
The rest of my story is soon told.
Explanations, apologies, forgiveness,
reconciliation all round.
But after Eve and / were married, l
had that odious parrot transported, for,
though 1 am not nearly so jealous as
used to be, do not want to see my
wife lavishing devotion and kisses on
an unappreciative feathered biped,
when there is a human being at hand
who could enjoy good deal more of
that sort Of thing than he is ever likely
to get.
Toms frequent visits to Kingston are
accounted for by the presence OF
saucy, little brunette, whose big
brother" wants to marry sister Nell.-
New York Weekly.