The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-28
The Parrots Egg.
Copyright, 1908, by the National Press

Agency
Mrs. Train was O hnrd-faced widow.
very thin, very stiff and very proud
OF her irot, will. which was her private
name for sheer Obstinacy. On this
bright July afternoon she was using
this t. rofes her opphy rra ,o ns
Opposite OF her sordid mother In looks
ana disnosftion. protested vainlyagAinst
tho role Of 1phigenia. !.
81 don't love that l1oarid Mr.. Rudge,"
she declared, piteously.
(Which MI. Ridge do yon mean, So
1phia? There are two brothers"
The girls white face grew crimson.
II don't mean Frank" she inuttered.
Mrs. Train smi1ed grimly. $50 I
thought. my dear. and the last two
words sounded like you fool In her
mouth. "You refer to the elder bro.
ther, do you not?"
..Iveno Ridge Ii only Franks half
brother"
"You mean tho elder brother" repeat
ed Mrs. Train harsh1S; the one who Is
best fitted to be your husband. u,a,
and Frank is poor. But remember
also. mother. that Iveno's mother was
a Nigerian native, and that my Frank
Is wholly white"
scorngully. quite so! And remem-
Der also what you Seem to have forgot
ten--that we are miserably poor. The
small sum OF money left by your father
is nearly done. II you do not marry
rich man we shall starve. - !.
= SONNY shuddered and looked around
8+ha dingy sitting room OF the cottage,
dreadins lest they should have to leave
even so poor a refuge. The circum-
stances were desperate. vet che still
hattled against her mothers desire to
mend them by compelling her to marry
a half-caste.
why, his very name sounds bar
baric!" she burst out. passionateiS.
ats only the name OF town on the
Ewa Ibo River; DR.. Blink told me 30.
And fancy having a black mother-ln-
law. Ugh!"
nThe native Mrs. Ridge s dead. So
mig" said the widow, impatiently.
"Her son inherits. since the marriage
was quite legal. 5000 a year. my dear.
and we have nothing: think OF that.
sophia, and bend your stiff neck 70
marry good man.
"a good Niger" cried the glrl. ~ ~
rio,1sly. And in spite OF his preach
ing and praying. I believe that lveno
issa heather at heart. lie fears the
darkness. he believes in Ju-Ju. and
looks like. a nasty, sticky, black toad!
Whatever he looks like" said Mrs.
Train. rising to emphasize her words.
..you shall marry him, II ! have TO
carry you in my arms to the altar. you
ungrateful girl"
..You must be thinking OF the cradle.
mother. I am too old to be carried
anywhere against my VIII. l marry
Frank or no one.
"a pauper-a miserable pauper:
"a white man. Els mother was q
nnissionary's daughter. I love him."
.(;o TO your room," commanded the
angry widow. This evening Iveno
Ridge COMES to dinner. He will pro-
pose. and you will accept
II would much rather DIE. RACED
sophy. and hurried to her bedroom.
feeling that 1t was useless TO prolong
the war of words.
There she sat, wondering In what
way she could best escape marriage
with n savage monkey. For she SO re-
garded the wealthy sutton from Nige-
ria.
"oh." sighed the perplexed girl. III
only Frank had the money"
"Ju-iu: Ju-1n!" croaRed a harsh voice
at her elbow, and Sophy turned to
scratch the head of brigtly-plumaged
parrot.
Where is your wife. Mr.. Rainbow
asked the girl. tickling him.
Mr.. Rainbow. 80 called from his bril-
liant feathers. croaked out again the
only words he knew. But as these did
not convey much Information. sophy
looked about for his wife. Mrs. Rain
bow was in her cage. sitting on has
tily-constructed nest and screamed an
grily when she was lifted. 1t was then
that Sophy made discovery.
"ohw she gasped, looking at an oval
object. white and warm the size OF
pigeons egg: @how wonderfully"
Mrs. Rainbow was evidently of tht
same opinion. for she struggled to ge