Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-05-16
The Argus Daily Short Story
Lydia's Legacy.-By Clarissa Mackie.
Copyrighted. 1910. by Associated Literary PresA

into the noisy station where she had
10 change cars.
Lydia was walking through the long
building. carrying the heavy cage in
her already tired arms. when Polly set
up a violent outery.
stephen! Stephen. oh, StephSn.
wait for Lyddyr" he shrieked fran
tically.
A man crossing diagonally in front
of them paused and looked curiously
at the parrot.
That's good boy, Stephen. Marry
Lyddy and everything will be all right.
Such a handsome Polly" The bird
was f1uttering to and fro. and Lydia
found difficulty in holding the cage
upright.
The stranger approached and lifted
his hat. 81 am sure Polly is an old
friend of mine" he said courteously.
He recognizes me. and
Tired Lydia flashed indignant eyes
upon him. Sir" she said coldly.
The man turned away with REDEEM
ing cheeks. lie had nice face, Lydia
admitted to herself, but she had been
brought up to beware of fascinating
strangers, and this individual was the
nearest approach to n fascinating
stranger Lydia had ever CHANGED to
meet. Polly added tumult to cOnfu-
sion.
stephen! Stephen! Be a good
boy-marry Lyddy and everything
will be all rightr' he screamed.
Lydia was almost hysterical as the
n
finger between the wires Of the cage.
Polly chung to the finger. grooming
softly, With a sudden movement
Lydia thrust the cage in the mans
arms.
Take him if you wont him! I'm
sure l don'tv And then, unloading
his sharp exclamation of surprise. she
darted away in the hurrying crowd.
She was quite breathless when she
reached the home of the cousin that
afternoon and found it difficult to ex-
plain the absence of Polly.
Il left him behind" she said evasive-
". and with this explanation Mrs.
Brent had TO be content.
During the next few days Lydia
wondered what had become of her
parrot. She was ashamed of her i'm
patience toward the stranger and
thought somewhat ruefully that Aunt
Susan Ransom would have considered
her a shrew rather than a kind and
amiable person had the good lady seen
her i'll temper on the day of her jour
ney.
The second evening after her ar
rival as they sat at tea Mrs. Brent
broke the silence that had fallen be-
tween them:
Queer, wasn't 1T, that Susan Ran
som should have left everything to
Stephen when he don't need the mon
ey and just left you that parrot to
take care of? Never saw Susan in
your life. did you?"
NO" said Lydia. "but used to
write to Uncle Ransom, and then after
he died l kept up a correspondence
with Aunt Susan. l quite liked her
too. She used to write about the par
rot. but 1 never dreamed she would
leave it to me. never liked parrots
much"
II guess You could have used some
money" remarked Mrs. Brent, stirring
her tea thoughtfully. stephen don't
need any more'n he's got"
rs Stephen the nephew" faItered
Lydia, with very pink cheeks. She
was thinking of Polly's illusions to
stephen"
"Of course-Stephen Wood. Queer
you never knew his name Susan
thought sight of him and nagged
him day and hight because he never
got married. He's doing real well in
the city-he's In the coal business and
is making money hand over fist"
Have you ever seen him?" asked
Lydia in a queer voice
Land, yesi Good looking too. Tall
and lean, with clean shaved face and
bright blue eyes-colors up like a girl
when he's embarrassed. he always
seemed to think a lot of that parrot.
visited there once, you know.
should think he'd have wanted it. I'm
disappointed you didn't bring it. Ly-
dia. They say it's very clever bird.
shall be in Saltwater before long.
and I'll see him Them
Lydia was doubtful whether Mrs.
Brent would ever see the parrot again.
Although Mr.. Wood might return the