Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1910-06-24

phraseology of a country lawyer, it an.
nounced that the widow of her uncle,
Sidney Ransom. had died a short time
ago. leaving to Lydia legacy. The
lawyer went on to state that, although
Mrs. Ransom had never seen the niece
Of her husband. she had been greatly
impressed by reports Of her kind and
amiablc disposition. and so to her Low.
ing care she lcft-her pet bird, q par.
rot.
To Lydia. who detested parrots as
noisy. ungraceful creatures, this legacy
fell as a calamity in her quiet, well or.
dered existence. She scarcely read the
badly written postscript, which stated
that the remainder Of Mrs. Ransom's
estate had gone to favOrite nephew
of her own.
The parrot arrived in a crate.
There was a tall perching stand fol
Polly in the crate with the cage, and
the parrot was soon at home on the
perch. chain secured around one leg
and fastened to the stand.
Lydia found her new companion the
source of much amusement for severa.
days. He learned to call her by name
and ut times it almost seemed as if she
had human companion in her lonely
life.
Her house was situated at the end OF
the long village street, and few came
to her save when there was dressmak-
ing to be done. but saltwater was near
large city and most Of the women
bought their clothes in the ready made
shops, so Lydia did not have much to
do.
1t was the spring of the year, and
Lydia worked much in her garden.
Many times Polly sat near on his
perch. shrilly defiant Of the wild birds
that lowered curiously about him.
Lydia was digging among her. pansy
plants one morning, transplanting the
little green shoots from one bed to an
other.
You're growing old, old, DID," Shrek
ed Polly, with sudden vindictiveness
and dreary foreboding in his tone
that startled his new mistress.
She turned wistful brown eyes in his
direction. Lydia Thorne was no long
er young. but she still retained GER
tain sweet youthfulness of expression.
and her brown hair showed not one
thread of gray. Perhaps it was be-
cause her heart would never grow old.
for ut thirty-eight Lydia was younger
than many women at eighteen. She
never thought of her age, but now.
when Polly repeated himself in a sud-
den fury of words. she felt that they
must be true.
you're growing old. old, old as the
everlasting hills. Never mind. Lyddy
shall marry Stephen. and then every
thing will be all right. Oh, gee"
Polly made Il savage peck at saucy
blue jay who had ventured close to his
perch and sent the bandit bird scream
ing to the top of a tall elm tree.
Polly scratched his ear reflectively.
''Poor old Stephen"
Lydia was interested. "Who is Ste
phen?" she asked.
stephens fool. He must marry
Lyddy. Then everything will be all
right" cackled the bird.
what nonsense!' cried Lydia indig.
nantly. what does the bird mean?''
She wondered often after that, for
Polly seemed to find great comfort in
speaking of the unknown Stephen, and,
through Polly. Lydia learned that Ste.
phen was good boy and credit to
his family and if he would only 80
and see Lyddy he would at once fall
in love and marry her.
Then one day came letter from q
cousin in another village inviting Lydia
to come and spend week with her
and. having heard Of Polly's arrival
she extended permission for Lydia tt
bring her legacy.
This Lydia was loath to do, for the
parrots cage was heavy and most un
wicl.ly. and she did not really care
enough for the bird to carry it about
the country. Nevertheless none of he
neighbors seemed willing to undertak,
its care. so one bright morning found
ASuH anu ol!S SpcculIlS cllSWIFU II
the railroad train.
The parrot proved a diverting com
panion. and it seemed as if they hat
] scarcely started before the train drew
into the noisy station where she la.
to change cars.
Lydia was walking through the Ion
building. carrying the heavy cage II
her already tired arms. when Polly Sc
up IL violent cutlery.
stephen: Stephen! Oh, Stepher
wait for l.yGdy!" he slrieked fran
tically.
\ man crossing diagonally in iron
of them paused and looked curiousl
at the parrot.
. That's IL good boy. Stephen. MARI
Lyddy and everything will be all righ
Such handsome Polly" The Dir
was tluttcring to and fro. and Lydi
: found difficulty in holding the Gag
upright.
The stranger approached and LITE
his hat. Il am sure Polly is an Of
friend Of mine" he said courteousl,
"Ile recognizes me. and