Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-05-16

Lydia Thorne read the letter three
times before she fully understood its
meaning. Couched in the heavy
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
amiable disposition, and so to her low
ing care she left-her pet bird, a par
rot
TO Lydia, who detested parrots as
noisy, ungraceful creatures, this legacy
fell as a calahsity in her quiet, well or
dered existence. She scarcely read the
badly written postscript. which stated
that the remainder of Mrs. Ransom's
estate bad gone to a favorite nephew
of her own
The parrot arrived In a crate.
There was a tall perching stand for
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 several
days. He learned to call her by name,
and at 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.
It 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. old"' Shrek
ed Polly, with sudden vindictiveness
and a dreary foreboding in his tone
that startled his new mistress.
SH0 N1SlIul DIOWu SS III lis
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 at 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 bills. Never mind, Lyddy
shall marry Stephen, and then every
thing will be all right. oh, gee!"
Polly made a savage peck at saucy
blue Jay who had ventured close.to his
perch and sent the bandit bird scream
ing to the top of tall elm tree.
Polly scratched his ear refiectively.
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 nonsenser cried Lydia indig-
nantly. What does the bird meanp
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 a credit to |
his family and If he would only go |
and see Lyddy he would at once fall
IN love and marry her.
Then one day came letter from |
cousin in another village inviting Lydia |
10 come and spend a week with her. |
and, having heard of Polly's arrival. |
she extended permission for Lydia to
bring her legacy.
This Lydia was loath to do, for the |
parrots cage was heavy and most I'M |
wieldy, and she did not really care
enough for the bird to carry 1t about |
he country. Nevertheless none OF her |
leighbors seemed willing to undertake
is care. so one bright morning found |
Lydia and Polly speeding cityward in
he railroad train
The parrot proved diverting COM |
oanion. and it seemed as if they had
IcarceIE started befaxa she t-ain drew