The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1910-05-13

Lydia's
Legacy
A Parrot That First BROUGHT
Trouble. Then q Husband
By CLARlSSA MAcKlE.
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

Lydia ThOrne read The letter three
times before she fully understood its
meaning. Couched in the heavy
p%hraseology Of a country lawyer. it an
nounced that the widow of her uncle,
Sidney Ransom. had died a short time
ago. leaving to Lydia a 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 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 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 vas soon at home on the
perch, a 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 IL she
had a 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-
a 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, old"! shrek
ed Polly. with sudden vindictiveness
and a 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 a Ger
tain sweet youthfulness of expression.
and her brown hair showed not one
thread of gray. Perhaps 1t vas be-
cause her heart would never grow old.
for at thirty-eight Lydia was younger
than many ONE 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 a savage peck at a 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 refectively.
"Poor old Stephen"
Lydia was interested. "Who is Ste
phen?" she asked.
"Stephen's a 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 a good boy and a credit to
his family and If he would only go
and see Lyddx he would at once fall
In love and marry her.
Then me day came a letter from a
cousin in another village inviting Lydia
to come and spend O 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 are
enough for the bird to carry 1t about
the country Nevertheless none Of her
neighbors seemed willing to undertake
its care, so one bright morning found
Lydia and Polly speeding cityward in
the railroad train.
The parrot proved a diverting COM
panion, and 1t seemed as IL they had
scarcely started before the train drew
into the noisy station where she had
to change cars.
Lydia was walking through the long
building, carrying the heavy cage in
her already tired arms. when Polly set
up a violent cutlery.
stephen! Stephen! oh, stephen.
wait for Lyddyw he shrieked fran
tically.
"A. man crossing d~iagonally in front
Of them paused and looked curiously
1t the parrot.
That's n good boy, Stephen. Marry
Lyddy and everything will be all right.
Such a handsome Polly" The bird
was duttering to and fro, and Lydia
found difficulty in holding the cage
upright.
The stranger approached and lifted
his hat. 81 am sur Polly Il an old
friend Of NINE" he said ~courteously.
HE recognizes me, and