Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1911-09-27
A DEAD
GIVEAWAY
By ESTHER VANDEVEER
Copyright by American Press Asso-

went TO the country. Inc lady or
whom we rented asked us if we would
object to keeping her parrot. l told
her l would make myself personally
responsible for the bird. called Clip.
and she need feel no anxiety about
him whatever She was much relieved
at this, for it would have given her a
great deal of trouble to take him with
her, and he was Il very valuable bird.
Two or three days after the owners
departure and our entrance to the
premises a young man called at the
house and asked for Miss BarrOws Il
young lady member of the family of
whom we rented The maid told him
that they had all gone away, but could
not tell where. so | went downstairs
TO give him the information.
He told me that he was an old friend
of the Barrows family; that he had
been out of town and was much disap-
pointed that they had gone away. be-
cause he had counted on having them
in the city to visit when most persons
were away As it was. he should be
very lonely He had especially counted
on using the library. He said all this
so promptly that l felt it incumbent
upon me to say to him that he would
be welcome to use the library when
ever he liked, He thanked me very
much and departed.
There is an unwritten. unspOken
language between the sexes, and Mr..
Binder was talking it all the while,
especially with his eyes. | knew per
fectly well that he cared nothing
about the books. but wished to make
my Acquaintance And l doubted not
that be nhtH | understood his real
purpose. Had I not felt toward him
something akin TO what he felt to-
ward me there would not have been
any such understanding between US.
Several days later when I was dress
ed for the afternoon Mr.. Binder call.
ed and asked for me. / went down
to see him. and he told me he had
taken advantage of my kind permits
sion to read in the library. l knew
very well that he had called to see
me. But | told him to make himself
at home among the books and return
ed to the upper floor. AS | expected,
he soon called for the maid and told
her to ask me if | would kindly come
down and help him find Il book he
wanted. consented, but the book
was not in the library. He had made
sure that it wasn't there before send
ing for me.
He began to talk about books so in
tereStingly that ! sank into a seat and
listened TO him ! was charmed with
his Knowledge OF any subject he
touched upon or I suggested. The re
suit was that TIE afternoon passed
without his rpadiGg a word. devOting
it all to cOnverSHr On with me. though
/ confess he took The first opportunity
to switch off from literature and had
the art to set NE TO talking. In 9th
er words. he was rot only Il good talk
err. but Il good listener. And | some
times think that a good listener is
more entertaining than a good talker
Mr.. Binder called three times dur
ing the first week to use the library
Two of these visits were taken up
with me. Then one day be said that
my kindness to III. a stranger, need
ed some acknowledgment and asked
me to so With him to the theater.
accepted. Of course. During the even
ing he read to me a passage from a
letter from Miss Barrows. THANK our
tenants in my behalf for permitting
you to use the library. but hope Clip
will not be disturbed from his Gus,
tOmary habitation"
The meaning of these words about
Clip was that his cage usually hung in
the library. | told Mr.. Binder to as
sure Miss Barrows that Clip had not
been moved
The result Of Mr.. Binder using the
library was what might have been ex-
pected from the firSt-a love affair be
tween him and me And | confess II
was a very strong love affair. He told
me that the moment he had seen me
at the time Of his first call he knew
that I was the woman he wanted for
wife. And he Nlessed that meeting
because he had intended to marry a
woman whom be supposed he wanted
and had not known what love was till
he met me.
That was the summer Of my life.
gave myself up to the enjoyment of a
new born love. and when the season
drew to a close and our lease was
about to expire | mourned our antici-
pated departure.
The library was used for the living
room and the day the Barrowses ar
rived we all went in there together
Why she did it don't know. but Miss
Barrows asked Mr. Binder if be
couldn't call that day for a 5 o'clocb
tea. He came and before he left
was made aware Of her object in ask
ing him. While we were all in the
room together Miss Barrows went VI
to Clips cage. Clip was delighted te
see her and made 4 great futter.
Hello. Clip" she said: "have they
been good to you while we have beer