The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-05-16
and walked the floor and didn't say

and walked the floor and didn't say
anyth!ng-not aloud.
From the first vail of the violin and
the first yell OF the parrot it was
rivalry. II was violin vs.. parrOt-par.
rot VS. violin. Oh. the sadness of it
for the neighbors!
From morning till night, day after
day. II the best Polly could do was
to yell out that she wanted a cracker,
the best the fiddler could do was to
play old Black Joe" over and over
again. The advantage rather rested
with the violin. 1t didn't have to
sleep O. nights. while Polly did. She
did her very best to realize that honor
was at stake. and that she must tri.
umph or perish. but two hours after
lamplight would find her nodding and
played out. while the violin was still
wide awake at II p. m.
Mother. that wretch shall never
conquer me-never." Miss May would
exclaim half a dozen times a day:
and like an echo young Mr.. Islington
would call out:
I'll bring her to her knees. moth
er-to her knees!"
For long month the battle ragged.
When doctor who knows his bust
ness catches a patient with a wrench
or a twist he is not going to surrn-
der his inestimable privilege day
short of four weeks. Even at the
end of that time he is going to pay an
extra visit-fee $2-to warn him not
to try to climb a thorn tree without
pulling on stove-pipe trousers.
But the day came when Miss May
was permitted to walk out. Also Mr..
lslington! There was a grove a quar-.
ter Of mile away Miss May natu-
rally headed for the grove. Mr.. Isling.
ton naturally headed for the same
place.
Miss May naturally carried Polly
along to reward her for her heroic eff.
forts to preserve the family honor
and Mr.. Islington carried his violin
along that he might once more hear
the sweet strains Of "Old Black Joe"
in the sunshine. The girl reached the
grove first and was softly meditating
when a step aroused her. That young
man! That violin! They stood be.
fore her. and as she shuddered the
parrot screamed
"You-you-you!" gasped the
"wrenchess."
1.-THE girl with the parrot" exclaim.
ed the "twister" as he looked down
upon her.
Could aught save the day? Could
avert the impending trag.
edy? Had It been two old men or
two old women-good-bye! But It
was a good-looking girl and a not at
all bad-looking young fellow. and they
had had a square fight and were bit
ashamed Of their petulance, and after
a gasp or two bit Of q smile came
to their faces. Then the smiles broad.
ened Then grins succeeded. Then
Polly stood on her head and there
were two hearty laughs and Mr.
lslington said:
"You are Miss Forbes, I believe,
and I congratulate you on getting out
again."
And you are Mr.. IslIngton, I be-
lieve, and I also congratulate you"
II hope my violin was not disagree
able to you"
"And I trust that polly's chatter
did not make you nervous"
He sat down beside her and he told
her about that high Jump, and she
told him about the barrel, and it's on
record at the county clerks Office that
she even said that of all musical In
strumcnts she preferred the fiddle,
and that he replied that no nightin-
gale was in it compared with a par.
rot. And they went home to tell
their mothers n lot of good things