The Washington herald., 1914-02-18
Scandal in the Pet Store.
n, MARY MARSHALL.
lCol,,risht. ISL

Co"h IN feace street VINO kept the PEI
store. She sold cuttlefisii. seed and sons
restorer for canary birds. sun1ower seeds
. for parrots, dog biscuits, goldfish. Per
san powder and dear knows what else
she was hGnimluy a cheerful tune q
her birds early one brisk winter morning
rs she replenished their seed and water
cups when in waddIed Mrs Gowdy.
why, Mrs. Gowdy, you out and
around 80 eaTiy?" said Nancy, almost
dropping one OF the water cups in her
surprise. ..and on such a cold day.
thought your rheumatism kept you pret-
; ty close"
; We'll" simpered Mrs. Goydy looking
into Nancy's merry brown eyes search.
flEh"
How long since you have kept a bird
Mrs Gowdy?' asked Nancy standing on
the tips OF her little feet and stretch
ing her round little body to get the
cuttlefish box on the shelf.
well. I haven't got one yet. but I'm
Thinking of getting one" she said. Thea
with another searching look At Nancy.
Il suppose you don't know which WY
you are going this moruinl I wanted
, Ia be one of the first to CongTa tulIte
you. That's part why I stopped in to get
the. cuttIeGsh though / may say there =
none more .rprised than / am.
''Congra. .ated.' said Nancy. For
Why
Because of what Jerusha Dctwettcr
left you, OF course. Isn't that enough
Five thousand dollars ought to look
pretty good to YOU. In first mortgages.
too"
''Detwetter left me-" gasped Nancy.
Mrs. Gowdy, ! am sure
There don't carry on. Nancy Morder. -
said Mrs. Gowdy. "Of course people
are going to talk and wonder and say
things and you'd best just act calm and
say nothing. You could have knocked
me over with a feather this morning
when the miIkman told me about il. And
you not being at the funeral yesterday
or anything. | know cid Jerusha kept
a parrot and some canaries and used to
drop in here for parrot seeds, but as for
thinking that there was anything be
tW cen you. Well. il does certainly take
my breath away"
You needn't talk to me like that.
Mary Jane Gowdy." said Nancy. the
color rising to her checks. As If I'd
have anything TO do with that-with
him, As II j knew any more about It
than you do! How dare you"
Il am sure l didn't mean anything.
Miss Mordcr." said Mrs. Gowdy. No;
ccme to think of il. | don't think I
will take that cuttlefish. II might dry
out before I got the bird. GoOd-morn-
Ing"
We'll. Of all things said Nancy. walk
iIG To large green parrot which Crdncd
it, neck inquisitivcly at Nancy. You
remember that old Mr.. DctwetteT. the
cid man with the cane and the bushy
white eyebrows and an OvcrcOat that had
faded green. used to come in to get sun
flower seeds for his parrot. and never
said a word to me, though he talked TO
ali you birds. and yOu-yOu wretch
used to swear at him? Well the poor
old soul is dead and here comes Mrs.
Ci"wdy to accuse me OF being heir to his
fortune. Funny fat old gossip, isn't she,
Polly"
Nancy stopped suddenly a. the rosy,
spectacIed face Of the local real estate
dealer appeared at he door.
How dye do. Miss Morder? How are
vou?" he asked with an effort at great
,crdiality Il have been meaning to call
on YOU for some time in my rounds, he
went on. but | wasn't quite sure where
tn find you. Lovely birds You have, ] am
profession for one who likes pets.
''Take scat won't you said Miss
Murder. pushing a chair up tu the stove.
You won't mind if just 20 on with the
birds will yOu?" she asked. going from
cage to cage to fill the water cups The
agent warmed his fat hands before tine
fire and talked on random subjects. then
narrowed down to the real aim Of his
call.
If YOU were ever thinking OF buying
a house. now that you have fortune,
and | am sure that you wont want to
live behind the store much longer. reInerl-
ber that selling houses is my business.
OF cuuTSe. we none Of Us knew that there
was any ties between you and old
Jcrusha" he said with grin but as
I said to my partn~T this morninG. ne
must have been cousin or an uncle Tor
| am sure there wasn't any attraction
between such Sood-Iouking young lady
as Nancy MoTder and that old-eNcuse
mc-that old gentleman
You needn't begin 10 "aI me a good
looking Young lady. said Nancy snap
pishIv You never did before. and !
don't see as there Is any reason for be
ginning lust because ] have $500 in my
own name. which I am not at all sur" l
have. Good morning L. YOU. and when
want to buy a house / VIII be my own
agent"
Business was brisk all day. Bird seed
sold like hot cakes. and Nancy had to
.opcn a second box Of cuttletish. the de-
nand on that commodity was so great.
CuttIefish being only cents, vas the
most convenient eXCUs" to get glimpse
Of the interesting Nancy MOrder.
II was : o'clock and dark as midnight
when Judge Hendricks arrived from the
big city. But Nancy was sitting waiting
sumner in the little COZy parlor behind
her not store She was leaning over the
omen coal fire making toast when he let
himself through the unlocked doors. The
light from the fire brought out the soft
brillianCc Of her brown eyes. and there
was an unusual flush on her checks. The
to be a Crusty old bach
cIor in love only with law boOks-put one
hand gently on her shoulder and took the
toastinE fork away from her with the
other His visits to his old home were not
frc, .uCnt When he did come he always
came straight to Miss Morder's, but.
knowing of old the sharpness of tongue
of Mary Jane Gowdy and the rest. he
made these visits under cover of dark
ness.
Such day as have had" Nancy
began. jumping up to help him out of his
ovcrcOat and mufflcr. Il don't know
which way | am going. I am beginning
to think | am crazy
I've something much more important
to talk about. I am sure" said the judge.
'Tve been appointed on a Western cir
cult, and as soon aS ! can settle business
here | am going. How long will it take
YOU to he ready-to go with me. Nancy.
let's start in life together where We ought
to have started it years ago. In new
VIC can be young again. Nancy.
! want TO marry you. / want you to for
get the parrots and the canary birds and
the cuttlefish. Won't you"
Nlncy's checks were deeper red than