The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1916-05-24
FREEDOM
~ CATHERINE GRAMMAR.


the Jumbled dream which followed she
seemed to be toiling alone up long
hill at the top OF which she rested un-
der a shady tree AMI was Joined by
the tall man who lived next door.
Then suddenly into her dream came
the magnetic voice OF the man with
whom she had held daily business tel
-phone conversations for two years,
but had never seen.
That afternoon when Mary went to
her room after the midday dinner she
again felt the loneliness VI her lot
Through the open window there
came 10 her the wOndrously clear song
OF = bird. II brought Mary to the win
dow to see what the singer looked like.
Perched ON the tnpmost branch of the
big tree in the yard next door was
tiny yellow canary. Intoxicated with
the Joy OF being released temporarily
from its cage, which maid was plac-
ing conspicuously on the fence back
OF the large apartment directly across
the alley from Mary's boarding house.
The man next door sat as usual un-
der the tree with book and as she
saw him, Mary remembered her
dream. The song of the bird seemed
TO penetrate his thoughtful mood.
aud he half closed his book and looked
sloft until he located the songster.
Although Mary still held a book in
her hand. she read little. for the song
OF the bird kept coming to her and
with IL the memory OF the sympathetic
smile OF her neighbOr. Her occasion
al surreptitious peeps showed the man
apparently absorbed I'm his book. al
though II she could have faced him
directly. she would have found that
his eyes were dreamily gazing at
nothing at all
The maid and the child reappeared
and began to whistle to the canary to
lure II back to its cage. but the sing
ing speck OF yellow fitted from limb
to limb without condescending to no
Iice their poor imitation of its song.
Suddenly IL came so near to Marys
window that she looked out and saw
Il perched on the tall lilac bushes at
the corner of the back porch. The
.naid saw her and asked permission
10 bring the cage into the yard. Mary
babe her come, and. without thinking
u the proximity OF the man next door
aeni below to try to help capture the
fugitive.
When the maid approached the H.
lac bushes with the cage the tiny bird
tucked its black-eyed head to one side.
eyed her sAucily until she was almost
near enough TO reach IL. and. with
pert little chirps to emphasize each
- a. - -.
until It reached the top of the shrub
berry. from which he few across the
fence to tho upper branches OF the
big tree next door.
The man melt door put down his
book and rose. He spoke to the maid
just a. Mary was consolinE the weep
ing child. who thought her pet had got
permanently beyond reach. When
she raised har head the man was whis
Ting to the bird in notes wonderfully
like its own. The little yellow song
ster peeped down from its lofty perch,
and gave = timid response to the
mans call. slowly, by almost dis
tracing methods of coming downward
. distance Of six inches. and remount-
ing four or ave, the bird was coaIed
to the lower branches OF the tree.
The maid passed the cage to the
man. but the bird rediscovered the H.
lac bushes, and took refuge again in
their branches
Without . word. the man handed
the cage to MARY. and their eyes met
In . smile of friendly conspiracy. The
man then crouchsd by the fence, and
a. the bird again began restlessly to
measure the distance back to the big
tree. he rose with such u sudden bound
that IL covered motionless for an in
slant and he quickly closed his large
hands over IT, with great tenderness
he held the Quivering mite until Mary
got the cage near enough for him to
transfer the prisoner.
IF the little fellow knew that his
freedom would deprive him OF his life.
he'd thank US for capturing him,
wouldn't her As he spoke Mary col
orsd with surprised pleasure. for she
recognised the voice Of the man with
whom she held those daily telephone
conversation
Yes; he didn't have his freedom
Ions enough TO learn how many other
thinEs It deprived him of" The mans
surprise At this enigmRtical remark
would have been greater had It not
bean sclipsed by his surprise at rec
~. wOtSa IN which q WAS