The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-10-31
think any bird could sing in tina,

think any bird could sing in that
shop"
Mrs. fuckers anxieties concern.
ing her pets must have multiplied as
the summer went on, for Mr.. James
Tucker, Junior, found it necessary to
drop in and look at the birds very
frequently indeed. Clarita used to
smile when she saw him coming. Mr.
James. Junior, was young lawyer
and his office not yet being overrun
with clients. he found time to visit
the bird-store in the middle OF the
morning or the afternoon, or some
times both. Birds were never better
/ looked after than were the Tucker ca.
naries.
How Dick?' he would ask, CON.
ing in to find Clarita polish cages, or
filling tiny cups with bird-seed.
Very we'll" Clarita would answer,
most demureIy. He's been singing
his head off this morning.
Nothing strange in that he would
say. II should too. if stayed here.
Isn't there something | can do to
help, Miss Evans?
I've an hour or so to spare. Let me
polish that brass, I'm used to shining
up gear on my auto wish you
could take little spin in it tonight,
after the birds are all asleep. Would
your
Then there came day when Dick
was ont so we'll. He dropped and
pined in his cage, with never song.
Clarita fused over him, and doctor.
ed him for various bird ailments. But
1t was of no avail, Dick refused to be
merry.
"of course he's very old bird"
Clarita said anxiously to James. who
was very attentive to the invalid
ITS probably old age. | don't think
there's much we can do. What n
shame that your mother shouldn't see
him again."
I Il might telegraph" he suggested,
but she's five hundred miles away.
| doubt whether she'd come She will
be sorry though She's really fond
of that poor old bird
of course she isl" Clarita said
with emphasis. When you do like
birds you love them. You don't un.
derstand, James Tucker, you needn't
Taught"
well love something else besides
birds" he defended That is | love
somebody else. It's all right to want
to spend your life with birds, but I'd
rather spend mine with"
Something in his tone made Clarita
turn away quickly. A customer came
In Just then, and she was busy an
hour or more, so his sentence was
not finished. However, Clarita knew
what its ending would have been, and
she pondered it that night as she
sat alone at her window looking out
at the stars She pondered it, and a
little soft sigh escaped her She was
very happy.
Bird Dick died the next day. James
came in to find Clarita putting his soft
little body into moss.lined box.
Poor old Dick!" said James Tuck.
err. "Mother'll care lot We ought
to make 1t up to her some how. /
might buy her another bird, but no
bird could take Dicks place in her
affections. | think the very best way
would be to make her so happy about
something else thIat she would be
distracted. I know what I'd like to
do"
"What?" asked Clarita-although
she thought she knew.
Take her new daughter" said
James Tucker. What do you saw.
Clarita? Couldn't we be married
now and break the news about Dick
together? 1t would make her so
happy she wouldn't grieve for him
at all. Mothers always wanted a
daughter, Clarita. and you know that
love you more than anything in the
wide world Couldn't we be married
now Clarita?"
We'll" murmured Clarita, as his
arm began to steal around her, Il
don't know but what we could"