The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-04-02

Bye-bye. IN going 10 bed now.
How cunningr' cried Linda. Poor
polly shall go in this nice dark corner.
and tomorrow will have a hook placed
for her in the window. Ii was very
thoughtful of you, Mr.. Potter" She
glanced up at Ben's embarrassed face.
His blue eyes looked at her wistfully.
and his lirs trembled as IL words were
eager to betray his love; but he was so
very diffident. she thought regretfully.
when he finally turned away and with
a hurried good night made for the front
door,
In the safe shadow OF the yard where
he had mounted his horse Ben called
back the important message he had to
deliver His tone was elaborately care
less.
by the way, Mrs. Day." he flung
over his shoulder. that parrot can
speak few words, and what she says
is-is-just what | think. only l can't
find words to say it-you understand"
He could not see Linda's tender smile
as she closed the door and went back
to the living room
''As IL a goose couldn't understand"
she murmured gleefully. You great
big. brave. bashful little boy This
last remark was addressed to the small
snapshot picture of Potter which she
kept hidden in her needework. II Ben
| Potter had known about that picture
he would have expired from very joy.
/ He had left il there one evening. and
when he inquired for il the widow had
/ been unable TO find it-even while she
fumbled with trembling fingers in her
work basket
! "Polly-Polly Potter" laughed the
widow joyously. You've got to wake
up and tell me that story tonight-un-
derstand? | can't wait another min
ute" And she gently withdrew the
I covering from Polly's cage and brought
it into the bright light of the evening
lamp.
1t was five minutes before Polly
awakened sufficiently to exercise her
vocal powers
Polly" whispered Linda. her soft
eyes shining and her sweet face aglow.
Polly, dear what have you got to say
to me?"
/ Polly. disgruntled because of this
rude awakening from her slumbers.
was in a diabolical temper.
want to say-eh? Want to say
eh? You're a busybody-there's only
one girl in the world for me and her
name is-her name is-gr-gr-grrrrr"
wheezed Polly.
What is her name-tell 1t to me. Poi
the sweetest story ever told. even
through the medium of the strange
proxy Ben Potter had chosen. Tell
me the name Of the girl he loves!"
"Her name is-ha, ha, ha! Her name
is Maud-there. Lead me to my little
bed" choked Polly. wrathfully. Maud.
IL love you dearly-Mlaud- Maud
Maud! Where are you, dearie? I'm
waiting for it's great joke
joke-ha"
Linda's eyes were full of tears.
You horrid thing" she cried, TN
not have you in the house. ] thought he
had taught you some-something else.'
patiently Trouble all the time"
Linda threw the blanket over the
cage, blew out the light and went up
to bed. The next morning she got up
and wrote note to Ben Potter
please come and get your parrot" "
she wrote. crisply. "it is impossible
for me to keep it."
1t was very much abashed and dis
concerted cowpuncher who rode up to
Linda's door the next evening
Linda Day stood in the sitting room
staring resentfully at the form of Pol
ly. who was swinging in her cage.
I'm sorry you don't like the bird,
said Ben awkwardly What seems
to be the matter?"
"Every-everythingw cried LINDA.
very near to tears.
81 guess | made a mistake" said
Ben slowly. his heart sinking down
and down I'm bitter despair. You
didn't like the message l sent your
} Linda flashed an indignant glance at
, him.
"Of course 1t is matter of perfect
indifference to me whether you love
a girl named Maud" she said coldly
MAUD. Maud who?" he demanded
dazedly
"Oh. Maudie." shrilled Polly airily
} II forgot to kiss you goodby, You're
the girl for me. l love your
, There cried Linda Day haughtily
iii kill Dawson for this" said Ben
Potter i'm cold. deadly tone.
what do you meanT" she breathed
} hurriedly. You'll not kill any one
Ben Potter. Where did you get thai
; parrot?'
, IL bought her from Dawson a few
+ hours before | brought her here" said
: Ben grimly. "She repeated some
words-that / wanted to tell you-ant
. i thought never thought that she
: might know some other words-and-
and-see here, what are you doingr
e He leaped toward the cage ant
LII n