The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-03
EVENING STORY
The Sign of the Purple Parrot.

and trying to initiate their calls
Later, some one gave her bird book,
and she learned to know their scien-
tific names When she went to col
lege she took a course in ornithology,
which she enjoyed more than any
other part of her work. So when her
father died suddenly, at the end of
her sophomore year. leaving her with
no relatives and only a little money,
she resolved to start a bird store in
the city.
Clarita had ideas. A number of
her friends had started gift shops and
tea rooms which were more or less
artistic Clarita Visited all such
shops that she could find, noting their
clever decorations.
II don't see why a bird store can't
be as attractive as any sort of gift
shop" she argued. Mine shall be
so that all the old ladies in town will
want to give canaries to their grand
children for Christmas"
1t proved to be an attractive shop,
as different" as the most modern dec
orator could wish. After all, there is
nothing more decorative than birds,
with their bright colors-or else why
should we ofte1 see them drawn and
painted? Claritas real birds, ar
ranged among ers-r Giants, hung
against gray walls, in quaint japanese
cages, Furnished. 49,. 80 decoration
=
rows with rose-colored bills hung in
the window, and an artist friend of
Clarita's painted gay wooden shingle
with these words: THE Sign of the
Purple Parrot
The shop succeeded. of course. Peo-
pie always come to stores that look
new and clever and attractive-espe-
cially when they are presided over by
pretty auburn-haired girls like Clarita.
Her voice was as sweet as any of her
birds notes, and her own bright col
oring and fresh gowns quite as dec
orative-tho in a different way. Peo-
pie did buy birds for Christmas, and
most of them were as well satisfied
with themselves for having encour-
aged the enterprise of such a nice
girl as they were with their purchases.
They even bought birds after Christ
mas.
Then in the spring Clarita had a
new idea. What would the many peo-
pie who were going away on trips or
to hotels do with their birds? She
got her artist friend to letter a sign
FOR the window that read, Birds
many birds wished to find summer
quarters A number of C1arita's for
mer feathered pets came back to
lodge and the little shop was filled
with song and color and soft flutter-
ings.
One June day a little old lady came
into the shop, followed by tall young
man who appeared to be her son. He
was very tall man, quite jinneces-
Sarily tall for one so handsome to be-
gin with, but he seemed to be rather
| embarrassed by the large gilded bird
cage he was carrying. Possibly men
do not like to carry bird cages thru
the streets.
The cage contained a pair of fine
canaries, and they had come to board
| The young man set them down, with a
sigh of relief, and looked at Clarita,
while his mother made arrangements
for their care, giving the girl all sorts
of, careful directions.
You see," she explained, I'm go
ing away for the summer and my son
here is too busy, even if he'd remem-
Der to feed them, and 1 don't believe
hef would. 1 hate to leave them.
| wopder-I wonder if you'd write me
now and then. just to let me know
| they're all right?"
Clarita smiled amused. She would.
| of course. What was the address
Mrs. James Tucker
The young man broke in, evidently
EN- EMBARRASSED.
'Oh, 1 say now, mother, you can't
ask the young lady to do that. I'll
let you know about the birds-I'll
drop in once a week or so to see how
they are. I'm more familiar with
them, anyway. it would be much bet
! ter"
We'll. perhaps" agreed the old
lady. She nodded to Clarita. You're
don't forget about that cuttlefish
bone, fresh every three days. Very
well. Good-morning!"
Wasn't that a nice girl ?" said Mrs.
Tucker to her son. as the walked down
the street. I'm sure she'll be good
to Dick and Nellie"
Il hope they'll be good to her"
murmured the young man. II should
think any bird could sing in that
shop"
Mrs fuckers anxieties concerning
her pets must have multiplied as the
summer went on, for Mr.. James Tuck
er, Junior, found it necessary to drop
in and look at the birds very fire.
quently indeed. Clarita used to smile
when she saw him coming Mr.
James. Junior, was a young lawyer,
and his office not yet being oVerrun
with clients, he found time to visit
the bir l-store in the middle of the
morning or the afternoon, or some
times both. Birds were never better
looked after than were the Tucker
canaries
"How's Dick?" he would ask. com
ing in to find Clarita polishing cages
or filling tiny cups with birdseed
very We'll, Clarita would answer.
most demurely. Hes been singing
his head off this morning."
Nothing strange in that" he would
say. II should. too. If I 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.
! l wish you could take little spin In
/ it tonight. after the birds are all
asleep. Would your"
Then there came a day when Dick
was not SO well. He dropped and
pinned in his cage, with never a song.
Clarita fused over him. and doctored
him for various ailments But il was
OF no avail. Dick refused to be merry
"Of course he's a very old bird -
Clarita said anxiously to James, who
was very attentive to the invalid TITS
probably old age. I don't think there's
much we can do. What a shar me that
YnlIr mother shouldn't see him "a