The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1918-08-07
a B'alky Lover
By ELINOR MARSH

By ELINOR MARSH
Mr.. and Mrs. Harkaway's daughter
Maria, was the one being on earth wht
absorbed their interest. All went wei
till Maria's affections became centeret
on young man, and the young mar
was SO slow in>proposing that Mrs
Harkaway feared some other CIR
) would steal him away from her daugh
ter. The mother kept her fears to
herself as long as possible, then reveal
ed them to her husband
Il do think" said Mrs. Harkaway
that young fellow who is coming to
see Maria should either propose to he1
or be told not to come to see her any
more"
Glow do you know that he hasn't
proposed to herr" asked her husband.
Because when l went into the
parlor last evening after he had gone
asked her, and she said he hadn't"
Does she want him to propose?'
"Of course she does. Do you sup
pose she would let him come and sit
with her twice a week-sometimes
three times unless she expected that
he would ask her to marry himT''
maria Is a good girl. Do you know
whether he Is q good MANI"
Maria says he is as steady as q
clock and has money laid up"
'NNhat do you suppose he's waiting
for?'
MARIA says he's a natural putter of
OF things"
well. I reckon Wen have to find
some way to help her out"
what do you mean?"
.Why, don't you remember when we
were engaged how l was waiting to
get certain sum laid up to be mar
Red on. and your little brother one
day fatly asked me why didn't mar
~ you or take myself off? 1 know
very well that he had taken the words
from your fathers mouth, and 1t
brought me to the scratch. We must
lay some such plan for this young
lover"
That's easier said than DONE"
One evening when the usual spark.
ing was going on in the parlor there
was ring at the front door bell.
Maria went to the door and reported
that an Italian was there with par
rot he said the gentleman had asked
him to bring to him. The man was
admitted to the living room, and Mr..
Harkaway said to him:
Z you think you have found a bird
that will talk, eh?"
You beta have"
What is he WORTH"
Fifty dolla'.'
We'll, let's hear what he can do"
The Italian took the parrot from his
cage and by talking to him elected
many wonderful sayings. When he had
done 80 Mrs. Harkaway said to him:
n wish you would let my daughter
hear him talk. Come this way"
She led him out into the parlor,
where Maria's young man was sitting
beside her.
Maria" said the lady, II wish you
to hear this wonderful parrot. He
says such queer things"
'Yes'm, !" said Maria, and her young
man rose and stood in presence of
the mother. The italian held the
parrot on his forefnger and said
number Of things to him, which the
bird doubtless understood, for he be-
gan to chatter. Then, suddenly fixing
his attention on the lovers, he said:
Maria, give me kiss"
Y Maria colored, and her young man
started.
Then followed some rambling talk,
during which the parrot seemed to
have forgotten the lovers. They were
recovering from his pertinent remark
when he broke forth anew:
Maria, will you marry mey'
By this time Mr. Harkaway had
come through the hall and stood in
the parlor door, evidently DESTROYS of
satisfying himself that the parrot was
worth the price asked for him. He
was in time to hear the last words.
"Of course I'll marry you," were the
parrots last words.
] arkaway, pretending that he sup
posed the proposition and acceptance
to come from the lovers, marched up
to Maria and congratulated her. Then,
turning to her young man, he said:
You've got mighty good girl, and
she'll make you mighty good wife"
The young man, instead Of looking
seemed pleased. He was
not much Of talker and smile was
bis only response to the congratula-
hons. 1t is quite likely he felt CRATE
ful to the bird for relieving him Of
making proposal
4 Mrs. Harkaway hung back for
lime, not pretending that she had mis-
taken the parrots voice for that Of the
lovers; but, seeing that the young man
was disposed to avail himself of the
birds proposal, she went to Maria and
offered her congratulations
B The Italian was sent away with his
parrot and a five dollar bill to pay for
bis exhibition of ventriloquism, for he
lad been hired and coached by Hank.
awqv IN hrinp ahOut what bod ~. |