The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-06-20
HER VOICE
sx MILDRED WHITE.

ing across the roof, John Darrow lay
back on his couch and listened to
snatches OF song In girlish voice,
which came floating through his win
4 dow. n II were possible TO fall ln
love with voice, John loved this
| merry -hearted singer. Through his
weeks Of lnyalldism. II was not only
her song. but her merry chatter which
Ind cheered him.
lie had grown 10 listen for the
bright Good morning" which this
same sympathetic contralto threw back
TO some one In the room across the
roof and also her evening saluiafion.
| He wondered II Ii might be d husband
| whom his admired one thus greeted as
he went away each morning TO return
again at night. But because he pre-
ferred to think otherwise, John dis
missed the husband idea and satisfied
himself that sister, or girl friend
perhaps, was the recipient OF the
greetings he had never heard mans
tone Ia thls same apartment across the
Proof
COnYalescence was a tiresome thing
reading or writing an exertion unbear-
able. The lonely young man amused
himself with pleasant fancles concern
ing the owner Of the happy voice.
He knew that IL must be she who
placed bowls Of pansles and Wild roses
upon the sill she would be just that
kind OF girl; II was strange how
| thought Of her obsessed him. "The
foolish caprice Of an invalid he told
himself. even as he endeayored to-
plan to meet the girl. An unknown
man mny not present himself &C the
door Of an apartment with the simple
/ request to see rs mistress, neither
would John Darrow be able 10 call
upon some mutual friend 70 arrange
introduction.
He was a stranger In the city and
had been oyertnken by illness before
he had found opportunity to become
acquainted
'Ifs long, long way 20 Tippe-
Fnry' hummed the voice. 1T is"
sighed John. Its long way 70 go"
When he was strong enough TO sit
Ia chair by the window he was re-
warded by view OF blue-clad little
figure tripping down the apartment
house steps John was excited.
"rhat was the girl" he decided at
once, whose merry voice so charmed
hlm.n
Twilight was falling across the roof
one evening as he sat hopefully gazing
through the window which faced that
one opposite. suddenly the air was
rlyen by piercing scream followed
Immediately by the demand: Come
over here please, Please come over"
John waited no longer. Had the
| plea not been prefaced By that des-
perate scream he might have hest
tated. AS Il was. he forgot his own
weakness and dashed across the roof.
The opposite window being open he
slipped through Il to wide living
room floor.
Il am here" John cried, where
are your How can l help you?"
Involuntarily he glanced about for
creeping flame, There was no lndl-
cation OF iire or trouble, The room APP
peared to be peacefully homelike with
Its clock ticking on the mantel.
Come here" begged the muflled
voice. "Herel" John followed breath
lessiy into an adjoining apartment,
This room was vacant also save for
the presence OF n big green parrok fas-
tened by its foot 70 treelike perch,
"Come here" the parrot repeated,
Immediately initiating It's former
scream,
AS John sank weakly into chair a
ripple Of sllyery laughter came from
the birds beak quickly changed TO u
softly hnmmed--"Its long, long way
to Tlppernry.n
Speechlessly John barrow sat star
ing at the feathered thing before him.
Ii was impossible, he told himself dis
gustedly. that this ridiculous episode
could be the end OF his dream, Impos-
sihle that the clever mlmieklng tones
OF bird could awaken in his mans
heart real emotion. Then In relief
came the logical solution. II was the
birds mistress who had aroused his
interest and the parrot had become an
echo Of herself.
And as John stlll sat, u whlte-halred
elderly woman entered the room, paus.
ing astonished before his intrusion
When John had grizzly explained the
situation the elderly woman smiled.
81 have seen your face at the oppo
site window" she said "and hearing
/
wished TO help YOU She laughed
Being a lone old splnster with no one
but j parrot for company all day,
have plenty OF time ON my hands. In
compensation for the fright Miss Polly
has given you. hope you will feel free
to call upon me for reading matter OF
any service that may bestow."
Il thank you" John answered DULY
Escorted by the gracious old lady
/ he made his waV To an ascending ole