The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1919-06-05

,uick pain, soon over, and may learn
to forget.
One morning the lady with whom
Mr.. Deane had a room came over 10
the Norton home and sought an In
terview with Mr.. Morton. II am called
away to the city by very sick sister"
she explained. land have no one to
leave in charge Of the house. Mr..
Deane left his parrot in my charge.
Would you kindly give it care here
until lie returns?"
Surely" concurrcd Mr.. Morton effu-
siyely. "Brin. il right over. Mrs.
Bayne, and we will relieve your mind
of that anxiety. Edi,lla loves pets.
and the parrot shall have her atten-
tion."
"Polly" proved to be bnstiing.
keen-eyed bird, ut once c"axcd into
good nature by the thoughtful minis
trations of E,litha. whose lullness Of
heart was solaced by the clever ways
of the trained bird. As t" Mr.. Nor
ton, when the ready-H.ittei parrot at
mornin: prayer uttered Il ferveht and
resounding "Amen," the battered cleric
was quite enchanted with tho apparent
tribute to his sOundly rolling, sonUrOus
rhetoric.
Polly grew restless. however, the
second day Of her reception. She
scolded, sulked AM! refused to eat.
1--WE must not let Mr.. Deane come
hi; lnnA
gested Mr. Merton, and forthwith went
| to the keeper of bird store in the
| town.
"She wants to set" pronounced this
oracle. "Gct her Qnai's egg an; she
will settle down like some mOtherls
old hen"
Sure enough, provided with a nest
soft and cozily fashioned by Editha's
hand, and supplied with an egg, Poll.
seemed translated into a delirium OF
satisfied contentment. She settled
down to tie Matching process with ar
emphatic announcement: That's thu
idea {" only every hour, this evidentl!
being her first experience as hatcher
instinct solely guiding her, Polly would
get off the nest to critically inspec
the egg. as if impatient to hurry re
suits and view the prospective bah!
parrot.
Two afternoons Mr.. Morton wa
seated in the parlor listening to tn
report of the Ladies' Aid society of tn
church, when an appalling jargon star
tied all hands. 1t proceeded fror
the library. where Polly's Gag
was kept. 1t was Polly who was speak
ing, the air blue with the most SHOCK
ing profanity. One lady screamed a
this Dissertation of the placid serenit
of the ministerial home hearth. Al
ether quite tainted. Tile others joine
their host in Il rush to the library.
There was Polly. in a wild rag
dancing to fragments the egg sh
had pushed out Of her nest. the eg
HAT did not materialze fast enoug
to suit her idea of incubation. 4
the storcd-up "cuss words" In her "
} caDulary Polly was stringing out, wit
the vim and wickedness of 0elDora
lied sailor.
"Editha," spoke his reverence s.
verely late that day. II have sent tn;
infamous parrot to the bird store, al
have written to Mr.. Deane that y
do not care to encourage his furtht
acquaintance"
'Why, brother" began Editha. ma
yelling. but her tones checked with j.
| and then the reverend gentleman G
planned. 1t seemed that his lady ii
! itors had fallen to chit chat and soss
when they learned that the parrot b
longed to Mr.. Deane.
They discussed that individual n
and con, and Mr.. Morton was enligll
cned.
So assured was he that Polly's tut
had been Editha's sutton, and furth
convinced that he was simply aft
his sisters fortune, that he cancel'
all promises he had made.
And, as said. Editla's heart was t,
of joy at the announcement, for 81
r had that morning received a note fro
Y Albion Rolfe asking permission to c:
upon her for the last time. as he w
II about to leave for the far West.
d. He did not leave, as Il matter Of fa'
u Edith would not let him, and Abb
le did not wish to go. A presupposed s
III farewell was anticipated by Il ferv
j. declaration of love. and, with Pol
II out of the way, and her owner in t
III same category, Editha felt warrant
u. in selecting for her husband the IN
u she really loved.