The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1920-01-01
ROMEO
BY LOUISE NJ. ADDISON.

~
wish. When things went smoothly Ro-
meo was merry. bright and %conversa-
tional. But if anything happened to
rutle his feathers he could be as TEN
peramental as any grand opera star.
becoming by turns. silent, morose and
irritable. Nevertheless. he had his
tavorites. TO whom his words were low.
Ing. and his accents sweet. though the
uninitiated might have found his voice
a trit1e harsh. For Romeo was a
parrot. whose dearest and most de-
voted friend was aged Mrs. Scott, his
owner for 20 years. and whose bitter
est enemy was her grandniece, Hes
ter, aged seventeen.
Hester had no respect. It seemed,
either for Romeo's years or his wis
dom. She was in the habit Of slyiy
poking him in the ribs. of teasing him,
when h wanted a little amusement
for herself or her friends. of Offering
him gifts in a honey-sweet voice when
he was fast asleep, and of withdrawing
them when he "a sufficiently aroused
to accept the goodies she tempted him
with. Romeo bore the laughter that
followed valiantly. But he acquired
an implacable hatred for Hester. He
did not sputter or make a fuss, as a
parrot should have done. He waited,
and bided his time. lie was old and
wise. and reasoned that some day the
many blows to his comfort and dignity
would be avenged.
Hester, meanwhile. faced the world
merrily, little dreaming that the future
might bring undesired complications
into her life. True, she had fallen off
in.her studies, but studies were a bore.
anyhow. and she wasn't going to nj.
low n tri1e like that to bother her.
For weeks Edgar Trafton had escort
ed her home from school. to the NOR
tification of several of the most at
tractive young ladies in attendance
there. He had become, in fact, Hes
tcr's ahject slave. At a very early
date Edgar began to regard himself
as n of the family. The two would
ONE in of an afternoon. devOur Mrs.
SCOTS choicest pastry. and when
they had eaten their fill, start the
monograph, or perhaps Hester would
play on the piano and sing, while Ed
gar accompanied her on the violin. Be-
tween the two Of them they managed
to make so much racket that poor Ro-
meo's tortured squawk went all UNI
noticed. and one afternoon Mrs. Scott
felt called upon. out of sheer despera-
ton, to order Edgar from the house.
with strict %injunctions never to enter
it again without permission from her.
A note from the principal of the school.
received that day. had aided Mrs. Scott
in her determination to eXpel Master
Trafton from her home. for It had
stated. in unmistakable language, that
Hester would not graduate unless she
paid more attention to her studies.
Seeing that young love was likely
to suffer unnecessary tribulatiOns II
Edgar continued to call in the aft
ernoon. the lovers met evenings, there
after, in the parlor. where Hester was
fondly supposed to be studying her
lessons.
Mrs. Scott usually retired early, so
the coast was clear. Out Of the cor
ner of his eye Romeo, thought to be
asleep. watched them evening after
evening. Romeo didn't know. perhaps.
that it was only a few days before
examinations, but he did know that
something put of the ordinary was
coming off. He sensed it on a certain
day when Edgar entered the house
n little more quietly than usual. and
Hester met him Mt the door with a
restrained and eager expression. Ed
gar regarded her with what was meant
to be a look of undying love and de-
termination on his usually sheepish
face.
"Your aunt shall not separate u.s."
Romeo heard him say. I'VE love each
other. and true love never will
be thwarted."
NO." agreed Hester, with a look of
high resolve. "True love will find a
way. True love is not afraid"
ut is not" said Edgar. in a very
exalted voice. "True love is not afraid.
I lave made all the arrangements. We
will slip away on the twelve.Rfteen.
The minister at Rosedale will marry
us. I have the ring all ready"
And then came the supreme moment
of Romeo's life. the sacred hour of his
revenge. They had not considered him
at all, Of course, and his beloved mis-.
tress had gone to bed early with a
headache, but Romeo was prepared to
show them a thing Of two-and make
true love find another way.
The lovers. intent on the arrange
ments. when. suddenly a loud. laugh
ing, raucous voice broke upon their
ears.
Hester! Hester! Shame on you!
Tell that foolish boy to go home.
Send him home. l tell you, you silly!
Love will find a way! On the twelve
flfteen! The minister at Rosedale.
Love Send him home, Hester! Send
him home! Love will find a way! On
the twelve-ffteen! Ha! Hal"