The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1920-06-10
IN UNISON
BY GEORGE E. COBB

]
! Copyright, 1920 Western Newspaper Unlon.)
1t was a woodland idyl pure and
smple--a sunlit glade, lovely young
woman standing warbling amid the
greenery to a little child with marvel
ing eyes and hands full of flowers. Be
yOnd and unnoticed by them was a
man whose gaze was entranced by the
face and tones Of this seeming nymph
of the forest calling to the bird world
In mellow liquid notes its denizens
could fully understand
Marvin BARLEY had never heard
sweeter music, and he, too, under
stood for he was a lover Of all ami
mated nature and sight Of the sweet,
expressive face Of the girl seemed to
act upon him as a balm of peace and
joy. She was attired In half mourn
ing and there was a certain tinge of
sadness in her face.
Lucia Lydston had come to the little
town for rest, for a change from a
year of close, patient attendance upon
a stricken father and a mother daily
fading away When death had closed
those eyes it had seemed to her that
the greatest boon she could receive
would be to be away from all her old
life.
She found herself fortunate in hav-
ing found a pleasant temporary home
with a Mrs Morris, a widow, and her
little daughter, Esther. The latter
had become the constant companion
Of Lucia At her old home Lucia had
always as fayorite pets many Of the
sweet voiced warblers, she was mu-
slcally inclined, and now, amid the
greenery, homes Of the feathered war
blers it was a rare delight to pour
out her soul like friend hailing friend.
ooh, Miss Lyston, look There is a
red robin" exclaimed little Esther.
"Please tell him we're here and see
what he says"
Miss Lydston curved her sweetly
arched lips and a gush of clear melo-
dious music was borne upon the
flower scented air. The bird to whom
1t was directed bent his head inquisi-
lively sideways. Then he rutlled the
soft down of the throat for a supreme
effort, and in pure, golden notes re-
piled to the call
Marvin BARLEY set square pack
age having a waterproof covering upon
the ground and fingered enthralled.
The child had scampered away, at
tracted by a radiant flower. Now she
had paused. She was gazing at the
grass beneath a great oak tree.
ooh, dear Miss Lydston! ~ she called,
"a little bird has fallen out Of its
nest"
The young lady FASTENED to the spot.
BARLEY noticed how gently she took
up the unfortunate bird Then she
gazed up into the tree hopeIessly and
BARLEY, acting on speedy impulse,
came to its side.
"a little truant?" he spoke. "Un-
hurt? That is good | see its nest
He went back to where he had left
the square box and reappeared with
pair of hooked climbing irons. They
were light ana readily adjustable.
Miss LydstOn regarded him gratefully
and her companion with great earnest
eyes as he took the bird from the for
mer, swung aloft and reached the
nest.
"Oh how wonderful" irresistibly
exclaimed little Esther,
"You see, the birds are my great
friends" BARLEY assured her. "Tn
fact ! am trying to make my living
among them" he added to Miss Lyd-
ston, and lifting the cover from the
square box, to reveal a wonderful bird
house creation.
"You see it will hold a pretty large
family" he explained, "Gutters-yes,
all around it, ana they feed the rain
into a bowl inside. Then / have an
attachment to 90 around its base, bid
ding defiance to any hungry cat"
"Oh, did you make III" questioned
| the rapt Esther
In n single moment both Of his au-
ditors were engroSsed IN Marvin Bart
ley's account Of himself, He told them
how toll as a booEkpeper had broken
him down and he had to seek outdoor
employment how he had always loved
birds, and made an arrangement with
a manufacturer Of novelties TO con