Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1921-04-14
Polly Acts as
Cupid
By FREDERICK CLARKE
o. 1921, Western Newspaper Unton)

Frank" said Uncle Will, suppress
ing groan of pain as he shifted his
equity leg upon the sofa and sat up to
greet his nephew, "come here, you
scoundrel. How old are your
"Twenty-four, sir" answered his
nephew respectfully.
"Twenty-four And 1 was engaged
three times before 1 was twenty-fOur.
Confound you, sir, why the deuce
won't you ask Dorothy to marry your"
Because 1 don't love her, my dear
uncle" answered the young man.
'Love! Love! What has that got
to do with it?" exclaimed the old man
irascibly. "How can you help loving
every girl at your age? ConfOund you,
Frank, sometimes l think you are as
coldblooded as Ephraim over there"
Ephraim, hearing his name spoken,
stirred in his cage.
"But Dorothy doesn't like ME at
ALL" said Frank Leasing. "Be little
reasonable, uncle"
I'm not going to argue with you,
sir" shouted the old man. "But I'm
not going to see the Eastdale property
divided. It cost me thirty years of
work to get that piece Of land to-
gether, and if you don't get married
Tll-Tll leave it to the Home of De-
cayed Parrots that Pm contemplating
establishing"
"Ha ha! croaked the parrot.
"Serves him right! Serves him right!
Confound your impudencew
''Frank, put a cover over that bird,
that's a good fellow" said his uncle
pettishly. And Ephraim, thus sup
pressed, subsidized into silence.
Frank Leasing was the orphaned
child of a cousin of William Jennings,
and the kind-hearted old merchant
had made himself responsible for his
up-bringing. That he should marry
his daughter Dorothy had been his
earnest wish, and Of late he had be-
gun to express it forcibly. But be-
tween the young people a feeling Of
cOnstraint had arisen which was rap
idly broadening into active dislike.
Frank Leasing, during the course Of
a business trip out of town, felt the
loss Of his cousin profoundly. 1t was
with happy anticipations, therefore,
that he rang the doOrbell of his uncle's
house on his return, after on absence
of a couple of weeks.
"HellO, Frank, come I'M" cried his
uncle, shaking him by the hand. "COn-
found you, sir I've missed you more
fhov 7 eboT1I6 lilo Won m lyOOU -
Flows Dorothy, uncle?" asked his
nephew.
The old man looked at him with pa
thetic eagerness.
"She's WE'LL" he grumbed. "But,
Frank"-he led him into the little
room which had been fitted up as his
cousins boudOir-"yOu'd better try
your fortune again. Now listen to me
and don't be a fool. Do you see
Ephraim in that corner?"
"Why, yes, uncle"
"Well, he lives here now"
"What? DorOthy's been making
friends with Ephraim?" asked the
young man incredulously.
When he was left alone Frank lifted
the cover from the cage and regarded
the parrot intently. 1t stood watching
: him, it's head on one side, its claw
poised, it's beak half open. And then
from its throat proceeded a most re-
| markable sentence, and one which
Frank Leasing had never heard it say
before.
"Oh Polly" it croaked, cant you
tell Frank"
eco on" shouted the young man
t "Tel Frank what?"
: Frank Leasing turned away in dis
gust and flung the cover over the cage
t ooh Polly can't you tell Frank that
f do really love him? the parrot
squawked in shrill protest.
Frank Leasing turned as light foot.
fall sounded in the hall. He strobe
: toward the door. Dorothy came in
} stopped, looked at him, and suddenly
found herself in his arms.
r dorothy. can yOu-can't you?
1 Frank began, then stopped, for there
l was no need to say anything more
2 In fact five whole minutes had passed
: before a heavy, equity fOOtstep neal
. them suddenly recalled them to the
, conscience of externals.
l They sprang apart, looking at the
r old gentleman guiltily-and then DOro
, thy perceived Ephraim's cage.
5 "Why, uncle, whatever made you pur
Ephraim in my room?' she asked.
"Only a within, my dear" responded
the old gentleman. 81 thought perhaps
f he might give Frank a message from
e me-"
: Don't Neglect the Eyes.
D A chiId'S ewes ShOuId he examined