Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1921-12-17
Polly Acts as
Cupid
BY FREDERICK CLARKE
t@. ls2l, Western Nswspaper Union }

Frank" said Uncle VIII. 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"
''rwenty-four. sir" answered his
nephew respectfully.
Twenty four. And l was engaged
three times before ! was twenty-four.
Confound you, sir. why the deuce
won't you ask Dorothy to marry your
Because l don't love her my dear
uncle" answered the young man.
Love Love- What has that got
TO do with it," exclaimed the old mau
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.
! BIT Dorothy doesn't like me al
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 EaStdaIe property
divided. 1t cost me thirty years of
work to get that piece of land to-
gether, and If you don't get married
fll-Ill leave it 10 the Home Of De
cayed Parrots that I'm contemplating
establishing"
"Ha, ha!" croaked the parrot.
SERVES him right! Serves him right
Confound your impudence!"
Frank, put a cover over that bird,
that's good fellow" said his uncle
pettishly. And Ephraim, thus sup
pressed, subsidized into silence.
Frank leasing was the orphaned
child of cousin Of William Jennings.
and the klnd-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 II f0rcibly But be
tween the young people 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 in :" cried his
uncle, shaking him by the hand Con.
found you, sir. I've missed you more
than ! should Ike you to know"
"How's Dorothy, uncle?" asked his
nephew.
The old man looked at him with pa
thetic eagerness.
"She's we'll" he grumbled "Rut.
Frank 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 fool. DO you see
Ephraim In that corner?"
why, yes, uncle"
"Well. he lives here now"
what? Dorothy's been making
friends with Ephraimf" asked the
young man lncredulously.
When he was left alone Frank lifted
the cover from the cage and regarded
the parrot lntently. II stood watching
him, IT'S head on one side. its claw
poised. its beak half open. And then
from its throat proceeded most re-
markable sentence, and one which
Frank leasing had never heard it say
before.
"Oh Polly" it croaked, cant you
tell Frank"
go on" shouted the young man.
Tell Frank whatf'
Frank Leasing turned away in dis
gust and flung the cover over the cage.
''Oh Polly, can't you tell Frank that
l do really love hlm?" the parrot
squawked In shrill protest.
Frank leasing turned as a 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.
dorothy, can you-can't you"
Frank began, then stopped. for there
was no need to say anything more.
In fact five whole minutes had passed
before heavy, equity foOtstep near
them suddenly recalled them to the
conscience of externals
They sprang apart. looking at the
old gentleman guiltily-and then Doro-
thy perceived Ephraim's cage
why. uncle. whatever made you put
Ephraim Ia my rOomT she asked
! Only a whim, my dear" responded
/ the old gentleman Il thought perhaps
he might give Frank q message from
! me"