Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1921-12-17
Polly Acts as
Cupid
By FREDERICK CLARKE
&c. 1921, wsstsrn Nswspaper VnionI

Frank said Uncle Will suppress
ing a 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 you$"
Twenty sir" answered his
| nephew respectfully.
Twenty And l was engaged
three times before | was twenty-four
ConfOund you, sir why the deuce
won't yen ask Dorothy to marry your
Because | don't love her my dear
uncle" answered the young man.
Love! Love, What has that got
10 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
"BTt 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. II cost me thirty years of
work TO get that piece OF land to-
gether, and II you don't get married
Ill-Ill leave il TO 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 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 II forcibly. 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. It was
with happy anticipations, therefore
that he rang the doorbell of his uncle's
house on his return, after on absence
Of 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 like you to know"
"How's Dorothy, uncle?' asked his
nephew.
The old man looked at him with pa
thetie eagerness.
"She'S well" he grumbled. But
Frank led him into the little
room which had been fitted up as his
cousins boudOir-"youd better try
your fortune again. Now listen to me
and don't be fool. DO you see
Ephraim In that corner?"
why, yes. uncle"
We'll. he lives here now"
what? Dorothys been making
friends with EphraimT' 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. its 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 il say
before.
"oh Polly" 1t croaked, cant you
tell Frank"
go on" shouted the young man.
Tell Frank WHAT"
Frank Leasing turned away in dis
gust and flung the cover over the cage
"Oh Polly, can't you tell Frank that
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 a 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 Ephralm's cage.
why uncle. whatever made you put
Ephraim ia my rOomT she asked.
only a within. my dear" responded
the old gentleman Il thought perhaps
he might give Frank a message from
me-