New Ulm review., 1921-05-25
Polly Acts as
Cupid
By FREDERICK CLARKE
g. 1921. western Newspaper Union, ,

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?'
'Twentyfour, 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 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 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"
"Im 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
Ill-IIl leave it to the Home of De-
cayed Parrots that I'm contemplating
establishing
''Ha! hap 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 Lessing 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 feeling of
cOnstraint had arisen which was rap
idly broadening into active dislike.
Frank Lessing, 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 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
thetic eagerness.
"She's WE'LL" he grumbled. "But,
Frankie led him into the little
room which had been fitted up as his
cousins boudoir-"you better try
your fortune again. Now listen to me
and don't be fool. Do you see
Ephraim in that corner?'
'sWhy, 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, its head on one side, its claw
poised, it's beak half open. And then
from it's throat proceeded most re-
markable sentence, and one which
Frank Lessing had never heard it say
before.
"Oh Polly it croaked, "can't you
tell Frank"
go on" shouted the young man.
"Tell Frank what?"
Frank Lessing turned away in dis
gust and flung the cover over the cage.
ooh Polly, can't you tell Frank that
I do really love him?" the parrot
squawked in shrill protest.
Frank Lessing 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 Ephraim's cage.
"Why, uncle, whatever made you put
Ephraim in my room? she asked.
"Only whim, my DEAR" responded
the old gentleman. II thought perhaps
he might give Frank message from
me.'
Don't Neglect the Eyes.