Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1929-11-15
What the Catbird
Knew
by cLARIssA MAcKIE
Observation-Disclosures
tCopyright.l

tCopyright.l
'MENT away and never has been
w heard FROM" asserted Captain
Halliday. rs he retilled his pipe and
pulled out battered matchbox. VI al
ways nsk folks from the city II they
know Robert Lands, but no one ever
had W. to the time you came to the
village"
ut may not be the same person."
said AIRS. Bently, as she knitted bus
lily. They were sitting on the bottom
of an upturned boat on the Shore and
the captain had been relating many
stories to the city boarder. 81 have
met II Robert Lands; he Is young
newspaper man, and he lives In the
same boarding house that do in the
CITY,"
Does he seem to like the girls"
Mrs. Bently laughed. II cannot say
that he seems much interested in
them; he seems like rather a grim,
silent young man, absorbed In his
work and he does not act particularly
happy"
"Sho" muttered the captain. "rhat
sounds like he ought to be, but not
how he useter be around here. He
was just wild about my niece Sally"
"rhe pretty, black-eyed girl who
lives with your
YES Five years ago she was only
eighteen, and prettier than she Is now
more color. and her eyes were hap
by. She was engaged to Robert Ian.
dis. They quarroled about something
and h. went off; she's that proud she
only she's wistful and never so gay
and happy as before"
~ am so sorry" murmured Mrs.
Bently. rs there anything I can do
to bring them together2"
my theory Is that there is some
Misunderstanding" commented the
captain. "There they were, happy as
clans at high water, writing each
other every day, having post office
In hole in hollow tree in the or
chard. One day not so long ago ]
was coming across the orchard at
husband there was Silly, leaning
against the old tree, crying as II her
heart would break"
Don't" cried Mrs. Bently, taking
out her handkerchief.
"The poor little thing" murmured
Mrs. Bently later, to herself, thinking
Of Sally and her sad love story. II
believe will go home for a week.
end, and will carry with me some
snapshot pictures; one must be OF
that old orchard and the post office in
the tree, and one must be of Sally at
her prettlest I must catch her secret
ly, and then, some odd ones Of the
beach and other parts of the village,
but those two will be mingled In and
he cannot help hut see Them"
So Mrs Bently spent one busy day
with her camera, and then she took
train for the city. Captain Halliday
missed her pleasant companionship on
the beach, and went fishing every day.
Sally sang about her hOusework, In
soft, sad little voice, and sometimes
her eyes wandered out to the old apple
tree where there was messy hollow
In the trunk--that was always empty
now. tangle of bushes had grown
up around the old tree and amid the
sharp th0rns of brler catbird had
built her loosely constructed nest,
That afternoon there came a terrific
wlndstorm, and Captain Halliday and
Sally awOke the next morning to
sOdden world Of soaking land, fallen
trees, and beach strewn with drift
wood.
Captain Halliday went down to the
beach TO gather some Of the drlftwoOd
for the winter fires and Sally wan
dered through her ruined flower gar
den and then out to the orchard. There
were cries OF distress from the cat
birds who were perched In the old
apple tree. Sally found their frail
ncst-Of many nests, for each year
the birds had reinforced the old home
with new twlgs. bits Of string and
paper.
"Mew-w-w-w-w-" warned the birds
as they flew away In circle to re-
turn again. "Mew-ew-ew-ew."
Sally needed the warning and
turned Some one was standing near
by looking mt her with an embar-
rnssed smile. It was Robert
"Snlly." he said, biting his lips, II
came buck to ask you why you didn't
answer my letter.
LETTER. Whnt letterr Sally was
clearly amazed; her color rose and
her eyes shOne. "There was no let
ter here when you went away-nor
since"
'Have you really looked for one,
SallyT"
"Yes." she confessed.
81 left one there years ago. asked
you TO marry me, and because ] could
not bear to have you say no, l told
you not 10 reply II you didn't love me-"
81 never received such letter.
quavered Sally.
~ put II In the hOllOw-and when
| founf no reply went away without
seeing you. dear"
Robert was looking at Sally, then
his gaze pissed her and saw the re-
mains Of the old. old nest. There was
something quite familiar sticking out
Of II.
He rushed forward and pulled the
sticks apart From the bottom he
pulled out wet and torn envelope
It was thin and weather beaten-the
Ink was faded and pale-but the agl'
tated catblrds who had appropriated
the letter so long ago saw It pulled
from the old nest. saw two young
heads close together, reading the long
delayed message, and saw the happy
ending