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| Lydias
Legacy j
A Parrot That Brought |
! Trouble. Then a Husband ij
j By CLARISSA MACK1L.
i Copyrlsht. lDlo^by American Press j
? ? Association. " |
Lydla Thorne read tluj three
- tfiuetT before she fully understood It?
m:'iiniii?. Couc!nilr !u the henry
Dliruseoloirv of n I'Uiinrrv^iwv! r ir ?*??.
uounced that the widow of lier uncle,
- : ? -Sldney-ftnnsonvrhrd died u short time
ago. leaving to Lydla a legacy. The
lawyer went ou lo state that, although
Mrs. Hansom had never seen the niocc
of her -husband, she had been greatly
impressed by reports cf her kiud and
amiable disposition, and so to her loving
care she left?her pet bird, u par
rot.
To Lydla. who detested parrots as
noisy, ungraceful creatures, this legacy
fell as a calamity lu her quiet, well ordered
existence. She scarcely read the
badly written postscript, which stated
that the remainder of Mrs. Huusom's
estate had gone to at favorite nephew
of her own.
The parrot arrived In a crate.
There was a tall perching stand for
Polly In the crate with the cage, and
the parrot was soon at home on the
perch, a chain secured around one leg
and fastened to the stand.
Lydla found her new compauiou the
v source of much amusement for several
days. He learned to call her by name,
and at times it almost seemed as If t^he
had a human companion in ber lonely
life.
Her house was situated at the end of
the long village street, and few came
to her save when there was dressmaking
to be done, but Stillwater was near
a large city and most of the woiucu
bought their clothes In the ready made
simps, so Lydla did not have much lo
do
it was the spring of the year. a::*.l
Lydla worked much In her garden.
Many times Polly sat near on his
pefch. shrilly detlant of the wild bird.;
that hovered curiously about him.
Lydia was. digging among her par w
plants one morning, transplanting th?
little green shoots from one-bed to nr
other.
"You're growing old. old. old".** shriekeel
Polly, with sudden vindlctlvene&
and a dreary foret>odiug in his tone
that startled his new mistress.
She turned wistful browu eyes in bis.
direction. Lydla Thome was no long.
er young, bat she still retained a cer* |
tain sweet youthfulncss cf expression,
and lier brown hair showed u?>t one
thread of gray. Perhaps It was because
her heart would never grow old.
for at thirty-eight Lydla was younger i
than many women at eighteen. She
never thought of hop o?o. k.,*
? a? ?- -v i/u v nun,
when Polly repeated himself in n sudden
fury of words, she felt that they
must be true.
? "You're growing old, old, old as the
everlasting hilts. Never mind. Ljrddy
shall marry Stephen, and then everything
will- be all right. Oh. geer
Polly made a savage peck at a saury
? blue Jay who bad ventured close to his
perch and sent the bandit bird scream-1
lng to the top of a tall elm tree.
Polly scratched his ear reflectively.
"Poor old Stephen r
: Lydla was Interested. "Who Is Stephen?"
she asked.'
I "Stephen's a fool. He must marry
Lyddy. Then everything will be all i
right," cackled the bird.
, "What nonsense!" cried Lydla lndlgnautly.
"What does the bird mean?"
She wondered often after that, for
Polly seemed to And great comfort In
speaking of the unknown Stephen, and.
through Polly. Lydla learned that Stephen
was a good boy and a credit to
ills family and If he would only go
and see Lyddy he would at once fall
In love and marry her.
Then one day came a letter from a
cousin in vtn?g? Inviting Lydla
to coma and spend a wed with ner.
and. having heard of Polly's arrival, |
sbe extended permission for Lydla to j
bring her legacy.
- ? This Lydla was loath to do, for the
parrot's cage was heavy and most unwieldy.
and she did not really care
enough for the bird to carry It about
the country, nevertheless none of her
neighbors seemed willing to undertake
Its care, so one bright morning found
Lydla and Polly speeding cityward In
the railroad train.
The parrot proved a diverting companion.
and K seemed as if they bad
scarcely started before the train drew
tinto the noisy atatleo where she hhf
?to change can.
_ , Lydla was walking through the long
hslUISf, carrying the heavy cage In
tier already tired arms, when Polly set
top a violent outory.
I "Stephen! Stephen! Ob, Stephen,
wait tor Lgddy!" be (bricked fraotjjeaUy.
I- .. _ I A' man crocking diagonally In front
? of them panned and looked curiously
t tbe parrtit.
I That's a good boy. Stephen. Marry
Lyddy and ererythteg win be an right.
Bach a handsome Polly!" The bird
waa nattering to and fro, and Lydla
frond dltflfeaMy hi holding the eaJ
The stranger approached and lifted
r bin hat 1 am aura Polly, is an oU
Mend Of mine," be said courteously
"He leeognlsss me, and"?
Tbed Lydla flashed Indignant eyei
"bpon Mm. ?s!?sbe-?a1d teldlyl ?
The man turned away with redden
--.i:.-:. * j
| tag che<*k?. He had a nk^face. Ly<
admitted to hotaelf, but she bad b<
s brought qp to beware of fksclnatl
! stranger*. ,aad this ludlvldualwas I
! nearest approach to a fn?<<inad
I bl;angcr Lytlla h;ul over churned
meet Polly added tumult to coir
| slon.
"Stephen! Stephen! Be a go
i boy?marry Lyddy and evorytlil
will be all right!" he screamed.
Lydla was .almost hysterical as t
strauger paused again and thrust
linger between the wires of the en)
Polly clung to the finger. oriKuil
softly. With ~a?tmddou jiiqyemc
Lydla thrust the cage In the uiai
arms.
> STuke him If you waut him! 1
, sure 1 don't!" And then, uahoodi
. | his sharp exclamation of surprise, s
, darted away In the hurrying crou
She was quite breathless when s
reached the home nf the I midn tfc
afternoon and found U difficult to tplain
the absence of Polly.
"I left him behind." she sakl crash
ly. and with this explanation Mi
Brent had to be content.
I During the next few days Lyd
wondered what had bectv.no of b
parrot. She was ashamed of her li
patience toward the strauger ai
thought somewhat ruefully that An
Susan Ransom would have consider
her a shrew rather than a kind ai
, amiable person had the good lady so
her m teuiper on the day of her jot
* neyThe
second eveulug after her c
rival tw they sat at tea Mrs. Bre
broke the silence that had fallen t
tween them:
"Queer, wasn't it. thai Susan Ra
som should have left everything
Stephen when he dou't need the mo
- ey axld Just left you that parrot
take care of? Never saw Susan
your life, did you?"
"No," said Lydla. "but I used
write to Uncle Ransom, and then aft
he died 1 kept np a corresponded
, with Aunt Susan. 1 quite liked h
too. She used to write about the pa
rot, but I never dreamed she won
leave It to me. 1 never liked parro
much."
"I guess you could have used son
money." remarked Mrs. Brent, stlrrii
I her tea thoughtfully. "Stephen don
i need any more'n he's got."
t "Is Stephen (be nephew?" falteri
! Lydla, with very pink < heok3. SI
i was thinking of Polly's allusions 1
| "Stephen."
j "Of course?Stephen T.'ood. Qaei
, you never knew his name. Ftfsa
thought u sight of hl..? and XMtggc
him day and night because he Jtevt
got married. He's doing real well !
the city?he's in the coal business an
is making money hand over fist."
? J?? v.v.. trccu uiuj a?&e
Lydla In a queef voice.
"Land, yes! Good looking too. Ta
and lean, with clean shaved face an
bright bine eyes?colors np like a gli
when he's embarrassed. !! ? alwaj
seemed to think a lot of that parro
I visited there once, yon know,
should t jink he'd have wanted it. I'l
disappointed y?u didn't bring it, L]
dla. They say It's a very clorer bin
I sball be In Stillwater l>efore lonj
I and I'll see him then."
Ltdia was doubtful wbetber Mr
Brent would ever see the parrot agnli
although Mr. Wood might return th
bird to her If he knew where sb
might be found, for now ?be knew j
was Stephen Wood wtls^fead stoppe
and spoken to her tb?i ??ey in th
railway station.
After rll. the visit dkl not turn'wc
to l?e :t* enjoyable as I.ydla had *n
ticipated.
The littlf house seemed very tonef
when Lydla returned to Stillwater.
May bad come, and with It tlie im?
of apple blossoms and young clovei
Lydla leaned over the gate ami watel
ed the golden cloud of dust that pr?
ceded the rumbling stage. The ever
Irig train was in. and presently, afte
the stage had carried the mtdl to th
postoffice. she would throw a sflnu
about her shoulders and go down afte
her newspaper and letters*.
The stage rolled past. The drive
waved his whip at her. and ber gnz
followed the vehicle down the ton
ntreet into the rfltage. She dW nt
hear footsteps approaching from th
Opposite direction, and as she turne
her head Polly** familiar voice brok
i harsEIydn fhe stBT aJrr
1 "Here we are, sir! Wfefl weffi! Begood
boy. Stephen, and marry Ly?
dy"? Polly's voice died away to i
Indignant squawk as a strong hcts
reached In the rage and chastised blr
It was Stephen Wood ? ringing P?f
home.
"Mrs. Brent told me you bed mar
ed Some, and so 1 have brought tl
bird back to you. Miss Tborne I a
sure you must have thought me tape
ttesat that day In the alftttoa. <
course you did net know rae.Unt
recognised Polly's voice, and sbou
have made myself kno4h? to yon
once." ^ ^
"I was very rude to you.** said Lyd
ii i ttaftillg mm aK*. ???
admit htm, "but 1 waa very tired, ai
I *?? a little tired of Polly lost tha
and it an happened so mddeolj. T
understand T
"Of coarse 1 anderstaad. Polly
tiresome most of the time. hot be t
marly good qualities. If he bad r
recognized me that day 1 would t
bare the pleasure of returning blm
yon," said Mr. Wood.
They sat down on the steps, and I
man looked admiringly at Lydla. pi
i and glowing and sweet as on* of 1
i apple Moom* overhead.
"Be a good boy. Stephen, and mei
I Lyddy. and everything _wltl pa
I right," shrilled Polly suddenly, a
. there waa such a note of prophecy
his raucous rotce/that Ijrdla's htw
eyes fen before MpMtft steady b
t ones, and thta time Polly Weot aa
I hoked. yr>
/ \ ."V-,'... . V*;,-'
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ElPftPEflING THE HOUSE
J*e {
'ng v
to '.7;:cn a V7?aI: Play A/ipuars In
a New York Theater.
K.H) .. "
nc PROPPED BY FREE TICKET?.
;ho ?
u
Th? Judiciccs Distribution of "Corn
Ug plimonttriec" by tho Minagor 3*>nt
. euros Well Oressoo Audiences ana
'in before' the curtain >: *? < iMwii
at the end of a uew prrtiic
manager has decided. i?i:> J < ...
leu. whether lie has a *u-*vc - . t..? *
>jC But he dees not lUeiili l?i .
Ittt UlUlUiiili: In yllher ?rrm?11 tie Iim. hi.-,
the play is* " "frost" or even' a s'..i.
success the house /in; the next lc\.
rp- nights uiusr bear every outwurd evips
deiu-e of prosperity.
in other words, he must "buck the
Hn I toe*" ?'f adverse criticism by "p?n?ertu;,
er t house." |for a weeli at least he
m. must umke a "from" in the orchestra
nd chairs, no matter If there is desolation
nt In the l?bx office, Let him make th?
ed public t?elleve the new pie e ha*.
jd traded a large number of putrons tor
en al* ur eight pet toriuuuci's and there i*
ir- n chance of euoHgh business in pro;?
q;?u forced run of a feu weeks, will. J
lIV may help things on the road. T!it":
nl meaus that "paper" or free tlcliefs
^ mus; be Judiciously dlst riluri ed.
Every manager of a theater lias a
n. large circle of friends. This may he
to due partly to his 'Hissession of u geL'i.u
n. personality, hut undoubtedly the !>*; !'
to ties* he is lu has iu itself an attraction
In for many. A majority of these poop ;'
will accept passes wlien I her are o*
to fered; some are not -above asking for
er them, wbtte still others?but those ars*
L.e rare- wtrt Iflfty tickets when i-oisip'*er
tnenturies are not tendered.
^ v Wlieu the manager has a play tjpit i.?
Id Iu danger of going to pieces for lack
ts of patronage he send* tickets to all
these friends of bis and tabenever pos10
slide obtains a proir.Jse that they win
,g l>e used by (lie jiersous to whom lie
ft gives them. It is not difficult to cr
tract such a pledge. Being ?rn term*
?d of more or less intiuiucy with the mam
ie nger. the favored ones know be win
to be likely lo see them in the thinner > r
if They are not there that he wftl tuUe
?|, note of those who do not use the1 ?U-U
jL ets. He kee;w a record of tb^
. 1 hiiuimIIO IHII iKimiM .?f
| who should occupy those particular
ig j chafr* aiiti <;an tell at once when m-<
jj J hospitalft j has been abuse<L_
Ariot tier eta as which sees many pin vis
^ in Jiew York city gratis Is to In? found*
in department mores. Nearly every
jl director of ? t Inimical company?as
d distinct from a theater manager?is on
r] cordial terms with the heads of de- g
-s partineDts In large retail mercantile i
establishment*. . Llacb of these beads "
I will accept from* six to a dozen pain"
n of tickets occsatomrVty to distribute t
j. among bis subordinates. j
j. *TOften It is possible- to get rid of 2tNi
p. tickets or more to a- day in this way.
and when this is repeated.,in four or
live stores the inannger is sure of the
I. attendance of an appreciable number'
e of well dressed young women in the
e newest millinery and style of coifTure.
it each with a respectably attired cavafl
tter and all on their best behavior,
e These people may not beiztsra fashion
able, bat they will aot disgrace their
t environment.
<h JTnteim tbe theatrical man Is acquainted
with the depart meat beads,
y however, it Is nor an easy matter to
give away tickets^ in such an estab
D Ushment. Tbe average clerk In a
r. large Wtore. especially of the feminine
k~ gender, is simple foils. "She does not
*- understand such open hatided generici
ty. aud there must be a. ldf^a# expla
r natknr to convince her that to oCfering
e something fcr nothing the mamtger
rl i,has not some sinister design. As fur
r the trerle clerks, if he gives tfcem any
directly they are sure to tett, every ??? ?
*r what at poll they have with the oiane
ager and |?esrer hint fae tickets ever
g afterwirrd. particularly when be b;i* a
?t success. with "the free list absolute!
suspended.*" , .
4 It la tar less of un undertaking I? *
buy >r hundred dollar** worth of lev
~ UBlggff jgOAdg ihnu to maIra prewetir ~
* of two tickets apiece t? a dofeett I'-r
sons behtod the counter. Tlx ?
phone gfrts. stenogra pfcers ami nmni
frl ctxrisrs look askance of free tirfc?*?*
n- from a stranger, although when then
If euofldewe fc? won i hey will genera il.v
accept tbe in with toe gratitude n
Theater Magazine.
) .
m Purdi?'3 Pajwicea.'
*- x "iir r nrqip. no ow imiww"rvjtiiT in
>1 Sir Walter Scott-* tamoehold. used Ic.
' 1 talk of the famuli* ~ W a vertey Novel.*'
Id as "owr book*" and Mid ttiat ihe readat
la a of tbem tbe greatest comf'Ki
to bfm.
Jr. "Whenever 1 am off mjr sleep." Heto
rooflded to James Skeoe. tbe amhorrl
ad "Memories of Sir Walter Scott." -I
at. bare only to take one of tbe doom-.
an and before I b*Tr read two page* it I*
smre to set ine asleep."
Is *" 1
na Plenty on Hand,
lot "Hsts yon ever wondered slmn*
lot yonr hits band's pa?t 7"
to. "Dear me. so. 1 bare all I can do It:
taking rare of bis present and worry
Ibe lt>S about bla faiore."- Boston llur.iir
nk ?
tbe Domestic Nets.
"Tea noticed one thing."
rry "And wbai I* tbatt"
all "Wbe? one rets loaded IPs nsnalty
nd Mt'MV who explodes"?Rl ruling no in
In Ac*-R? raid,
wn - 1 I mi
hie Owr own anger dnes w* more harm
?e than tbe thing which makes as angry.
?Sir John Lubbock.
< y ..
>' ' jtfi
J* ? l. -- \ . C- *. ' " '&*
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