The Storyteller.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7864, 5 July 1905, Page 4

The Storyteller.

"PRETTY POLLY." • j Peter Podworthy was in a j s He frowned at the !etteA 1 '! his hand, kn ' s l ' s brow, *nd , Did* 1 "!' nis "? s fcS hv ,f * J '*• \l thcici"'* 11ir c w 't ~ow:, "" - ,;s wtl, ~ ine-table, impatiently. His tacdsoruc? 1 face Was PU«I«1. and ; slightly annoyed in expression. He * leaned 1 , hack against the map'el-piece , and his ample elan rcflectivel/ Then he '-lok up ike ir\:n agaitt and read it through mote slowly, but with increased exasperatioqL" U ran as follows : ' P Butterborough, June I. jMy dear Peter,— / am just starting: on a fortnight's visit, by invitation to Lady Blosimiop. ami as the house will have to be shut up during my absence, I am sending Polly up to you for a few weeks. Forgive my taking such abrupt advantage of your good nature, hut I know you have plenty of room, and that Mrs Rinna will be delighted to look after my pet. Besides, having Polly in your quiet house for a bit will brighten you up aid altogether I think the idea is a positive inspiration, and gets me out . of a difficulty charmingly. I hope r you are keeping well. It's a perfect age since we saw each other ; and when I return, if you care to come r South with Polly, I shall be delighted. Kxcuse me at preseul, as 1 am dreadfully pressed lor time. Your affectionate Sister, Sophia Seymour. I'.S —I am despatching Polly by 10 o'clock train to-morrow. Can you arrange to be at station ?—S.S. Mr Podworthy fumed up and down his private room irritably. "Just like Sophia.! " he grumbled. "Not to let me know till the last minute nor even ask me if it's convenient for me to take her blessed poll parrot ! And, as it happens, it isn't ! What am I to do now, I'd like .<> know? It's too late to stop her, the bird will be here this afternoon. I'd give a porter the shillings to wring it's neck, only—ah, hetliaps, Oruiistin— \" Mr Podwoitby stepped up to the table and touched the tell sharply. "Ah, Ormiston," be said, when the head clerk appeared. "Have you any letters for me to .sign, or is there ajiyihiiig (ut.hci you wanted, before I G»'" '•No, sir.", repliexl "young.man. "If you will kindly leave a cheque lor Smith and Barnes' account, I think we can manage till you retail:. ' " Very good. I'll attend to that. Oh—cr—one minute, Ormiston. There is a little matter in which you might be able to oblige me." "Certainly, sir." " Well, here's a note from my sister in Butterborough," continued Mr Po<h.orthy, handing it to the head clerk, "in which, as you see, she intimates the despatch of her pet parrot to my care to-day. The bird is due 'o arrive here at 3 o'clock, but unioi tunately I leave for Prestwick at 1-15. 1 can't possibly wait, as my portmanteaus and golf-clubs are alie.-.dy gone, and I am expected to play in a foursome this afternoon. Then. I've scoi Mrs Binns off for the week, ami the house is locked up*. So, i you see, Ormiston, I'm in a bit. of a fix, and I wondered if you would not mind looking after the parrot until my return " "Delighted, sir !" "Your landlady won't object ?" " No, no , Mrs Mudgc is a good sort, and I'll rather enjoy having the parrot." " Thanks. Ormiston, thanks • Very much obliged, I'm sure; and shan't forgri it. Of course, I hoW myself responsible for any little expense you may incur for food, and so on." " Oh, that's all right, sir !" " ''hen, perhaps, you'll be good enough to go to the station and meet ■ Poll;, Ormiston, and wire on its safe arrival t Ah, thanks ! thanks !" As the head clerk closed the door behind him, Mr Podworthy rubbed his hands together with satisfaction, his lace resuming its usual placid expression, and his good humour now thoroughly restored by the prospect of ciilimiteri golf, undisturbed by thoughts of inconsiderate sisters and troublesome poll parrots. "Hood fellow, Ormiston !" he niuseil. "Ami Sophia need never know. Serves her right, anyhow; she's always so impulsive ! Married poor .Seymour all in a rush ; and would many again, I believe, if the impulse struck her. She doesn't mention her daughter Mary in her note ; 1 s'pose she's not home from boarding school yet. Ah. well, I'll write thai cheque, and then, hey, lor Prestwick." When the three o'clock train from I lie south rolled into the station that afternoon, Dick Ormiston was awaiting on the platform. After it had dislodged its load of passengers, and the bustle had somewhat subsided, he made his way to the luggage van. " Have you got a parrot and a cage here, addressed to Mr Podworthy '.'" he asked the guard. "Ain't seen none, sir," replied the official. " Isn't this the train from Butterborough at ten o'clock in the morning ?'• " Yes, sir j same train except for change of engines at Carlisle," said tiic man. "And you're quite sure there's no parrot come with it '.'" pursued Ormisioii. ■"• " P'raps y'd like to 'ave a look round yourself !" returned the guard, sarcastically. "Ain't ycr made, a mistake. It's the Bird Market ye should ha' gone to !" Oimiston turned Uway, slightly puzzled. He Was sure the letter had mentioned that train. Ah, well, he must meet the Kuglish train iin the evening. He was about to leave the station when he observed a very pretfy lady standing on the platform beside a very large porlmanteau. The rest of the passengers had all gone off, and she was alone and clearly a little bewildered. She. looked at Ormiston closely at; he loitered about ; and there flashed into his mind the possibility of someone having been scut in charge ( >f the parrot. But no; she had ho cage with her, and He found himself staring I'idrly, and would have passed on, but the young Jady .stepped forward and spoke.

"Kxcuse inc. but arc you from Mr Peter Podworthy ?" "Y—Yes !" be stammered, taken 7N. abaci. "He asked nic to—to "' "To iniTl me? '" .she asked with a smile of relief. " Well, no, not eiactly," .said Orjiiisinn. ( Slic must have the parroil. "I was sent (o meet Polly." "Wi-ll ? " The yuung lady"s manner .stiffened slightly. "My name, by the way, is Miss Seymour." " (Hi, thanks, thanks ! Ah '. Mr Podworthy's niece ? " The young lady bowed. "Mine is Ormiston, and I am jn Mr Podworthv's oflice. Kr—er—where is the ease ?" Miss Seymour stared. "What cage?" she queried. " Oh-cr-Polly's !" •The young lady's eyes flashed. "Excuse me, Mr Ormiston," she said, inly, "bin I don't appreciate your jokin;:. Will you be pood enough to '•■ diret! nie to my uncle's residence?' Ortmstnii was nonplussed. -"l'm not joking," he protested. Mr Podworthy partieularlv asked me to lookSi... after Polly " " I have already remarkrd. sir," MeUim.il (he B irl, stormilv, "that my (Mine is Miss ami I f shall Inank you to remember that ! Will you kindly show me ?" "<_ "lint what about the parrot ? " bl broke in Ormiston. feelinj; hopeless- I flustered and confused. I^^*' Parrot? 'What parrot?" de-i Miss Seymour, man (razed helplessly at j Podworthy asked me to ifake charge of a said Most

" Yes, 1 saw the letter," interrupted Ormiston, "and it distinctly said she was sending Pollv on—" " Polly : yes. Well, I'm Polly !" " You ? Yuu ?" gasped Oimiston, j feebly;. "Certainly ! I'm Mary—otherwise | Polly— Seymouri and I've tome to stay with my Dnele Peter ior a I fortnight." "Good heavens !" the young man 'groaned. "He—we thought Polly was a parrot !" "Oh ! I-I set- !" Tlie girl stated ; and then burst into a peal o[ silvery laughter that rang through the station, and made two somnolent pollers look up and wink solemnly at each other. " Oh, dear me ! You see, my uncle hasn't seen me ior nearly five years, and our old parrot died last summer !" . " Ah !" ejaculated Ormiston, beginning io comprehend dimly. " And now, Mr Omistnii." with a charming little giggle, "please lake the parrot to Uncle Peter."

" Hut—but " How on earth was he going to explain jnatters '.' "You see, Miss Seymour, Mi Podworthy has gone off on a holiday, his house is locked up, and he asked me to er—take—cr—Polly home to my digs !" "Gone oil on holiday? How hoirid of him !" 'Oh, well you see, he didn't cxIpcct "

" No, no ; of course not. But, gracious me .' Mamma went of! this and our house is shut up ; and now uncle's away, and Ins house is locked up. Whatever am I to do'" Dick Omiston saw her pretty lip tremble, and that she was on the [verge ol teats, so he hastened Io the rescue.

"Don't worry, Miss Seymour ! I'll [wire Mr Podworthy. In the meantime I think you had better follow his instructions and stay at my lodgings." "Sir ! "

" Oh, it's all right, Miss Seymour. Mv landlady, Mrs Mudge, is a dear old soul, and will be delighted to look after you. Come; you can't stay here, you know, let's go along and have some tea, anyhow." Mrs Mudge, on the situation being explained to her, received "Polly " with open arms, and under Iter motherly attentions the girl soon recovered ber equanimity. Over the tea-table the trio laughed and laugh-

Ed again at Mr Podworthy's mistake; and, as he looked at the girl's merrv and charming face, Dick Ormiston thought that he had never enjoyed a meal so much in his quiet lodgings before. During its progress an idea had been slowly formulating in his mind, and he finally said : " Miss Seymour, if 1 wire your uncle of your arrival, he will undoubtedly return at once, ami so spoil a holidav which I know he has eagerly looked forward to. On the other hand, if you return home, your mother's arrangements will be upset. Sow, to avoid both evils, I would suggest that you don't let either of them know of the mistake, but just stay on here, in Mrs Mudge's careshe had plenty of room—until Mr Podworthy's return at the end of theweek , and with your permission, 1 will devote what "time I can in showing you round, and helping you to enjoy yourself." The girl flushed and hesitated. This would certainly solve the difficulty ; and she had already begun to like this young man. "But 1 couldn't think of imposing^—" "Oh, it's all right, Miss Seymour, Mr Podworthy impressed upon me that he would hold himself responsible for the account of 'Polly's' keep. Do stay, and as I promised to notify your uncle on the parrot's safe arrival, we'll draw up a telegram together." So. Mrs Mudge adding her persuasion, the girl consented, and the following wire was despatched to Prestwick : 'Marine Hotel, Prestwick. "Polly arrived safely this afternoon. Looks well, and settled down all right.—Ormiston." And Mr Peter Podworthy, elated with a victory in the"foursome," lit a fresh cigar and blessed his lucky stars for a sensible head clerk like Ormiston. " Well, Ormiston," said Mr Podworthy on his return. " Anil how's Polly ?" " Oh, very well, sir." " Speaks well, eh >." | " Oh, very nicely." Then with certain pleasant recollections—"lndeed, charmingly, sir !" E"And taking food all right." "Oh. yes—pretty fair."

"Well, you'll let me know the cost and you might bring Polly along to my house this evening." j "Very good, sir."

Mr Podworthy was enjoying his evening paper when the door-hell rang, and Mrs Binns announced the [head clerk.

"Ah, Ormiston, it's vou. Well, Where's Polly ?" I "In the hall sir. Will you come [•out and see ?"

Mr Podworthy stood staring at | the young lady who stood demurely awaiting them, and then back at Orluniston.

; "Well, Ormiston ; who's this, eh'"' "This is Polly, sir !" said the p'oung man, gravely. i !'^ ly v * hy — ! Wl, y ! Wh *< '" Oh, Uncle Peter ' cried Pollv |-and was round his neck iu another iminute.

"Ormiston," said Mr Podworthy later, "you're a deceitful young man but you secured n.e a good holiday [and I II raise your salary, I will '" \ ' Thank you, sir ! There's onlv [•one other thing •' f " Yes ? What's that V" 1 "J'd like to keep Polly altogeth-

I "Oh you would, would you ' But Jwhal does Polly herself say '" say .s 'Yes,'" said P„„ y