Life — February 2, 1899 — page 8: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

88 Ho then flow to his father’s home, Beacon Street Mall, I n, third tree on the left fr ot. He was Jed for being out so late, but paid no attention to it, Thero was a mist in his brain, and a rin, in his ears that was so unprecedented and delightful, that I verily believe if Mr. Wattle hadn’t been too sleepy to prolong it, Willie might have answered back, Ho settled himself quietly on his perch, how- shook the dust out of his clothes, and with a merry twinkle, not so bad!" he put his bead wing and slept. One afternoon, a week later, Chirp was pore elub, when in hopped Wil with dejection exuding from every feather, “Tl fl * said Tom, “you're not aliving picture of ‘Gaiety. What's uf Willio perched himself in a 6 angle, and leaned his hea vainst the wall without a reply. A sympathet the corners of Tom’s bill for a a mont, then he “Come along with me; I each « Willie went, and when they reached. the tree of confidences said, “Now, out with it.” “Well, the amount of it been turned down —throw up the wh “Oh, nonsense! “Tve Willie, over, xelaiming, Oh, under his cluded smito played round said, guoss wo understand hor.” is, I'vo busines: said 1 thing to live for,” retorted “Besides, I'm not fit to live, A bird has only to look ugly att i I'm done for, even if I am in the right, and we both know it. Why don't you stand up then?” iply because I don’t know how. You see, when I tried it at home, I was peeked into submi you might as well exy ch out a cow eucum “Well, lot's hear about Miss Chippy. “The day after [last saw you I met her at Mrs, Fluffy’s flve-o'clock douche, at the Venus Fountain. She looked charming, and gave me considerable encouragement, so I put my name down for two showers anda plunge. She looked a little alarmed, but said, confidentially, ‘Al: right, but don't tell anybody.’ I promised, “First we had a shower, and I, at leas! enjoyed it very much; but when I came for tho plungo she asked to be excused, as she had a chill; and as for the second shower, sho was just starting off with that Dick Speckle when I came up and asked if this wasn't mine, “Sho looked me plumb in the eye, and said, ‘I don’t know, is it?” our claws, ion, and no’ et to bi from a or as to get boldness out of me. 2 a olay “Wo roforred to her list, and found it was Speekle’s, While they were douching, I went and examined her list carefully, and I'll swear Speckle scratched out my name and put in his, for the gravel tooked kicked up for quite a space around, He's an awfully self-important duffer, anyw simply because he douches so well. He always has movement — the Capric aud the girls like it because it attracts attention, “Well, afterward, when I saw her alone, sorry, and confided he tampered with © gave me a long, warm look some new vr the Lenox, or something else— she said she was cer t she believ hor list, 8 to me that made mo gulp down something that wasn’t there, and all was again serene, “The next day [had a very pleasant fly with her, and we beeame very confidential; she called me * Willie’ and [called ber ‘Dot.’ “Tho day after that I saw her in tho “Willie, [quess you'd better go home and do the chores. Public Garden, and determined this was a good chance to settlo the matter, so I gave her the song and dance you taught me,and [doubt if you could have done any better. ngs were extended at just the right and fluttered with just the proper eof tremulousness, I was really in very good form, and had made quite an impression, when along came that Speckle, and my self-confidence began to escape. “You know he is uncommonly graceful, anyway, bang him! and he knows it, too, so he didn't care if there were a dozen of me. I plucked up heart, however, and remem- bering how slightingly she spoke of him at the douche party, resumed my prom- enade, “He kept right on as though I wasn’t there, and in a few minutes I discovered that she seemed to agree with him. “ Thopped overand pecked at her as you told me to, but I'm afraid I was a trifle too emphatic, for she flew at me and damaged me considerably. Speckle then thought he would have some fun with me, and I was beginning to think I didn’t want her, any- way, When another bird appeared and gavo ckle the worst feather dusting 1 ever peck le disappeared, “Tlooked at my champion, and found to sot that it was father, Of course 1 felt reassured, and was about to resutne relations with Miss Chippy, when he guve me a look that would crack an egy, and said, “Willie, I guess you'd better go home and do the chores.” With that he flew off with her, and she looked mightily amused. »w what could I do—fly in tho fuce of ber? And then that *Wilhe,’ and “the chore ou must admit it was d—d humiliating. An uncomfortable situation, surely, said ‘Tom, “ Well,” resumed Willie, “later in the day Tencountered her on my way home. I put the question right to her—would she have me or not. She looked surprised, and said sho had supposed our rela- tions to be simply Platonic. Then she added, arebly, ‘I'll be a mother to you, though.’ Surecnough, The old gentleman, being a widower, had come into the game on his own account, they are wi my astonis! my fa > how ted, and T bave to do her chores, and get ordered around worse than ever.” “TL wouldn't stand it,” said Tom, “Why don’t you take apartments, and let them raise their own messengers? bachelor’s “So she supposed your relations were simply Platonic, did she? Well, if I know the type—and I think Ido —your father will think his relations are simply Plutonic, Never mind, your turn will By the way, I've kone and done it, Yes, sir; mated last Tuesday. The dearest little puff you ever saw. I didn’t suppose I could ever care for anyor but find that all that is necessary 18 a reasonable amount of attractiveness and mutual consideration. Time and association will do the rest. Come over us—Commonwealth Avenue, first tree on the right, west of Berkeley Str ow cheer up. It will come out all right. Good day." “Yes, that’s easy enough to say when it’s the other chap,” brooded Willie. “Still, I suppose he’s more than half right. If I could only go into a trance until things straighten out, it would be comparatively easy; but how am I ever to dragon like this, with a windmill in my head and a millstone in my chest?” “Hello! Here's where you are, is it?” broke in Pa Wattle. “Now get home pretty quick ; your mother wants you,” he added, with a malicious twinkle in his eye, come yet. und see