"You shot him, Verty?"
Verty experienced,—he knew not why,—a feeling of extreme delight, on hearing his name from her lips.
"Yes, I did so, Redbud," he replied, confidentially, "and I cured him, too. Look at him, up there on the roof, coo-cooing! He was sailing over the town, and I sent an arrow after him, and brought him straight down."
"Oh, Verty! how cruel!"
"I never would 'a shot him if I had seen the name on his neck."
"The name—yes—"
"Yours, Redbud. There was a piece of paper, and on it—but here's the paper."
And Verty took from his bosom the yellow scroll, and placed it in
Redbud's hand.
She took it, smiling, and read the words—"I am Miss Redbud's pigeon, and Fanny gave me to her."
"Oh, yes," she said, "and I am glad he's come back; poor fellow, I hav'nt seen him for days!"