Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-03-04
A COVETED TREASURE.

Easton Flayelle, not far from the utili-
tartan town of Northampton. is an I'M
usually fortunate village 1t possesses
a paladium-still possesses it, despite a
uefarious attempt made in recent times
to abstract it,
Some few years ago the vicar of
Easton Flavelle was seated one evening
in MS study before comfortable fire.
The month was December 10 be pre-
else, it was Christmas week, and Rev.
Edward Bullinger, handsome man a
little over 40 had much upon his mind
coal CLUBS. clothing clubs, charities, church
decorations, and what not.
His medtations were suddenly inter
rupteI 4 servant announced Mrs.
Spa1kston. The divine rose and advanced
to meet the lady with considerable en-
rressemeut.
Welcome, my dear Mrs. Sparkston,"
he exclaimed as he grasped her hand.
You find me engaged in the usual paro-
thial problems problems which assume
such formidable dimensions at this sea
SON. Behold in me-if you will pardon
the solecism-a committee of one-a COM
mittee OF ways and means. sef-eon-
stituted. and of unlimited liability
/ Can | be of any assistance" inquired
Alabama Sparkston, blusidng pcrecptibly
! for some reconcile reason. Il really
called this evening to say how pleased
should be to send down some flowers
| from tie hothouses for the church, and
to undertake the decoration of the pulpit,
If ] may"
You ure always so good and kind re-
! Piled the vicar, with conviction. 81 need
hardly say that | shall thankfully avail
| myself OF both offers"
| The widow drew forth from her seal
SKIN mrlI a delicious little portemonnaie.
| hich she opened with trembling hanG
and took ont paper that cracked crisp
| IS in her slender fingers.
Il want to make small donation for
your poor" She explained, as She banded
II to him. Il always feel so guilty amid
| my comforts and Injuries at Christmas
when ! realize how many there are suf-
| feImg from want and hunger around me.
| Mr. BulIingcr saw by the bright light
of the dro--for the interview was a
climoscuro one, if the expression may be
allowed that he was the recipient of
i DUN vi IAulHtllu Ibtt lOF Ilu,
He was good and charitable man
although a haehelor-an and his deep voice
tremhled with real emotion as he muir
INJURED, This is indeed generous. You
are the guardian angel of Easton Flavelle.
Your munifcent gift will supply more
than one poor home | Wot of with album
/ dant Christmas fare"
! Mrs. Sparkston, whom we have so UNI
tremendously introduced, was the relict
ct a millionaire lronmaster in the north.
/ She was, moreover, an American. scion
/ of one of the wealthy kuickerboeker
/ families OF New York Sole lcgatce of
her hu>tuIad. who, although their union
had not been blessed with children. had
nevertheless passionatcly loved her and
possessed of her own enormous fortune.
which had been settled upon her at mar.
riagc, she had made her avatar in Easton
Flavclle during the early DAYS of her
WidoWl,ood, almost year before the date
Mt which our story opens.
1t happened in this wise: She had been
staying with some friends i'm Northamp-
ton, and CHANGING 10 hear that the Manor
house and estate of Easton Flayelle were
IN the market had promptly acquired
them. Since her arrival She had been
foremost i'll all good works in the village.
had been regular in her attendance Mt
church, and had rendered inyaluble aid
10 the vicar III his philauthropic enter
iri,os.
Alas with all this virtue the fair
American had one damuing hobby. She
was collector of antiques, Nothing in
this way came amiss to her. We are al
most ashamed to add that her ruling
passion caused her to regard with ewes of
untoiy longing even the sacrosauct pal.
adum of Eastou Flavclle!
That fetch formed the subject of her
meditations now as she stepped daintilv
over the crisp snow on her homeward
way.
Il feel myself a traitress coming ont
OF the presence of that excellent man
She sighed. Il wonder if he noticed my
guilty manner. This craze for hric-a
oroe Is my bCsctting sin, and every dav
l am less and less able to struggle
against it. 1t j. Il fatal mania. and
Tear Will be- my ruin. To think that
q HnJilouaifc-> as the world calls me
should envy him his one eve-lamb-I
meath. ct course, that curious old san,plsr
IN the ye~try,'
"Ae,.' She went on. with feminine in.
consistency, and l am determined n
have IL. too. by hook or bv croolt h
Noul" be useless and absurd to ask him
To sell IT, Even were he willing Ia do so
which | douht-the church war8eus
and Pensioners would never rive their
consent, Only one course is open 10 me
and that course my conscience utterly
Condemns, Tor it has an ugly look of dis
honesty and sacnlege After all. has