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

conscience ever yet deferred woman
from gratifying the darling desire of her
heart Je men doute. / shall have free
access to the church for the purpose of
decorating the pulpit. l shall have an
opportunity of carrying off the coveted
treasure unobserved Nobody will dream
of suspecting the wealthy Mrs. Spark
ston of the Manor hotise. ] shall lock it
up in the old Italian triptych in the
drawing room, and shall be able, when
ever | like, TO contemplate it, to worship
it, TO call it my own-lny very own"
Alabama murmured these last words
so softly and rapturously that chance
nearer would certainly have supposed her
to be in love, and abiding to her lover.
Nov | come to think of it," she
argued, 1T viii be neither sacrilege nor
a theft, The thing hangs in the vestry,
not in the body of the church; and
will bcstow upon the parish sum far
exceeding its actual value"
From all which it will be seen that
priests and lawyers do not by any means
enjoy a monopoly in casuistry
that Christmas the usual bucolic
apathy Of Easton Flayelle received two
shocks-one of a painful, the other of a
pleasurable nature.
The vicar, entering the vestry betimes
on CnTistmds morning, found, TO his sur
prise and horror, that the palladium had
been abstractcd-that the ark of Eastcn
Flayclle had presumably fallen into the
haIds of the Philistines; and some mu-
nifccnt person-wh0se identity people
were not slow in guessing-gave in tie
oiiertory bank note for fl00. Mr.. Bull
linger piously thought of the mysterious
law of compensation, without imagining
how literally and vaguely correct he was:
fOr, of course, the idea of conscience
money never entered his head As for
the people, they sorrowed with an una
vailing sorrow for their palladium; they
felt that the glory had indeed departed
from Easton Flavelle. The farmers over
came their rustic righteousness so far as
to offer a reward of Go for the recovery
of their lost fetch. All in vain; it never
turned up.
Winter rigors had yielded to the tickle
delights of spring. The sun was stream
ing in at the diamonded lattice of the
vicaragc study, and the disconsolate
figure of a lady in tears knelt at the
wears feet. The good man strove to
raise her, but she resisted his efforts.
''Oh, Mr.. BulIinger," she cried, despair
ingly, Il have known no rest, no peace,
no happiness since | took it! / am
wretchcd criminal, unworthy to look
upon your face"
Calm yourself, dear Mrs. Sparkston.
Judged by a strict ethical standard, your
action was-well, regrettable Shall |
say reprehensble? Still. antiques are
your faiblesse. You sinned under strong
temptation. | have no hesitation in say
ing that your offense, such as ii is, is
completely prged."
"Oh, how thankful | am for your kind
words! They have lifted a weight from
my SOUL exclaimed the widow, as she
rose to her feet, smiling through her
tears like a Teconciled Niobe. How can
| ever prove my gratitude?"
The vicar promptly rose-or rather
stooped--to the occasion Reversing the
postures which they had hitherto respec-
lively occupied. it was he now who
dropped on his knees and made answer.
BY giving me the right henceforth to
share all your joys and all your SORROWS.
by allowing me to add to the titles of
friend and adviser the still sweefer ones
of lover and husband. Twill you be my
wife, Alabama?"
Alabama Sparkston had asked a ques-
ton and obtained an instant response.
She felt that it would be illogical, nav,
cruel, to refuse the petition. Modern So.
tipty