Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-09-29
The Parsons Thiet.

no dTSOn ) IIlI6l
~,~~~~-~~~~~~~<
It was ON the third night OF the
new moon that Gerald Alton, musing
5 ON his sermon In the darkness Of his
study, beheld from the window some
]. thing white moving In the garden.
As Allton's garden was . vegetable
garden, he thought fearfllly OF some
thing sinfully trampling on his salads.
and he rose hastily. Standing Just
behind the window shutter he decid-
ed, however. that dog would be
shorter. = horse taller. and he did
not believe in ghosts.
He went Into the hall. took his hat
from the rack and stepped softly over
the threshold.
Az his footsteps sounded on the
gravel Of the path the white object
moved from the middle Of the garden
and ned. He heard the click Of the
gate and then silence.
HUNT" unused the rector. and bent
over his lettuce bed. "a thief" he
said az he Strengthened up.
The next morning fuller investi-
cation showed that there had been
( depredations OF onions and radishesi
But the minister said nothing to his
housekeeper. Common thieves do not
come CARRIED in white, nor are they.
Sof slender outline and graceful.
The rector had no unusual powers
OF penetration. but It had not taken
him many moments to decide that the
spoiler Of his garden was a woman.
But why" he debated the next
night as he finished his sermon, why
should q woman steal lady, / am
sure. by the grace Of her carriage
/ why should she steal my little onions
and my lettuce?" ! &
But all the wisdom of-the Scriptures
I did not answer his question. And
after his sermon was finished, he
again turned ont his light and sat In
the darkness Of his study.
And again, as he unused. he saw a
patch OF white at the end Of the
garden. Breathless he watched. and
9 closer and closer came the ghostly
figure. until It stood Just beneath his
window.
Then voice said: Il have come
TO pay for the vegetables"
IS "Oh!" His usual readiness Of speech
had tcrsaken the clergyman. ooh. 1
beg your pardon"
No. you needn't beg II" the voice
said again. picked some lettuce
and things last night. and here Is the
money. It wasn't q very conventional
way to go to market, but we wanted
. salad. and @
The rector. peering over the sill.
caught the sparkle In her eyes as she
made her half apology.
You needed your salad late. he
said. dryly.
All" her little laugh rIppled out,
Think Of my predicament. Some
people came on the last train-hungry
and there was nothing In the house
but eggs. You see, am such q new
housekeeperwe came only yesterday
and Susanna, my maid, forgets to
tell me when things are done. and
ssthe shops are so far away so, while
she made an omelette. l few into your
I garden few back, and NO
I, one was the wiser" -
VI Il saw you,. the rector informed
& her, "and / thought you were a thief"
Obi" There was little gasp. at
did look like It. didn't 1t? But you
see I have brought the money" and
\ the silver glittered on the sill as she
spread It out before him.
mo-" the rector protested, ayou are
perfectly welcome to anything yom
care to take.p --'
oh. but You must" there was a
i note Of alarm In her voice, because I
should feel as II / had stolen II / am
not allowed to pay"
He was smiling down at her. "You
can pay me by giving me rose from
your garden, he said
Why don't you have roses Of your
ownF she demanded.
He sighed. Il hardly dare allow
myself the luxury. It is cheaper to
1 raise ones vegetables than to buy
3 them.
u suppose; doubtfully shat your
living 10 not very good one7'
mo, but there are donations" his
eyes twinkled.
such as roses!" she was laughing
I mp at him. The moonlight touched
her hair with gold. Gerald Aliton's
pulses began to beat.
May j come over some time and
walk with you in your rose garden?''
he asked.
Come now" va. the quick re
He Vent and it was the beginning
OF friendship.
"He Is lovely" Constance confided
to her aunt, who had come up to her
niece'a country house for the purpose
Z Of chaperonage. "And he's in this vii
lage because he feels that he Is need
ed here
Constance. the aunt warned,
don't get romantic over country
parson."
s.He has the dearest little cottage"
Constance unused. with q vegetable
K garden. He sends over tomatoes and
parsley. and I put roses In his button.
hole It's very interesting" she
{ sighed.
It may be tragic for him"
..Why?" s.
III you made him love youwhat
then?s
"wells" constance's tone was def.
ant. &
You can't marry anyone but Her.