The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-10-22
The Parsons Thief


new moon That Gerald Alton, muS1ne
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 a vegetable
garden, he thought fearfully 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.
As his footsteps sounded on the
gravel of the path the white object
moved from the middle of the garden
and fed. He heard the click of the
gate and then silence.
HUM" unused the rector, and bent
over his lettuce bed. "A thief" he
said as he Strengthened up.
The next morning fuller investi-
cation showed that there had been
depredations of onions and radishes.
But the minister said nothing to his
housekeeper. Common thieves do not
come CARRIED in white, nor are they
of slender outline and graceful.
The rector had no unusual powers
of penetration, but 1t had not taken
him many moments to decide that the
spoiler of his garden was woman.
But why he debated the next
night as he finished his sermon, why
should a woman steal-a lady, I 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
did not answer his question. And
after his sermon was finished, he
again turned out 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
closer and closer came the ghostly
figure, until it stood just beneath his
window
Then a voice said: 81 have come
to pay for the vegetables"
"Oh!" His usual readiness Of speech
had forsaken the clergyman. "Oh. l
beg your pardon"
mo, you needn't beg 1t" the voice
SAID again. Il picked some lettuce
and things last night, and here is the
money. 1t wasn't very conventional
way to go to market, but we wanted
q 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.
"Ah," 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, l am such new
housekeeper-we came only yesterday
and Susanna, my maid, forgets to
tell me when things are done, and
the shops are so far away-so, while
she made an omelette, flew into your
garden-and--and flew back, and no
one was the wiser"
81 saw you," the rector Informed
her, land l thought you we're thief
"Oh!" There was little gasp. ut
did look like it, didn't it? But you
see l have brought the money" and
the silver glittered on the sill as she
spread it out before him.
NO." the rector protested, you are
perfectly welcome to anything you
care to take"
ooh, but you must" there was q
note of alarm in her voice, because ]
should feel as If l had stolen If 1 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
own" she demanded.
He sighed II hardly dare allow
myself the luxury. It is cheaper to
raise ones vegetables than to buy
them"
81 suppose doubtfully. that your
living is not a very good one?'
mo, but there are donations" his
eyes twinkled
"Such as roses?" she was laughing
up at him. The moonlight touched
her hair with gold. Gerald Allton's
pulses began to beat.
MAY l come over some time and
walk with you in your rose garden? 2
he asked.
Come now" was the quick re
Spouse.