Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1909-11-19
The Parsons Thief


N@~@~~G~|~|~~-~NN%
It was on the third night of tn,
new moon that Gerald Alton, musin,
on his sermon in the darkness of hi
study, beheld from the window some
thing white moving in the garden.
AS Allton's garden was vegetable
garden, he thought fearfully of some
thing sinfully trampling on his salads
and he rose hastily. Standing JUS
behind the window shutter he decid
ed. however, that a dog would b.
shorter, a horse taller, and he die
not believe in ghosts.
He went into the hall, took his ha
from the rack and stepped softly ovel
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 benz
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 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 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: IT have come
to pay for the vegetables"
Obi" His usual readiness of speech
had forsaken the clergyman. "Oh, 1
beg your pardon"
mo, you needn't beg it," the voice
said again. 81 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
a 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-hungrv
and there was nothing in the house
but eggs. You see, 1 am such a new
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 vour
garden-and-and flew back, and no
one was the wiser"
II saw you," the rector informed
her, "and thought you were a thief"
"Ohl" There was a little gasp. ar
did look like 1t, didn't it? But Won
see l have brought the money" and
the silver glittered on the sill as abe
spread 1t out before him.
NO." the rector protested, "you are
perfectly welcome to anything Won
care to take"
"oh, but you must" there was a
note of alarm in her voice, ''becausa
should feel as If l had stolen II am
not allowed to pay"
He was smiling down at her. .Yor
AN pay me by giving me a rose from
your garden" he said.
why don't you have roses Of your
'wn?' she demanded.
He sighed. 81 hardly dare allow
myself the luxury. 1t is cheaper n
'aise ones vegetables than to buy
hem"
Il suppose" doubtfully, that your
living is not very good one?'
mo, but there are donations" his
yes twinkled.
Such as roses?" she was laughing
lp at him. The moonlight touched |
Ter hair with gold. Gerald Allton's
'ulses began to beat.
May I come over some time and
Talk with you in your rose garden Pc
10 asked.
Come now" was the quick re-
ponsS.