Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-10-05
The Parsons Thief



AS Allton's garden was 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 a dog would be
shorter, hosse 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 TIE
gate and then silence
"Humi" unused the rector, and bent
ever 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 .actor 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, l am
sure by the grace OF her carriage
why should she steal my little onions
and my lettuceX
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 mused, he saw a
patch of white at the end of the
garden. Breathless he watched, and
closer and closer came the ghostly
figure, until 1t stood Just beneath his
window.
Then a voice said: 81 have come
to pay for the vegetables"
"Ohl" His usual readiness of speech
rad forsalxen the clergyman. "Oh,
beg your pardon"
mo, you needn't beg it." the voice
said again. II picked some lettuce
and things last night. and here is the
money. 1t wasn't a 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-hungry
and there was nothing in the house
but eggs You see, ! am such a new
housekeeper--we came only yesterday
and Susarne, my maid, forgets to
tell me when things are done, and
the shops are so far away--so, while
she made an omelette. l flew into your
Sarden-and-an flew back, and no
one was the wiser"
'T saw YOU the rector Informed
her, land I thought you were thief"
"Oh!" There was little gasp. at
did look like it. didn't it? But you
the silver glittered on the sill as she
spread 1t out before him.
NO" the rector protested. you are
perfectly welcome to anything you
care to take"
"Oh, but you must" there was a
note of alarm in her voice. because /
should feel as if had stolen if | am
not allowed to pay"
He was smiling down at her You
can pay me by giving me a rose from
your garden" he said.
why don't you have roses of your
own" she demanded.
He sighed Il hardly dare allow
myself the luxury. 1t is cheaper to
raise ones vegetables than to buy
them"
81 suppose" doubtfully, that your
living is not very good one?"
mo. bat there are donations" his
eyes twinkled.
such as roses?" she was laughing
up at aim. The moonlight touched
her hair with gold. Gerald Allton's
pulses began TO beat.
May | come over some time and
walk with you in your rose garden?'
he asked.
Come now" was the quick re
Spouse.
He went and 1t was the beginning
of friendship
HE is lovely" Constance confided
to her aunt. who had come up to heI
aiece'a country house FOR the purpose
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 a country
parson."
aHe has the dearest little cottage.
constance unused. with vegetable
garden. He sends over tomatoes anG
parsley. and l put roses in his button
hole. It's very interesting" shs
sighed.
ut may be tragic for him."
WHY
"If you made him love you-wha
them
~well?" Constance's tone as ,lafi
ant.
You can't marry anyone but Her
bert Wilcox"
Constance's eyes flashed. 4 can
II don't marry Herbert. merely
lose my inheritance. don't deny tina
| love this old house. Amt Anne
But did 1t ever occur to you that
might prefer a man to fortune?