Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-07-30
THE PARSONS THIEF.


sermon in the darkness of his study, be-
held from the window something white
moving in the garden.
As Allton's garden was a vegetable
garden. he thought fearfnlly of some
and he rose hastily. Standing just be-
hind the window shuttle, he decided,
however, that a dog would be shorter. a
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 81
lence.
Hum" unused the rector, and bent
over his lettuce bed. "A thief" he said
as he Strengthened up.
The next morning a fuller investiga
ton showed that there had been depre-
dations of onions and radishes. But the
minister said nothing to his housekeep-
er. Common thieves do not come CARRIED
in white, nor Gre they of slender outline
and graceful.
The rector had no unusual powers of
penetration, bat it had not taken him
many moments to decide that the spoiler
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 lettuceY'
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: Il have come to
pay for the vegetables"
"Oh" His usual readiness of speech
had forsaken the clergyman. "Oh, |
beg your pardon"
mo, you needn't beg it." 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
All" her little laugh rippled out.
Think of my predicament. Some peo-
pie 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 Susanna.
my maid, forgets TO tell me when things
are done, and the shops are so far away
so, while she made an omeette, / flew
into your garden-and-and flew back,
and no one was the wiser"
i saw you," the rector informed her,
and thought you were thief"
4 Va, a
did look like it, didn't it? But you see
| have brought the money" and the sill
yer 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"
"Oh, but you must" there was a
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 rose from
your garden" he said.
Why don't you have roses of your
ownT she demanded.
He sighed. Il hardly dare allow my
self the luxury. 1t is cheaper TO raise
ones vegetables than to buy them"
Il suppose" doubtfully, that your
living is not very good one?"
No, 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 | come over some time and
walk with you in your rose garden?' he
asked
Come now,' was the quick response.
He went; and it was the beginning of
friendship.
He is lovely" Constance confded to
her aunt, who had come up to her
niece's country house for the purpose
Of chaperonage And he's in this vii
lage because he feels that he is needed
here"
Constance" the aunt warned, don't
get romantic over a country parson."
He has the dearest little cottage.
Constance unused, with a vegetable gar
den. He sends over tomatoes and pars-
ley, and | put roses in his buttonhole.
It's very interesting" she sighed.
1t may be tragic for him."
"Wby?"
IF you made him love you-what
them"
'Weny' Coustance's tone was def
ant.
You can't marry anyone but Herbert
Wilcox"
Constance's eyes flashed. Il can, If
my inheritance. l don't deny that
love this old house, Aunt Anne. But
did it ever occur TO you that l might
prefer a man to fortune?"
You would miss the fortune" was
the quiet answer. You were not made
for love in a cottage, Constance"
But Constance had gone down the
path.
She bent over pink rose bush and
picked a bud as Gerald Alton came in.
Roses red and violets blue" she
quoted. Can you tell me the rest
Of ity'
If YOU love me as love YOU" he
hesitated. You mustn't make me say
such things"
Why not?"
Because. have nothing to offer you
but cottage and a vegetable garden"
He was looking down at her with SOM
Der eyes
And if I don't marry one Herbert
Wilcox" she Informed him, Il lose my
fortune, And l won't marry him. so 1
am really Observation-Disclosures I'd like
10 come and live in your cottage"
Aunt Anue's chagrin over the enga ge-
ment found an outlet in a letter ro Her,