The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1915-10-26
! The Miser
! OF HayeIock
: How the Flame Was Changed
to Prince of fiavei0ck."
BY CLARfSSA MACKEE
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Sally Birch glanced curiously III the
house set back among the dropping
elms. Her aunt saw the glance ana
talked volubly.
You remember I've written yo;.
about the man who has taken the Cl,:
Havelock placer
YES" replied Sally You callct,
him an old miser. Really Aunt Jane.
does he count his gold in Il dusty. cob
webbed room?'
Fiddler snorted Jane Gray. "Of
course he doesn't do that. But he is
SO stingy he won't give cent toNa..:
any charity, and he even stays away
from church. Folks say he is too
mean to put a penny in the contribt-
ton box"
Sally laughed indulgently. Poor cid
man. she said. IF he really knew
what his neighbors said about him d.
you suppose he would summon pride.
to his aid and give something"
I'm sure he would not asserted
Jane, with emphasis. Hes been al
preached by every one. | even Wen
there myselfp'
"And he refused?' asked Sally.
Eyes He said, Madam if | could
see my way clear to contribute toward
| your church expenses | would Go -
but 1 cannot afford it. SAID to BIT:
Mr. Worth, don't conceal your MIC
| gardly nature behind a lie. Any OPS
who can afford to rent the Haveloct
place must be a rich man
"What did he say then?" questione0
Sally.
"He grew very red, and l don't won
der, and he said nothing whatever. f."
l didn't give him an opportunity.
came away"
Sally glanced once more through tn.
gateway. There was a gardener NOW
ing the velvety lawns. From oyer the
hedge came the rich, sweet smell OF
lily of the valley.
"When | was a little girl I used to
slip inside the gate and pick lilies of
the valley" said Sally reminiscently.
"That was when the Havelocks lived
here" interposed Jane. s'There have
been many changes since you came {"
visit me fifteen years ago. The Have
locks have become millionaireS and
rarely come to Lyndbridge was Sur
prised to learn they had rented tic
place"
Sally's blue eyes watched the VANISH
ing form Of the gardener. The ci"t',
of the lawn mower died away III IN.
distance
you go on. Aunt Jane. said re
girl. ''Im going to get some lilies. :
shall be home almost as soon rs yo4
are" she added as the trim LITE lad
protested Gwen if he is mise
am sure old Mr. Worth won't min +:
my having a few flowers. Probably
he doesn't know they're here at al
I'm sure buttercups and dandelion@
are his favorite blossoms. They're the
color of gold, you know"
Sally waved a laughing farewell and
slipped through an opening in the tall
clipped hedge.
"Ohr' she cried sharply, for a man
confronted her
He was sitting back on his heels
among the stiff green leaves, of the
lily bed. and in his hand was great
bunch of the fragrant flowers.
There was hardly a dainty blossom
left in the bed.
He was very tired looking man,
with quite gray hair. His eyes were
brown and his eyebrows very black.
meeting symmetrically on the bridge
of a very handsome nose.
He glanced cOOlly at Sally, and she
was conscious that the brown eyes did
not disapprove of her dainty self.
Her usually sweet voice became very
cold and cOntemptuous.
81 came in to get few lilies" she
said as he rose to his tall height. q
am sure Mr. Worth would not care.
ne has so many
"My name is Worth" he said. look
ing keenly at her.
"You?" she cried incredulously
Then you heard what we We're say
ing about your father. I suppose?''
He nodded. "My father has been
dead for three years" A look of pain
crossed his features and vanished in
a grim smile. Il am James Worth.
| am the miser of Havelock.''
Sally's face was crimson with en-
barrassment, but she lifted a naughty
chin.
You liStened!' she accused.
II couldn't help it. These lilies had
to be picked. l have promised them
by noon. They are for Miss Trent's
wedding bouquet. You see, l am ex-
planning why | cannot give them to
you"
"Ah, no! But l am glad that you
do not mind my trespassing" she said
hastily.
Il am afraid l would have objected
to your taking my flowers he said
coolly. You see. l am TO be we'll paid
for this bouquet. l could not afford
to give them away"
The contemptuous look came back to
Sally's eyes.
"Of course not.' She moved toward
the open gate; it would be too undigni-
fed to squeeze through his hedge again.
The situation required a conventional
exit.
But fate ordained otherwise Some
thing crunched under her little white
shoes
MY hatr' he cried tragically.
Sally dashed the tears awar al ex.
tricated her foot from the ruined hat.
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