The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-04-05
| DEAL AND IDEAL
by RUDOLPH TRESsINGHAM..


Clancy Wyeth had a deal in mind and
process. Joseph Trull an ideal. The for
mer was popularity designated as
keen, practical business man, the lat
ter as visionary and dreamer. Ma
ture had formed both with strong in
dividual intellectually.
Clancy Wyeth was floor broker for
big firm on the grain exchange. It's
offices were rare glitter of gilt and
plate glass. Joseph Trull had a desk
and narrow office in an obsolete bust
ness block, where he did translation
work for the foreign departments of
local banks.
Il have pretty idea in mind" he
told friend one day. "You know our
old family homestead, fifteen miles
from the city of Fendale, is mine. IT
has not been occupied for two years.
They have built up some palatial
homes near to it, and have been wait
ing, expecting to get good offer for
it. Well, the house is old, but it can
be made habitable. There are fifteen
bearing cherry trees in the orchard
Il
tie ones out for week, soon as the
cherries are ripe"
Excellent! grandr' commented his
friend.
Il shall pick out fifteen Of the most
deserving children" continued TruIl,
"and appOrtiOn to each tree. 1t will
be their tree to dream over, to long
e, r
the fifteen for q week, hire a cook and
a nurse. One week end the mother Of
each little one will come out and pick
one tree, and / will see that the cher
ries are delivered by wagon ut the
city home"
Just this plan Jasper Trull put into
operation. The mothers who came out
with the little ones, were provided
with ladders and baskets, and went
home happy and content. There was
one little tot, the youngest of the
group, a girl not yet three years of
age. She and the others were allowed
to roam freely about the place.
81 cannot find little Dora" the
nurse informed Trull one afternoon
near dusk, and he started off in search
of her. Nearing a high hedge that
separated the grounds from those Of
a fine mansion occupied by a family
named Crosby, he caught the echo of
voices, and paused. He noticed hole
In the hedge, and peering over its top
his eye took in a lovely picture.
Upon the grass was seated a beauti
full young woman, whom he doubted
not was Miss Eunice Colby. She had
little Dora in her lap, and had woven
garland of flowers for her. The
prattling tot was beaming with de-
light
"PleaSe excuse me-" spoke Joseph,
"but the nurse is anxious about this
wandering little charge of hers, and I
promised to find her"
ooh, you are Mr. Trull," spoke the
young lady, arising and kissing little
Dora and then handing her through the
hedge. Il have heard so much of
your noble work. Will you not allow
this sweet little mite to come over
again tomorrow? The rest of the
family are away, and she is rare COM
pany."
Joseph promised. The nurse herself
the next morning took Dora to the
hedge and consented that she should
remain all day in Miss Colby's charge,
as the latter wished.
Now, by a strange freak of fate,
Clancy Wyeth visited the Colby home
that day. He had only casual &C.
quaintance with Miss Colby, but he
had her in view as a prospective heir
ess, and hoped to make an impression.
For his IDEAL" looked fine
"The little brat" he fairly Kissed,
after devOting an hour to Miss Colby,
he found her devotedly engrossed in
entertaining her little visitor and act
ing rather bored at his presence. He
went away disgruntled.
"She won't be so Indifferent, when
I make my pile on the DEAL" he NUT
tered.
''Please keep a little back from the
hedge, Miss Colby" Trull said one eve
ming. Little Dora is down with fe-
yer. The doctor says it is infectious,
lIldI we HuSL luC
house. Do not run any risk. I will
have the nurse keep you Informed as
to how Dora gets along"
But there was no nurse the next day.
They had taken the alarm, as we'll as
the cook. Both had departed. Trull
had cooked the breakfast himself, and
was attending as best he might to the
three who had come down with the
fever, when knock at the door sent
him thither. He opened it to confront
Miss Colby. She had a suitcase in
her hand and started to come in.
"You must not" he told her. cit
would be only to expose yourself to
the contagion."
Gut l have come to stay" persist
ed the determined little lady. "Please
don't scOld or deter me, Mr.. Trull," she
pleaded. II have sent for two nun ses
in the village, and, if you will iso-
late and care for the well ones, we
will attend to the sick little charges"
One month after that, Clancy Wyeth,
the man of the deal, found that the
inf hn hnI Il 60 70 h.