The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1922-08-31
Herkimer's
Folly
By CLARA DELAFIELD

"ThatY the native would say, as
the visitor pointed to the great man
sion on the hill.
"Why, that's Herkimers Folly'
That's what we calls it,"
He would go on to tell of the pride
of the Herkimers, how Lethbridge
Herkllner, the last Of the old family,
had built the great house for himself
and his bride-that bride who dlsap-
peared six days before the marriage.
$50 Mr. Herkimer moved back to
the old manor house-and he's there
stilIr the native would conclude his
story.
Rare were the occasions when Leth-
! bridge Herklmer went into the vii
lage. 1t must have been five-and-
twenty years since the day. that shat
tered his hopes and made him re-
cluse. He still adhered to his old
fashioned ways, drove a phaeton In
stead of a car, wore old-fashioned
clothes. A great scholar. a man to
be proud Of though the village never
saw him, but wrapped up in his books
A misanthrope, too. Yes he had re-
fused to subscribe to the church organ
or the children's fund. They left him
alone. Herkimer was a character
they let it 90 at that
Miss Nancy Rivers, the new school
ma'am, did things with high hand
Domineering? Noll The village
couldn't call her that, Pussy? A lit
tie perhaps, Miss Nancy had big
theories about education.
A little woman-oh, thirty to thir-
ty-five. perhaps. Must have been a
good-looker, and was still pretty, but
she didn't spare herself. And the
schoolhouse was certainly tumbling
down, and as for new one-well, the
village hadn't been tlOurishing since
the factory went to pieces, and
Did you hear it? Miss Nancy was
going to ask old Herkimer to let the
children use Herlimers Folly. The
nerve, the sand, the-galll She
wouldn't dare! She'd balk
Miss Nancy didn't balk, though
all the village knew 1t was as much
as a woman's life was worth to ven
ture up to the old manor house. Miss
Nancy marched past the scared old
butler and confronted Herkimer at his
desk.
$50 I want you to let us have the
use of that big empty house." said
Miss Nancy in conclusion.
Herkimer who had gone pink and
notified by turns, voiced his objec-
tions.
Miss Nancy looked up straight before
him.
~ think you are the most selfish
man I've ever known, Mr.. Herkimer,"
she said. 81 think you are-the linn
It."
Herkimer who had never been
browbeaten before, was forced into
sulen caplulation. Miss Nancy left
with the promise that Herklmer's
Folly should be used as Il schOOlhouse.
Within a few days the disused CORR
doris resounded with the patter of
chlldren's feet, the sound of childish
laughter.
One day a shadow fell across Miss
Rivers desk. She looked up to see
Herkimer there.
"Well, how d'you like the placer
he growled
ITS lovely" said Miss Nancy go
on, children! The next verse,
please!"
Herkimer glared and went away.
He was not used to being treated
cavalierly. Nevertheless, he came
again. Often he would stand, a silent
spectator Of the school. Once or
twice he was seen in the playground.
Once he was caught romping with
little May Bradley, the crippled girl.
1t was Miss Nancy who caught him.
Old Herkimer flushed guilty.
"I-er-I was thinking of asking
you to let me subscribe for the an
nual school treat" he suggested
A few weeks later a rumor ran
around the village. Old Herkimer
was ill-seriously ILL., The butler had
said he was afraid he wouldn't live.
He was dying alone-up in the old
manor house.
Miss Nancy heard, and put on her
hat. A second time she stood before
old Herkimer who lay, white and
drawn in the big four-poster
"What d'you want?" growled Old
Herkimer.
I'm going to take care Of YOU till
school reopens," answered Miss
Nancy.
Old Herkimer was too weak to do
anything but growl Thenceforward
Miss Nancy was at his bedside night
and day.
81 don't know what 1t is" the doc
tor grudgingly admitted 81 guess he's
tired of life. Strange; he can't be
much past fifty. You can't help him.
Miss Nancy did help him Slowly
Old IIerkimer began to mend. Before
the term began again'he was walking
on Miss Nancys arm around his gar.
den
Guess ! had to get well before you
went away" he growled "Don't
fancy dying alone, though I've lived
alone, God knows"
you must leave your secluslon,'
said Miss Nancy.
you must see people. Mr.. Herki
mer, there is so much in llfe--you've
| missed"
Herkimer pointed to the great
mansion on the hill "They call II