The Hope pioneer., 1922-10-12
Herkimer's
Folly
Bv CLARA DELAFlELD

of the Herkimers, how LethDt1o8e
Herkimer, the last of the old family.
had built the great house for himseaf
and his bride-that bride who disap-
peared six days before the marriage
$50 Mr.. Herkimer moved back toy.
the old manor house-and he's there
still" the native would conclude his
story.
Rare we're the occasions when Leth-
bridge Herkimer went into the VII
lage. 1t must have been 6ve-and-
twenty years since the day that shat
tered his hopes and made him RS
cluse. He still adhered to his old
fashioned ways. drove a phaeton m
stead Of car, wore old-fashioned
clothes. A great scholar. A man 70
be proud of, though the village never
saw him, but wrapped up in his books.
A mlsanthrope, too. Yes, he had ~
fused to subscribe to the church organ
or the children's fund. They left him
alone. Herkimer was character
they let 1t go at that.
Miss Nancy Rivers, the new school,
ma'am, did things with high hand.
Domineering? mol! The village
couldn't call her that. Fussy? A lit
tie, perhaps. Miss Nancy had big
theories about education.
A little woman-oh, thirty to thir-
ty-five, perhaps Must have been q
good-looker, and was still pretty, but
she didn't spare herself. And the
schoolhouse was certainly tumblin1
down, and as for new one-well, the
village hadn't been fourishing since
the factory went to pieces and
Did you hear It? Miss Nancy was
going to ask old Herkimer to let the
children use Herkimer's Folly. The,
nerve, the sand, the-gall She
wouldn't darej She'd balk!
Miss Nancy didn't balk. though
all the village knew 1t was az much
as woman's life was worth to ven
ture up to the old manor house. Misc
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
mottled by turns. voiced his Objee-
tions.
Miss Nancy looked up straight betsrs
him.
II think you are the most selfish
man I've ever known, Mr.. HerkimeF."
it,, 49,,
Herkimer, who had never been
browbeaten before, was forced into
sullen capitulation. Miss Nancy left
with the promise that Herkimers
Folly should be used us schooihOuse.
Within few days the disused CORR.
doris resounded with the patter Of
children's feet, the sound of childish
laughter.
One day a shadow fell across Miss
Rivers desk. She looked up to Gee
Herkimer there
"Well, how d'you like the placer
he growled. Z
"Tt's lovely" said Miss Nancy. "ao
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, 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. y,
"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.
II don't know what it is" the doe
tor grudgingly admitted. II 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 Herkimer began to mend. Before
the term began again he was walking
on Miss Nancy's arm around his gar
den.
"Guess had to get we'll before you
went away" he growled. Don't
fancy dying alone, though I've lived
alone, God knows"
"You must leave your seclusion."
said Miss Nancy.
"You must see people. Mr.. Herki-
mer, there is SO much in life-you've