Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1922-08-10
Herkiner's
Folly
BIZ CLARA DELAFlELD

>
He would 20 on to tell Of the pride
Of the Herkimers, how Lethbrldge
Herkimer. the last Of the old family
had built the great house for himself
and his bride-that bride who disap-
peared six days before the marriage.
$50 Mr.. Herkimer moved back to
the old manor house-and he's there
still" the native would conclude his
story,
Rare were the occasions when Leth-
bridge Herkimer went into the VII
lage. It must have been fve-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 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 60 at that.
Miss Nancy Rivers, the new school,
ma'am, did things with a high hand.
Domineering? Not! 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 vas certainly tumblln!g
down. and as for new 0ne-well, the
village hadn't been fourishlng 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 dare! Shed balk!
Miss Nancy didn't balk, though
all the village knew 1t was as much
as a womanS 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
mottled by turns, voiced his objec-
tons.
Miss Nancy looked up straight before
him. >'s
IT think you are the most selfish
| man I've ever known, Mr.. Herkimer,
| she said. II think you are--the linz
It."
| Hersimer, who had never been
browbeaten before, was forced Into
s1ilen equalization. Miss Nancy left
with the promise that Herkimcr,s
| Folly should be, used as schoolhouse.
| Within few days the disused CORR
doris resounded with the patter or
chiidren's feet, the sound OF childish
laughter.
One day q shadow fell across Miss
Rivers desk. She looked up to see
Herkimer there.
swell, how d'you like the placer
be growled.
| .1t's lovely" said Miss Nancy. "Go
on, chiIdrenl The next verse
please"
/ Herkimer glared and went away
He was not used to being treated
cavaiieriy. Nevertheless, he came
again. Often he would stand, a silent
spectator OF the school. Once OF
twice he was seen In; the playground
Once he was caught romping witt
little May Bradley, the crippled girl.
Il II 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 raj
around the village. Old HerkIne
| was ill--seriously III. The butler hai
said he was afraid he wouldn't live
He was dying alone-up in the oil
manor house.
i Miss Nancy heard. and put on he
hat. A second time she stood befor
4 old Herkimer, who lay. white an
drawn In the big four-poster.
"what d'you ,want?' growled OF
Herkimer.
Elm going to take care OF you 81
school reopens," answered Mis-
Nancy.
Old Herkiner was too weak to 4
anything but growl. Theneeforwar
Miss Nancy was at his bedside nigh
/ and day.
II don't knew what It ~ the do
tor grndeinsly admitted. II guess ne
tirsd Of. life. Strange he can't p
u much past fifty. You cant help him
Fl Miss Nancy did help him. Slow
| Old Herkimer began to mend. BefC1
the term began again he was walkiu
on Miss Nancy's arm around his GA
q den.
I'll ..Guess had to get well before 20
Il went away" he growied. Don
i fancy dying alone, though I've live
4 alone. God knows"
i "You must leave your seclusion
Il said Miss Nancy.
Il lassl -. ~. r. "a.