The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1871-07-13
THE MILLER'S BOARDER.

THE MILLER'S BOARDER.
In the village of Clatville, in one of
the northern counties of England, there
lived, some years since, man named
Rushton, a miller BY occupation, quiet
good natured man, aud thrifty in bis
business. Bob was very intimately
known by the whole neighborhool, for
his mill was the only good one about, in
the region of Clatvile.
Rushtm bad no children, and for sew.
eral years after his marriage the miller
and his wife got along nicely without
any domestic. living frugally and hap
PLY. at last, there came along an old
bachelor, by the name Of Henry Bless
ner, who desired to take lodgings with
them. He was we'll to do in the world
and required only quiet home; his
money was safely invested, and he bad
had enough Of the confusion of town
life. The terms were agreed upon, and
Blessner took up his abode at the "Pond
House." as Rushton called his residence.
Soon after, the miller's wife found the
care Of her family too great for her, and
a servant was taken into her family to
assist her, to whom but trtiing wages
were paid. 1t was soon found that Bet
sew Ransom was not what she was tax
en- for. She would lie when she COM
mitted faults, and she was not over in
dustrious in her inclinations. But Clat.
Vile was an out of-the.way place, and
the wife of Rushton could do no better
so she managed rs best she could. and
continued to retain the girl, who soon
became acquainted with dissolute man
employed at the neighboring inn, who
made it suit to visit her often ut the
Pond House.
"Wbere did you get acquainted witt
this man Easton % asked the miller.
wife, one day of Betsey. alluding to The
visits Of this fellow.
ERE in town, ma'am' replied The
girl.
"And did you never see him until yol
came to CIatville to live with me ~
continued Mrs. Rushton.
/ "No ma'am-never in in my life."
"Mr. Rushton says he is not Yer,
respectable person; and he thinks yo,
would be better off you did not per
NIT him to visit you here"
| "If some. people / could name woul,
mind their own affairs-I don't meal
you, ma 'am-they would get along bet
ter, I think" replied Betsey, and Mrs
Rushton turned away.
A week afterward the miller and hi
wife went over to the shire town, on
temporary visit, and returning home a
a late hour in the day, lost their way
mistaking the road. After riding som
miles, after dark, the miller discovere'
his mistake, and turned homeward one
more, where he did not arrive until nea
midnight.
lie found his house locked fast, an
supposing, from the lateness of the hour
that the inmates were asleep, he knock
ed Justify, and called to Betsey to admi
him, but he received no answer.
"she sleeps soundly, on my word,
said the miIler's wife.
"Sleep!" exclaimed Rushton. "if sh
wasn't so confounded lazy by daylight
I'd swear she was dead. But where ca
Blcssner be? II he's here, to be sure h
must hear this noise. Halo! open tn
doorn' shouted the miller, and givin
ii kick the latch gave way, and h
went tumbling headlong into the Ell
try.
"By Jove!" be exclaimed, picking IL
his portly person again, "the door WASH
fastened at all. They left it open ft
u.s."
"Why didn't you try the handle frs
then ?" queried his wife.
~ s'posed it was locked, Of course,
this time o'night," said Rushton. "B1
where's Betsey ?"
"Abed," suggested Mrs. r.
"See, then, If she be I've made moi
enough to wake dead man. Go ar
: see if she's In. More'n likely shes tai
en- her chance to he off with that spal
of hers, Easton."
Mrs. Rushton went to the girls roor
but it was vacant. She came down, nj
the miller then went to his boardel
apartment to ascertain if he were the
when, a moment afterwards, his W,
was astounded to hear him shrek o
for her, as be came to the door of Bic.
ner's bed room "Quick, Esther! Bic:
ner'e dead murdered" ssE @.s%&&