The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-08-30

with hia neighbor the miller aud tho
farmers Necessarily had constant dealings
together. Besides, were not Naomi and
Jeanette his Oldest lriendsY Apd the5Qr.
mer had much to say that was worth Us.
tenIng to about her foreign travels.
Familiarity was TO he expected, and he
went and came, as II seemed, under the
circumstances in Il perfectly natural and
likely manner.
Suddenly Jeanette disappears. She is
in the habit Of tripping down into Crew.
haven upon the slightest pretext, AMI has
become fonder of SO doing Of late. She
differs from her sister, in disposition; Is
vain, frivolous, likes display in dress, a
coouelte withal, with flashing eyes,
which have an intuitive kuaCk oil making
their meaning plain. Very French in
nature, chatting more or less ut the home
lie, and much more since Naomi's re-
turn, yet most lovable creature, and by
the same token very dear to her father
and sister. So that, on an unusually
stormy September evening, by the time
she should have been seen returning by
the CreWhaven road, and was not so seen,
an anxiety rapidly growing into dread
seized upon the hearts of the two watch.
ers at the mill-Watchers, for Naomi
shared in her fathers simple toll. The
work came easily, and was not new, her
tastes, ever rather inclining to simple
household duties befttiDghe station than
to action in wider sphere.
She loved the old mill and all connected
with 1t, had understood its action from a
child; knew how 10 manage it, had fed
1t at pinch when the tinklDg OF the bell
high up upon the shooting floor told that
the supply Of grain was running short.
Unlike her sister she loved the country,
too. Her native downs had moro lasting
charm for her than anything the gaycst
capital In the world had offered. Thus,
late on the September evening Aforesaid,
Naomi Is high up in the mill, and, as
darkness gradually begins to shut the
storm swept landscape from tue sight, she
looks Out from the window, expecting, as
usual, to descry Jeanette's trim little fig
urc coming along the Crewhaven road,
which, from the point Of vantage, lies be-
fore her like silver edging 10 the green
mantle OF the downs where they trend
toward the sea. But II is now deserted
not o sign Of lie upon 1t. Naomi pauses
still, for where 1t passes some farm build
ings and a small plantation it cannot be
seen; and so she thinks her sister is Just
thereabOuts, perhaps. No; there has been
plenty of time, had she 80 been, for her to
have now emerged into sight at the foot
of the downs and where the ascent begins.
Again she scans the white line from end
to end, and while she does so 1t melts into
the DRIFT OF rain.Cloud sweeping up from
the sea, and the autumnAl twilight comes
to an end.
Then, to her father straight. "What
has become oil JeaneltG?' Foolish child
TO stay so latew Much consultation.
Some discussion as TO the prudence Of
these constant visits to the port. Time
goes on; it is nine o'clock; it has been
dark more than nn hour, and the truant
still does not come home. Stokes, the |
miller's man, is dispatched with Ian
tern TO Wavingdear farm, and thence,
should he get 10 tidings there, to the
town, in all route OF some four miles
thus It may be twelve o'clock before he
can get back, wind, weather, aud inqui-
ries duly considered. At last he comes,
and alone; not sign, not word OF Jean.
cite She wac, anan in -tnugH,-..S~- ti-~
iust.Opened railway station; but that was
quite early in the day. Mr.. Reuben, they
told him at the farm, had walked with
her In the morning into CrCwhaven; but
he had not come home, and had said 1t
was probable he should take the train to
London.
Oh, the misery, the agony ofthat night,
and Of the nine days and nights OF fruit.
less search and hopeless inquiry which
followed, followed in drear succession,
until that morning toward the end Of the
month, when, by her fierce words, we
have seen what Naomi's solution Of the
mystery was.
BY noon on that day, old Amos Cover,
having returned 10 his cottage, was seat
ed by his flreside. His dependency had
grown heavier daily, and this morning |
he had quite broken down, and left the |
mill in Naomi's sole charge, for Stokes |
was away on some business touching the |
grain, and hence II came to pass that she |
was quite alone In tho old min as she |
stood looking out from the little window |
Of the grinding floor.
A brighter sun never shone upon an
autumn. noon; the crests and ridges Of
the hills, rose up clear and sharp; the
tearing Jury Of the equinoctial gales Of the |
fast lew days had subsidized into a strong
souIherly breeze, which was sending the |
old mill sails spinning round merrily. |
Naomi was looking, we have said, from |
the window; but It was not at the scene. |
She was looking into the far distance OF |
her copjectures, into the remote realm oil
the possible and the probable, specializing,
with dreamy, miserable foreboding, |
upon the fate OF the dear missing sister. |
Mechanically only did she turn her eyes |
In the direction Ot that part OF the road
which, emerging from tho farm buildings |
and plantations, began TO wind round the |
foot Of the hill Mechanically only was
It at first that she looked to see who the |
horseman was that had just appeared as.
cGnding the white lawn. Presently, how. |
ever, there flashed from those eyes fire |
by no means mechanical. Her whole
countenance. indeed. lighted up as 1t |
might have done had she been facing the |
glow of q red sunset instead OF the cool
gray mio.day. Her lips quivered for an
instant and then became rigid, while her
nostrils dilated, and her dark brow was
sternly knit. She passed one Of her large
but Comely hands once or twice across
her forehead, and then, driving her fingers
into her thick, wavy, dark hair, clutChed |
II Aercely.s For moment or Two more |
she still stood intently Observing the rider
as he urged his horse at the fullest pace
the steep ascent would allow. When he |
was about half way abe quickly drew
Back, as If to avoid being seen, but con.
tinued watching him through the crack |
by the hinges Of the little wooden shutter
oil the window, As this opened upon one
side of the mill, Naomi, where she stood,
would have lost sight OF the horseman as