The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1875-08-19

uOIIOI.
Rutgers never prospered after this.
His affections seemed greater than he
could bear. True, the mill was rebuilt,
the neighbors again flocked to their old
rendezvous, the miller was even said to
be making money faster than he had
done before. But like some once noble
but now decaying tree, though the top
touches the sky, and its branches, far
stretching, seem to betoken great vivaci-
ty, is afflicted with a general whitening
of its leaves, Rutgers was blasted at
heart. He became moody, sullen,
morose, avoided the companionship of
those whom before he had esteemed, and
at last tried to drown the poignancy of
bitter recollection in strong drink.
1t was at this time that Joseph Godfrey
came to the mill. Young and strong he
was,but gaunt as if famished. To Rut-
gers he applied for work enough to keep
him from starving. Rutgers, whose ear,
even in his bitterest moments, was never
deaf to the appeal of the suffering,
listened to the story of the unfortunate /;
and from that time Godfrey became an
inmate of the mill. More, he became a
companion-indeed, the only one-of
poor Rutgers, the miller. The two were
seldom separate. They became attached
with an affection apparently SURPRISING
the love of brothers.
In q few weeks there was a wonderful
improvement in the appearance of God
frey. The sunken cheeks and gaunt
form filed up, the harried look gave
place to the smile of contentment, the
detected air was SUI planted by the ap-
pearance of comfort.
Happy would it have been had there
been a like improvement in his employer.
Alas Rutgers was becoming worse and
worse. He no longer troubled himself
even about business. His days were
spent in istlessness, or In a maudlin
state he would wander among the woods,
the bottle for a companion, staying till
dusk, when Godfrey would go in search
of him. Often was Godfrey seer bring
ing home on his back his helplessly in
toxicated employer.
About a year passed from the time
of Godfrey's arrival at the mill. Rut-
gers wa now a poor, broken-down
wretch, fit for nothing, unless half tipsy,
then ~quarrelsome and capricious, insult
ing his friends, and often peculiarly
bitter against Godfrey. The latter, how
ever, never lost his temper, but excused
the conduct of his employer by saying
that the old man had been sorely tried.
This exhibition of good nature had
always the reverse of a soothing effect
on Rutgers. He would on these occa-
sions stamp and rave, and curse and
relent.
"What have you to say on the subjects
Who told you to speak, you miserable
beggar2 1 saved you from starvation
Come here, till I spit upon you
Godfrey would then lift up his friend.
spite of his struggles, as if he were 6
child, and carry him to an inner apart
ment in the mill, whence he would
emerge only when far gone in intoxi
cation.
One day when Rutgers came home il
a good-natured state of standardization
he perceived Godfrey standing in a cen
ter of q group of amused listeners, re
lating a laughable annecdote. Rutgers
staggered up and listened, and laughing
heartily at some absurdity, said, in
maudlin fashion, "You're a good fellow
A good miller, too, thanks to your hum.
BILE servant. What'n you give me fol
the mill2 I'll sell it on easy terms. !
must get away from here. I'm going t.
the devil-ever since-Oh, my poo
wife and my poor babyl Name you
price. I must get away from here
where everything reminds me. Name
your price"
Godfrey felt uneasy at the commence
ment of Rutgers speech, but began Il
listen with a pleased earnestness quit,
noticeable when his employer offered t.
sell the mill. When all eyes turned OIL
him his face was flushed, his eye beamet
with glf.d eagerness, his lip quivered
and he looked like a nan who had sud
denly accomplished a long-toiled-fo
object.
"Youn never leave this place." h
hoarsely answered.
"Won't J., thought Give me wha
money you have. Don't shake you
head. know you have some-though
believe it's mine by right. Ill give yol
your WI time to pay the balance ; II
at once go away, and never trouble yo1
more, SO long a you keep your part o
the bargain between u.s."
Godfrey now hastily named a price
and terms were agreed to, drawn up
duly recorded and witnessed, and final,
put in form by a lawyer of the neares
town. During the merrymaking tina
followed, Rutgers signifed his intention
of going to Boston to live with som
distant relative till a chance offered TO
his going into business.
1t was resolved that there should be
merrymaking in honor of their frien,
about to leave them. So it was arrange,
that the largest room in the mill shout
be cleared, to be used as a dancing
room. The day before the appointe
festival, Godfrey appeared in the village
tavern and said that Rutgers, in a fit G
his usual perversity, had departed tn
previous night, and that he promised t
come back within a month, when th
merrymaking would take place.
No one thought it strange, as Rutger
had become utterly unreliable of Late
But when a month had passed, and ther
was no appearance of the truant, som
of the more inquisitive began to as
such questions as, "Was Rutgers sobe
when he left2" "Did he take all hi
clothes with him2" Did he go afoot, c
howl"
To all which Godfrey answered tbs
his friend was neither drunk, nor ye
sober, when he left; that he took asma
bundle with him, but left most of hi
wardrobe behind that he started o
foot, intending to take the stage at th
crossroads.
These answers were given in an of
hand, impatient way, but good-naturedl
enough but when some of the MOI
tedious and pertinacious repeated que'
| tons, in various forms, regarding Ru
: gers sudden leave, Godfrey would stal
and stammer, grow uneasy ; and at las
with an oath, would tell the ~perseverin
inquirers that was all he knew about i
} and there was no accounting for til
freaks of drunken fools, or the obst
macy of inquisitive ones, and that whe
Rutgers came back he would tell q
about the matter.
Months passed, and there was no wor
, from Rutgers, nor information of hi
from any n else.