The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-08-12

scented.
To which random remark some old
man would answer 6 He says that he
was troubled with fits when he was
child and though they never bother
him now, they left the strange nerve us
ness we have all seen. Still, after all,
he did not come fairly by the mill, and
it is strange that old Rutgers was never
heard of.
"Old Rutgers as he was named by
those who remembered him, was the
owner of the mill before Godfrey came
into possession. Rutgers had been mar
ried but one terrific night, when the
fiend of the storm was abroad, the rain
pouring down as if second deluge were
threatened, and the wind whirling away
/ everything that INSTRUCTED its ravaglng
path, the old mill, undermined by the
treacherous river and assaulted by the
pitiless tempest, was swept away, its
massive timbers scattered as if they had
been chaff, it's ruins strewing the ada
/ cent field.
| When the storm abated, they found
the corpse of Rutgers wife dreadfully
mangled, covered with the heavy stones
of the foundation. In her arms, which
were clasped tightly to her breast, was a
bundle of clothes, the garments of her
son but no mangled form OF innocence
air had snatched the object of her dying
care from her arms, and slungit into the
river-in a bend of which the little dead
body was found lying in shallow pool,
three days after, by it's father, who had
been absent from home on the night OF
horror. o
Rutgers never prospered after this.
His Affections seemed greater than he
could bear. True, the mill was rebuilt,
the neighbors again focked 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 vlyacl-
ty, is afflicted with 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.
It 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 III 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 az
inmate of the mill. More, he became {
companion-indeed, the only one-o
poor Rutgers, the miller The two were
seldom separate. They became attached
with an affection apparently SURPRISING
the love of brothers.
In few weeks there was wonderful
improvement in the appearance OF God
frey. The sunken cheeks and gaun
form filed up, the harried look gave
place to the smile of contentment, thu
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 an{
worse Her lannor trn11J>1ad bsseAesai
spent In hstlessness, or In maudlil
state he would wander among the woods
the bottle for companion, staying til
dusk, when Godfrey would go in search
of him. Often was Godfrey seen 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. But
gers was now a poor, broken-dowI
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 hac
always the reverse of a soothing effec
on Rutgers. He would on these occa
sions stamp and rave, and curse an6
relent.
"What have you to say on the subject
Who told you to speak, you miserable
beggar? I saved you from starvation
Come here, till [ spit upon you p
Godfrey would then lift up his friend
spite of his struggles, as if he were 6
ment in the mill, whence he would
emerge only when far gone in intoxi-
cation.
One day when Rutgers came home in
a good natured state of semi-intoxication,
he perceived Godfrey standing in a cen
ter of group of amused listeners, re-
lating laughable annecdote. Rutgers
staggered up and listened, and laughing
heartily at some absurdity, said, in a
maudlin fashion, "You're good fellow,
A good miller, too, thanks to your hum
BILE servant. What'n you give me for
the mill I'll sell it on easy terms.
must get away from here I'm going to
the devil-ever since oh, my poor
wife and my poor baby! Name your
price. I must get away from here,
where everything reminds me. Name
your price,"
| Godfrey felt uneasy at the commence
1,f R1nAc.c,,c.3 L.