The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-04-18
the HAUNTED MILL.

salu 10 pe ndunJeu' huu-hoaVo"o'
he added, suddenly, s'there comes
real will o'-the-wisp, 10 bear it out"
looked westward, as my companion
spoke, expecting to see only one of the
| ordinary wiud-mills, and rather incred-
ulous, l must confess, as to it, or any,
| thing else, being haunted. But what |
saw startled me.
| 1t was already quite dusk. The stars
were out overhead, and the young moon
was also visible, but far down on the
horizon, and partially obscured by the
autumn mist, that was now rising omin-
ously from the low grounds. In front OF
US was a bit OF shallow water, thicRly
grown with rushes; beyond this some
stAnted trees, with two tall poplars ris-
ing dark in the distance; and little to
one side, on piece Of slightly elevated
ground, a ruined mill, that, with its
| bare arms, and roof with everything
rome bat the rafters. looked like some
chastity skeleton, blackened with age
and tempest. The evening breeze, that
lust rippled the moonlight on the sur
face of the pool and stirred the long
rushes, ratified, with a weird sound,
through the ragged ruin, as II a murder
er was swinging in chains.
| 10 crown all, and intensifying, If that
were possible, the spectral character Of
|
o'the wisp, was fiickerlng and dancing
in the foreground on the other side OF
the pool.
Though I knew that this light was
only a gaseous exhalation, Its appear
ance, at that moment, and with Its sur
roundings, gave me, confess, start.
MY companion pulled up for mo-
ment, that might see the better.
| at makes one's blood run cold," be
said, as he gave the horses their heads
, again. "And we'll it may" he added,
| after moment, "for fearful tragedy
was enacted in yonder mill fifty years
or nearly ago. l have often passed
the place at night but it mas never looked
SO weird as now. You have perhaps
heard the tale. Whal? Notl Then
will tell it as we bowl along.
"Not two generations ago there stood,
behind those trees, handsome house,
the property of a gentleman OF fortune,
| who lived there with an only child, a
daughter. Helen Hayward, as all who
knew her united in saying, was one of
the most beautiful girls Of her day. i
have seen miniature of her in white
dress Of the style OF the First Empire,
| with blue tillet in her hair; and it fully
bears out this verdict OF her c0Dtempo-
raries. 1T was one of those sweet, neav-
|
and most cynical OF us men believe in
woman's goodness and self devotion !;
fdark, luminous, soft eyes; low, broad
forehead; rich, chestnut hair; II sensi-
tive, delicate m0sth; and an expression
loVelier than all the rest, because in
stlnct with spirituality and n high, hero
ic soul. 1t was the lace OF woman"
be added, with emphasis, 'for whom a
man would willingly die,
! "Well," he Went on, after while, sit
| was the ola story-she loved. The OBJ
iect of her affections was young naval
lieutenant, win whom she had become
acquainted AT u ball given by him and
his brother officers while their ship was
living in the narbor. He was as hand-
some, in his way, as she was in hers
the very beau ideal OF manly hero.
| II ia family, too, was one Of the best in
the country. His father had been a
general in the army, and his mother was
descended from long line of land
holders, But, alas! lie was poor, and
poverty, in the eyes of MIR. Hayward,
was tue one sin that could never be
forgiven, at least i'll suitor for his
daughter.
/ ne old man was known to be eccen-
trio, and of violent passions, and was, l
suppose, a miser, loving money Tor
moneys sake.
"He had formed, it appears, the most
ambitious schemes for his child as a
consequence OF her beauty. She was to
wed millionaire; she was to queen it
in society; she was to be presented at
European courts and astonish princes
and monarchs, as women TAR less lovely
had astonished them before. When,
therefor he discovered that she was in
love with Il penniless officer his wrath
knew no bounds. He peremptorily for
bade the suitor his house, and ordered
his daughter to decline all invitations,
lest she should see Lieutenant Cayen-
dish at some bal or entertainment.
"But what was his rage, at the end OF
q week, to hear that Helen was in the
habit oi meeting her lover, and met him
indeed every evening, and was intend
ling TO meet Dim again that very night
Ihe place selected for their intervie 8
WAS windmill about a quarter OF a mile
from tue house. 1t was the GRIPS maid
that mad betrayed the lovers. Her mis-.
tress was accustomed to take her as d
companion, leaving her to watch, heaI
by, while she met her lover under the
shadow OF the old tower.
.sMeels him! cried the father, white
with rage. AS l live, they shall never
meet again, OF but once. will iii 81
see for myself that she meets him, aud
then
"The maid, when she heard these
words, and saw that face, the face al
most of maniac, 80 terrible was its
hate, tremDled lor the result OF hel
lreacEery and would have drawn back
but the furious old man would not per
nit this. Her sternly bade her Keel
silent at the peril Of her life. go witt
your mistress as usual this evening" ht
said. And markl ii l see any hesita
tion 1 shall know you have deceived me
and you shall never see tomorrow y.
have chance TO deceive me again.
"And she knew he would keep hi
word.
"In the dusk OF the evening, l oftel
think it must have been just such q
j, weird one as this, the old man, watch
ing from behind The curtain of his bed
room, TO which he had retired, as h,
said, for the night, on pretense of moi
feeling well, beheld two figures stea
ffom the house in the direction OF til,
mill, and, descending the stairs, b.
|. dogged them, from distance, conceal
ing himself behind the fences and irreg
ularities OF the ground and the few
stunted trees that then, as now, sparse
| 10, DO, hnt, h.