The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-08-15

around the old stamping grOund?'
This thought kept passing through
my mind as l lay upon the bed and
vainly tried to sleep.
"What if he should go into the Old
mill tonight and look at the engine
which he once took so much pride in
What if he should wander through the
mill all night?'
Somehow these thoughts occupied
my mind to the exclusion of those
everyday ones that so gently watt me
into the land of dreams.
I've often been told that nothing but
the toothache could ever keep me from
going to sleep, and nothing but thun-
der could ever wake me before broad
daylight. But on this particular night,
although tried hard to go to sleep.
heard the clock strike eleven, without
having been able to fall even into d
doze.
Despairing of getting to sleep. ]
arose, went to the window and looked
out ut the old mill. 1t was dreary.
looking old building; just such a one,
thought l, rs ghost would be likely to
haunt.
AS stood looking at the old build.
ing, a light suddenly appeared at the
window.
1t flashed up brightly for an instant
and then quickly disappeared. As !
stood watching the window l saw ii
again, and then my resolution was
fixed to go down to the mill and see
what it meant. Opening the door, l
peered into the darkness, half afraid to
venture out. just then l heard dis
tinctly the snarling of dog, and the
door closed with slam. 1t might have
been nervous twitch in my right arm.
'This will never do,' thought l, and
getting my trusty revolver l proceeded
toward the mill. 1t is astonishing what
feeling of safety is inspired by the pos
session of firearms, even Of dark
night when there are a hundred chances
to one person will not be able to use
them in case of need.
| After getting we'll away from the
house, however, a hundred exciting
thoughts took possession of my mind.
Every leaf that rustled in the wind was
mad-dog making straight for me; the
grunting of u pig sounded like the deep,
low growing of a fierce bulldog, and
the noise of q tom-cat in the distance
reminded me of what must be the wall
ing of Il lost spirit!
As gazcd at the window and could
see no more signs OF a light, the though:
occurred to me that the man who had
murdered the man found on the rail-
road track was in the mill with dark
lantern counting his ill-gotten gains.
And then, strange l hadn't thought
of that before, remembered of hear
ing many times that the mill was
haunted.
But amid all those depressing
thoughts the idea of retreating never
entered my head. l had resolved to
go to the mill and investigate the mys-
terry of the light; and had l once
thought of turning back it would have
come to ME in the light of a broken
promise, or a sacred trust betrayed.
Though a singular idea it has always
seemed to me that a promise made to
myself is as sacred and binding as one
made to others, and so l soon found
myself cropping in the darkness of the
old mill.
l had CROPPED into every nook and
corner near the window were had seen
the light, all the while expecting to feel
a hand grasp my shoulder, or cold
blade enter my body; when heard, or
thought l heard, light footsteps on the
floor over my head. Listening closely
l could hear them distinctly; and then
the cold chills ran up my back, extend
ing to the roots of my hair!
Would retreat? No! twill meet
death, but not dishonorr' was my
thought while ascending the stairs.
Arriving upon the main floor of tit
building l beheld figure in white.
"What are you doing here?' l de-
authority. but which were. in this re-
spcct, a miserable failure.
There was no reply.
"Speak or I'll firer' were my next
words. Still the figure was silent.
For moment was at loss what
to do. But observing that the figure
was moving from me, and fearing il
might be criminal and might escape
l looked steadily at it and fired. II
fell, and as it did so heard shrek;
not the shrek of a man who might be a
murderer or thief, but that of a
woman!
l rushed back to the house in an
agony of suspense, shouting as enter
ed that had committed murder.
.'When? Where?' exclaimed the
aroused inmates of the house.
Down in the mill!'' was my reply.
Speedily procuring light they
fastened thither and soon brought the
bleeding form to the house.
who is it?'' l asked, half suspect
ing, even then, who the victim was.
They looked at each other, curiously,
and then at me. In an instant knew
that it was the miller's daughter. My
head grew dizzy and then came blank.
They said I raved like madman
that wished had never been born
that the earth might open and swallow
me up; that it was too cruel fate to
kill the one I loved best on earth. They
said bent over her and told her of my
hopeless love; that if could only die
for her it would be the richest boon
could ask. All this and great deal
more must have said, from the time
lost consciousness till seemed to have
awakened from q long sleep, feeling
very weak and helpless.
They told me that many days had
elapsed since that sad occurrence. and
that she was quite well, having, after
all, received only slight wound.
As soon as my strength would per.
init, l went to see her, doubling some.
what as to the kind of reception
would receive. The family did no,
meet me with scowl upon their faces,
Us had half expected, but, on the con.
trary, received me with genuine hospi.
tally and friendship.
1t is not difficult to guess that the
miller's daughter was somnambuiist;
and that she finally consented to be.
come my wife.
As to the light in the window, which
was the cause of the unfortunate oc-
currence Gf unfortunate it may be