The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-10-25
Her LAST CONFESSION.
BY G.. p. LATHROp.

A mill without water, wind or steam
to drive it-what curious thing!
Yet, there it stood, and had stood for
many year, and no one could tell the
reason, though you could not fail to see
that the re must be some story belong
ing to the place.
Strangers coming to Nantucket some
times asked about it, but all they could
find out was, that one day long ago the
dam of the mill-pond had given way,
the water had all gone out with rush,
and the stream was scattered in new
channels or was lost in the sandy soil.
The loss came upon old Humphrey
Gurton, the miller, at time when he
could not afford to rebuild. He was
thenceforth ruined man. People said
that his loss made him crazy, for he
used to declare that the water could
never have escaped if some one had not
opened the waste-pipe in the dam; and
he vowed vengeance against the person
who had ruined him out of mere mis-
chief.
Finally the idea worked upon him SO
that he used to go about the streets
with pistol in his hand.
Locking for my unknown enemy,
lie said.
The town-people were easy-going, and
since Gurton had always been one oi
the kindest men alive, and never had
an enemy in the place, they didn't
dream of harm coming from bis threats.
But one day, about four years after
the accident, he met John Barlow, and
in sudden fury shot him dead.
He was the man that did i'll" cried
old Humphrey, with insane satisfaction.
Barlow is the enemy have been look.
ing for. l told you would kill him
when l found him, and now I've done
it."
When this tragedy occurred, every
body saw that Gurton had become q
maniac past cure, for Barlow was one
of his best friends. and, in fact, Bartow's
daughter Nelly, then III, was engaged
to marry old Humphreys son Will, one
of the finest fellows on the island.
The poor miller was carried away tt
the mainland, to an asylum for the in
sane, and there he died.
A great change had come over Nell,
since the miller's ruin. She was only |
girl of Is at the time; but she and vii
Gurton had even then promised t.
marry each other when they should
grow up.
The engagement was not broken
though Will came to her when he fount
his father was ruined, and told her tina
she would have to marry poor man il
she took him now.
Still" he said, Il am only ls, and i
you will be true to me when We az,
older, Nelly, I may get to be we'll OF
by the time We are married. Only
must go as sailor, now, for father has n,
business for me, as he expected to have
/ must trust to the sea, and work m,
own way up."
"Oh. WILL" said the girl, weeping
"You know shall love you always, an.
it doesn't make any difference about tn
mill. And shall keep my promise, i
you still want me. But / am no
good enough. No, Will, l am not goo,
enough"
At this the young boy grew q littl
angry. "Never say that again, Nelly,
he commanded her. Il don't know
what You mean when you call yoursel
not good enough!"
But they soon came to an understand
ing again, and Will kissed her, an.
Nelly tried to look bright once more
and the promise was renewed.
The two children had already con
fided this promise to their parents, and
though it was looked upon as prema
ture, it had received their approval.
But the change in Nelly, of which
have spoken, was this, that, while be
fore she had been one of the merriest
romping girls in the town, always full
| of fun and tricksiness, she now becam
very serious and almost melancholy.
"Why, cheer up, Nell," her fathe
would often say to her. what is IN
little girl thinking about? Has any on
lone aught to hurt you?"
NO, father" Nelly would answer
very briefly. And then she would G
away, as if to avoid being questioned.
l When she grew older, Mr.. Barto1
thought perhaps she was grievin
about Will. seeing how the childis
attachment was ripening into womanl
love.
II know it is hard" he once said
her, TO think how different Wills Il
would have been if he had had the mill
nut don't fix your mind on that. m
'hild. You have got o brave fellow
nd he is sure to do we'll for you"
But / never wanted him to go to &c,
OH know, father. And now i is con
"a TT