The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-07-05
WAITING FOR THE GRIST.

ut is strange" said gentleman who
sat next to me in the car and with whom
had struck up quite an acquaintance,
"what an influence a look or word, or
the little act of perfect stranger will
sometimes nave upon person"
Eyes, said I; ''more than any of us
realize"
1T was the simple act of stranger
that changed the whole course of my
life"
"Indeed! How so?"
"When 1 was boy, my father moved
to the then far West-Ohio. 1t was be
fore the days of steam, and no great mills
Numbered on the river banks, but occa-
sionally there was little grist mill by
the side of some small stream, and
hither, when the water was up. the whole
neighborhood focked with their sacks Of
corn. First come, first served Some
times we had to wait two or three days
for our turn. I generally was the one
sent from our house, for, while 1 was too
small to be much account on the farm, l
was good as man to carry a grist to
mill. So l was not at all surprised one
morning when my father said: Henry,
you can get up old Roam and go to mill
to. day
Saunders mill was ten miles away;
but had made the trip 80 often that it
did not seem far. believe one becomes
more attached to an old mill than to any
other building. l can see just how it
looked as it stood there under the syca-
morcs, with its huge wheel and rough
clapboard sides.
"When I arrived 1 found tho North
Branch and Rocky Fork folks there
ahead of me, and 1 knew there was no
hope of getting homo that day; but |
was not at al sorry. for my basket wa
we'll filed with provisions, and Mr..
Saunders always opened his big barn to
sleep in; SO it was no unpleasant time We
had while waiting for our grist This
time there was an addition to the num-
Der that had been in the habit of gather
ing from time to time, in the old Saun'
ders' barn-a young fellow about my own
age, probably little older. His name
was Charley Allen, and his father had
bought farm over on the Brush Greek
road. He was sociable and friendly, but
I instinctively felt that he had more
manners than the rest Of us. The even
ing was spant, as usual, in relating
coarse Jokes and playing cards. AL.
though I was not accustomed to such
things at home, I had become so used to
it at the mill that it had long since
ceased to shock me, and, indeed, l was
fast becoming an interested spectator.
"'Well, boys, it is time for US fellows
10 90 to roost, said Jim Finley, one of
the greatest roughs on the Rocky Fort,
a. he threw down his pack Of cards and
began to undress. We all followed his
example, although it was not much IN
dressing we did to sleep on the hay
NOV; but we were 80 busy with our own
affairs that We did not notice Charley
Allen until Jim exclaimed: 'Hsydsy!
we've got parson here, we have! Char
ley was kneeling by the oats bin pray
ling. Jim Finley's jest met with no re-
sponsc. The silence was only broken by
the drowsy cattle below, and the twitter.
ing swallows overhead. More than one
rpugh man wiped q tear from his eyes as
he went silently to his bed on the hay.
l had always been in the habit of
thought OF such thing at Saunders
old barn, thinking Of Charley Aliens
the men i firmly resolved that 10 the fu-
tuI0 WOulu W Il8ut' lituo buoukut
how soon my courage would be tested.
Just after dinner got my grist and
started for home. When arrived at
Albright's gate, where turned of to 60
home, found the old squire waiting
for me. I saw in . moment that some
thing had gone wrong. had always
stood in the greatest awe OF the old gen
tleman because he was the rich man Of
the neighborhood, and now felt my
heart beginning to beat very fast. AS
soon ~ I came near he said. Did you
60 through this gate yesterday could
easily have denied II, as it was before
daylight when I went the other way.
Charley Allen kpesling in the barn came
10 my mind like fash; and before had
time to listen to tho tsmpter, said. Yes.
sir; l did
"'Are you sure you shut aud pinned
the CATER he asked.
"This question staggered me. Ire.
mem bered distinctly that l did not. I
could phil the pin ont without getting
OF my horse, but could not put it in
again; 20 I carelessly rode away and left
IL open.
"'I-I-I-'
"'Out With IL; tell just what you
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