The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-10-25
Her LAST CONFESSION.
By q. p. LATHEoP.

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 there must be some story belong
ing to the place.
Strangers coming to Nantucket some
times asked about it, but al 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 i'll 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 i'll the dam; and
he vowed vengeance against the person
who had ruined him oJt OF mere mis-
chief.
Finally the idea worked upon him so
that he used to go about the streets
with pistol III his hand.
Looking for my unknown enemy"
he said.
The town-people were easy-going, and
since Gurton had ALWAYS been one of
the kindest men alive, and never had
an enemy in the place, they didn't
dream of harm coming from his threats.
But one day, about four years after
the accident, he met John Barlow, and
in a sudden fury shot him dead.
He was the man that did it," cried
old Humphrey, with insane satisfaction.
"Bartow is the enemy have been look
ing for. L told you / would kill him
when / found him, and now I've done
it."
When this tragedy occurred, every
body saw that Gurton had become
maniac past cure, for Barlow was one
of his best friends. and, in fact, Bartow's
daughter Nelly, then IL, was engaged
to marry old Humphreys son Will, one
of the finest fellows on the island.
The poor miller was carried away to
the mainland, to an asylum for the in
sane, and there he died.
A great change had come over Nelly
since the miller's ruin. She was only a
girl of 10 ut the time; but she and Will
Gurton had even then promised TO
marry each other when they should
grow up.
The engagement was not broken,
though Will came to her when he found
his father was ruined, and told her that
she would have to marry poor man if
she took hi2a now.
"Still, he said, Il am only Is, and if
you will be true to me when we are
older, Nelly, l may get to be well of
by the time we are married. Only L
must go as a sailor, now, for father has no
business for me, as he expected to have.
L must trust to the sea, and work my
OWE way up"
"Oh, WILL" said the girl, weeping.
~You know L shall love you always, and
it doesn't make any difference about the
mill. And L shall keep my promise, if
you still want me. But L am not
good enough. No, VIII, 1 am not good
enough"
At this the young boy grew q little
angry. Never say that again, Nelly"
he commanded her. Il don't know
what you mean when you call yourself
not good enough"
But they soon came to an understand
ing again, and VIII kissed her, and
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 L
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 became
very serious and almost melancholy.
why. cheer up, Nell" her father
would often say to her. What is my
little girl thinking about? Has any one
done auglt to hurt you?"
mo, father" Nelly would answer,
very briefly. And then she would go