The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-11-11
The Story of the Mill.

II was a quaint old scene-the ruined
mill: and the artist sat long with his
pencil in hand and his sketch-book open
before him, as he looked over the narrow
stream to the spot where it stood.
eIt's deserted spot now," said
voice from behind him, as man halted
in the narrow footpath through the
woods: ssits deserted enough now, but
remember when it was full of hustle and
life, and that not 80 many years ago ss
Won might think, either, sir.
"Not many years" repeated the artist.
looking up. at does indeed look very
desolate."
"WelI. not many years as / look at it, J"
answered the man, "but it might seem
long enough time to you. Eighteen
wears off your head would leave you
quite Young stripping, / take it."
$50 it ia eighteen years since the mill
was inhabitedT' asked the artist again.
anxious to hear particulars.
tNigh about eighteen years" replied
the man. "If you amt too busy now. !"
with a glance at the sketch book, 81
wouldn't mind telling you about it..
Every one knows the story in these
narts, and they do say as how the mill
is haunted but never believed in that.
I know how such things get started; the
water running under that wheel. in q
dark night, and the wind wbistline
among these boards, sounds dismal
enough, to any one going along this lone
Iv path, or the road over the other side:
and then when you remember what
happened, it does seem kind of awe
some"
ssI see," said the Young man, moving
along the log TO make room for his com
panion. ''It is drearv enough in day.
time. and it would be unbearable al
night. But YOU were going to tell me
what happened"
eWeH. then, to begin at the begin
| ming" said the man. laying down his az
and taking the proffered seat, 81 mus
| tell YOU that that little house over yon
der. behind that clump of underbrusf
at the other side of the mill-you can
see it from here, but YOU must hav'
passed it this morning-that little hous
was where they lived, the miller and hi
wife.
:.He bought it when they were mar
ried. for he had some money on hant
which had been left him by his father
IL.
put their earnings together, for she wa
thrifty girl and had store of her owr
and they furnished it just as nice a
could be. There was nothing great 0
oranS in it. of course, bnt everv thin
was so cozy and home like; and neve
was a king more proud of his palac
than poor Dave was of his snug littl
, cottage.
| When he went home at night ther
was Rosy ALWAYS ready to meet him a
the gate, and then they would look owe
the beds of posies together and see ho'
fast thew were growing; for Dave too
great stock in his posv beds, and ofte
worked at them evenings, wedding an
fixing them up. Why, sir, they wei
as happy as children, was Rosy an
Dave.
u Well. things went on in this way II
: over wear. and every one was settiu
2 great store by Dave; tall at once b
5 old habits began to crop out again. i
j had been 2 trife wild before he got
t keeping company with Rosy, but evel
t one thought she wouId make new ms
t Of him. and for a while she did. Bnt ju
' about this time some of his old cor
j panions came back to the village. The
/, had always had great influence ov
i him. and it soon began to show itse
J again. They would go down to the mi
t to meet him late in the afternoon, ar
: sometimes he would stop running lit
It earlier than usual TO have a talk wi
j them. He was jolly, kind-heart.
q fellow. and did not realize the danger
e was in; when they brought their bottl
o he had not strength TO resist the tempt
i ton or bear their ridicuse. Then 1T
d gan to be common thing for Rosy
e wait at the gate long time, with h
It pretty blue eyes fixed on the road whe
n be would come in sight. Sometimes
a. neighbor would happen along instes
st and sac would turn at first glimpse a.
" run into the house--it hurt her to
d anv one see that her Dave was not dol
d Just right, or that she was uneasy abo
is him.
b. .By and by the roses began to ia
ic from her cheeks, and she was more II
4 lilIy than the Rosy we used to kno
but she never complained, and VIII
any one would try to put In word
sympathy she would actually try to ma
~ out that she didn't know what they mea
- She couldn't bear to own that her b
band did any thing wrong
.sWell, time went on and things X
ds going from bad to worse. Dave
~ ioosing his trade, for he was getting
il unsteady that no one could depend
M him. When the farmers took In tn
ar grist to be ground they never knew VT
ed 1t would be ready for them to br
he home again. Dave was careless and
was growing surly, too. So there ca
1z-- rx<-.
,,., :, I,,r, tho mill cff,r,d X