Daily Yellowstone journal., 1886-11-27

the occurrence was unusual; it seemed
TO him a perfectly rational event just
as one dreaming passes through curious
scenes without wondering at their oddity.
Peter Fame therefore opened the door
without the least sentiment of fear or
surprise, and saw, in the snow by the
door step, man upon horseback.
Good day TO you, miller" said
the stranger. Gan you grind me
this sack of corn~ and as he spoke he
pointed to bag that was slung across
the horses crupper.
-'Tis an odd time to set the mill ago
ing" answered Peter Fame. Gould you
not have come earlier? / have been ex-
pecting you all the day."
81 have had long road to travel"
the stranger replied, ''for there are few
mills nowadays where a simple man
like me can have his grain ground; and
this sack must be turned into meal be-
fore the morrow's dawn"
~Well, then," said Peter Fame, "put
up your horse in the shed by the mill,
and come in and warm yourself. All
these long years no man could ever say
that refused to grind his grist, nor
shall they say it now. And while the
stranger drove his horse into the shed
as he was hidden, Peter Fame rekindled
his fire and lighted his lamp, and, as the
light illuminated the room, he glanced
at the clock and saw that its hands
pointed to five minutes after midnight.
1T is snowy night" said the
stranger, as he entered, and, standing
by the fire, shook upon the hearth the
snow from his garments. 1T is a
snowy night, night when the wind Is
cold, and one when such fire as this
is very welcome.
Peter Fame scanned his visitor closely.
"Have not seen you before?" he said,
pressing his hand to his brow as if in
thought. There is something in your
face which seems strangely familiar, and
yet can not recall the time nor place
where we have met before"
I'VE meet SO many men in the world"
answered the stranger, with an odd
smile upon his countenance, as he
warmed himself by the fire. 1--WE meet
SO many men in the world that their
faces linger without cause in our men,
ories. If you yourself can not recall the
time that we have met before can not
aid you to do So"
"Well," answered the miller, as he
rose and took the lamp in his hand, IF
<x,;st ,s a, ha -o,,rd tboro "a No TINA iLa
the present to grind it in"
Lead the way and will follow" re-
piled the stranger; and Peter Fame pro-
ceeded to the mill, while the stranger
walked behind.
bring in your grist," said Peter Fame,
as he swung open the wide front door of
the mill with many creak and groan
of its rusty hinges.
May not also lead in my horse?
asked the stranger. 1t is cold night
outside, and your shed has many a crack
and crevice tlfat lets in the cold north
wind. The brute is a faithful brute,
and has borne me well. and the shelter
of the mill is better than the shelter of
the she'd"
~Ay. lead him in" answered the mil
ler. Never truer word was spoken than
that the merciful man is merciful to
his beast. 'Tis a fine animal" he con-
tinued, as the horse was led forward.
-and, I'll warrant, one that no ordinary
amount of labor will tire. But l mar
vel much that so fine beast should be
of such color"
1T is not the least of his merits"
replied the stranger. There is not one
dark spot upon him. From eartip to
hoof his coat is as white as the driven
snow"
He will not mind the clatter of the
mill. will he:" asked Peter Fame.
Not he!' replied the stranger, lifting
down the bag of grain. Now miller
show me the hopper where may empty
the grist."
As with rumble and jar and many
a hoarse moan the old millwheel started
on its revolution, the frame of the build
ing shook and creaked and groaned in
all its joints, as if in protest at the un-
seemly disturbance of its rest.
1t was quaint scene. The lamp illu-
minated only narrow circle immedi-
ately surrounding it, and threw the
shadows of the joists and beams athwart
the darkness beyond in bars of deeper
blackness. and cast disc of light on the
roof overhead which seemed like sun
looking down through mist of clouds.
Full in the circle of light was the figure
of the aged miller, and further off,
where the light was dim (where indis-
tinctly seem. was the stranger. still
closely muilled in his cloak. and the
vague figure Of the horse; ami in the
background was the darkness quilted
with the weird shadows of the revolv-
ing machinery, while glints of fire gilt
tered from the eyes Of startled rats as
they peeped cautiously out of their holes
at the intruders.
Suddenly, 1t seemed to Peter Fame,
as if there came from the old house
sounds Of merry laughter; and somehow,
though he was in the mill, he knew that
his cottage was filled with jolly revel-
lers.
You seem to have gay company
yonder," said the stranger, nodding his
head in the direction whence came the
merry sounds.
so it seems" replied the miller, -and
yet know not who they are nor what
those sounds mean, nor can leave my
grist to go and see."
But even as he spoke the door between
the cottage and the mill few open. and