Morris tribune., 1886-12-29
saw that I refused to grin

midnight. "
at is g. snowy n,
stranger, as he entered, An
by the fire, shook upon the l.
snow from his garments.
snowy night when the wind -!
and one when such d fire as |
very welcome"
Peter Fame scanned his V
closely.
Have not seen you before:
said, pressing his hand to his brc
il in thought. "There is someth
your face which seems strangely
lar, and yet / cannot recall the =
nor place where we have met bel
ave meet so many men In
world" answered the stranger
an odd smile upon his counteni
as he warmed himself by the
ave meet so many men in the v
that their faces linger without {
in our memories: If you yorrsel-
uot recall the time that We have
before | cannot aid you 10 doso
"Well," answered the miller,
rose and took the lamp in his
If grist is to be groun9 tR
time like the present tc
Lead the way and l
replied the stranger; ant
proceeded to the mill; wl--
ger walked behind:
"Bring in your grist,
Fame, as he swung open t
door of the mill with M
and groan of its 1ztsty hir
"May not also lead i'll
| asked the stranger. at
night outside, and you
many a crack and crevii
in the cold north wind.
a faithful brute and ha
well, and the shelter Of tht
ter than the shelter OF the
"Aye, lead him in," al
miller. "Never truer wOrd
en- than that the merci
merciful to his beast. 'Tis
mal," he continued, as the
led forward, land I'll war
that no ordinary amount
will tire. But | marvel muc.
fnea beast should be Of sue
"It is not the least Of hi
replied the stranger. 9Th
one dark hair npon him.
tip to hoof his coat is as VIII
driven snow"
He will not mind the clatt
mill, will he?" asked Peter Fa
'Not he," replied the stra
ing down the bag OF grain
miller, show me the hOpp'
may empty the grist."
AS with rumble and jar
hoarse moan, the old
started on its revolution
frame OF the building shook
and groaned in all it's joints
protest at this unseemly dis
of it's rest.
1t was a quaint scene. The
Illuminated only a narrow circ
diately surrounding it and t
shadows OF the joists and
athwart the darkness beyond
of deeper blackness, and cas-
of light on the roof overhead
seemed like a sun looking
through a thick mist OF clouds
in the circle of light was the Il
the aged miller, and further Off
the light was dim (where indis1
seem, was the stranger, still
mutfied in his cloak, and the
figure of horse, and in the
ground was the darkness quilted
the weird shadows Of the revc
machinery, while glints Of fire gilt
from the eyes OF startled rats, as
peered cautiously out OF their hol
the intruders.
| Suddenly, it seemed to Peter ]
as if there came from the old !
sounds of merry laughter; and
how, though he was in the mi
knew that his cottage was filled
Jolly revelers.
"You seem to have a gay eeml
yonder," said the stranger, nod
lis head in the direction whence
the merry sounds.
$50 it seems" replied the m
"andye l know not who they are
what these sounds mean, nor {
leave my grist to 60 and SET"
But even as he spoAS the doc
tween the cottage and the mill
open, and crowd of figures trot
in. Old Peter Fame placed his
upon his head in wondering thol
"Can be asleep?" he said. -
dreaming that here tonight
come the friends OF my past ye
years, boys whom played wi
childhood, girls whom l loved,
and children, parents and brot
and sisters, those whom l tho
were dead,-have you in truth
to me again, or are you but the
cies ofny dreams?"
And he stood erect and gaze
them as if waiting for an answer.
Late in the afternoon on the TO
ing day party of the country
returning homeward, passed the
mill. There was no sign of hu
lite about the premises, no ST
from the chimney, no footsteps ii
snow, and yet through the silen
the gathering twilight came the clt
of the mill and the sad hoy
of dog.
cold Peter Fame is at work ir
MILL" these country folk said as
stopped. "Whose grist can he beg
ing that he works on Thanksg
Day."
| Prompted by curiosity, they plu
through the drifts and knocked a
cottage door. There was no ans
They knocked again; still no T.
They tried the door, but it Was
tened.
"The clatter OF the machinery
vents his hearing" said one; "lt
try at the door OF the mill itself.
Once, twice, thrice they kno(
still there was no response-only
loud whining of the dog inside a
scratched against the boards @
door.
STRANGE" remarked a farmer.
Peter Fame grown suddenly deaf
he cannot hear us? Or has he
away and left the old mill to IT
self"
Their curiosity was piqued and
pulled at the boards of the door
the rusty latch gave way and the
swung open.
AS they stood in the doorway
flood of gray twilight poured int
old mill, and through the clou,
dust which the opening of the
had raised they saw Peter Fame,
ing against a post, with averted
| Sf al ;,,r i p,x-nl l1-SI,rY III r.