New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-12-29
tbel. Peter Fame drew on his clothes
and went to the door and opened it.

l
There was no fear in his mind that
the nocturnal visitor might be bent
on some evil errand, nor any thought
that the occurrence WAS unusual; it
seemed to him perfectly rational
event, just as one dreaming passes
through curious scenes without wen
dering at their oddity.
Peter Fame, therefore, opened the
door without the least sentiment OF
fear or surprise and saw, in the snow
by the doorstep, a man upon horse
back.
Good day to you, miller" said the
stranger. "Can you grind me this
sack OF corn?" and as he spoke be
pointed to a bag that was slung across
| the horses crupper.
'Tis an odd time to set the mill
agoing," answered Peter Fame. "Could
you not have come earlier? I have
been expecting you all the day."
81 have had a long road to travel"
the stranger replied, for there are a
few mills nowadays where a simple
man like me can havehis grain ground,
and this sack must be turned into
meal before the morrow's dawn"
| "Well, then,' said Peter Fame, stput
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 I refused to grind his grisL,
nor shall they say it now" And while
the stranger drove his horse into the
shed as he was hidden, Peter Fame re
kindled his fire and lighted his lamp,
and, as the1ight illuminated the room,
he glanced at the clock and saw that
its hands pointed to five minutes after
midnight.
sit is a snowy night" said the
stranger, as he entered, and, standing
by the fire, shook upon the hearth the
snow from his garments. cit is a
snowy night when the wind is cold,
and one when such q 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
II III thought. There is something in
your face which seems strangely famil-
lar, and yet l cannot 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.
I'VE meet so many men in the world
that their faces Enger without cause
IN our memories. Ifyou yourselfc can
uot recall the time that we have met
| before l cannot aid you 10 doso."
"Well,' answered the miller, as he
rose and took the lamp in his hand,
III grist is to be ground there is no
time like the present to grind it in
"Lead the way and I will follow"
replied the stranger; and Peter Fame
proceeded to the mill, while the stran-
ger walked behind.
"Brins in your grist," said Peter
Fame, as he swung open the wide front
door OF the mill with many a. creak
and groan Of it's rusty hinges
'May | not also lead i'll my horse?'
asked the stranger "It is a cold
night outside, and your shed has
many a crack and crevice that lets
in the cold north wind. The brute is
a faithful brute and has borne me
we'll, and the shelter OF the mill is bet,
ter than the shelter OF the she'd"
"Aye, lead him in,' answered the
miller. "Never truer word was spok-
en- than that the merciiul man is
merciful to his beast. 'Tis a. fine ami.
NAL, he continued, as the horse was
led forward, land I'll warrant, one
that no ordinary amount OF labor
will tire. But marvel much that SO
fine a beast should be Of such color
cit is not the least of his merits y
replied the stranger. ''There is not
one ark hair npon him. From ear.
tip to hoof his coat is as white as the
driven snow"
He will not mind the CHATTER of the
mill, will he?" asked Peter Fame.
''Not he" replied the stranger, lift.
ing down the bag OF grain. "Now
miller, show ME the hopper where
may empty the grist."
AS with a rumble and Jar and many
q hoarse moan, the old mill-whee
started on its revolution and the
frame OF the building shook, creaked
and groaned in all it's joints, as if il
protest at this unseemly disturbance
OF it's rest
It was quaint scene. The lamp il
Illuminated only a narrow circle imme
diatel surrounding it and threw the
shadows of the ioists and beams
athwart the darkness beyond in bar:
Of deeper blackness, and cast q disk
of light on the roof overhead which
seemed like a sun looking dowr
through thick mist OF clouds. Ful
in the circle of light was the figure O
the aged miller, and further off, where
the light was dim (where indistinctly
SEEM, was the stranger, still closely
mutfied in his cloak; and the vague
figure OF horse, and in the back
ground was the darkness quilted with
the weird shadows Of the revolving
machinery, while glints fire glitterec
from the eyes Of startled rats, as they
peered cautiously out OF their holes al
the intruders.
| Suddenly, it seemed to Peter Fame
as if there came from the old house
sounds Of merry laughter; and some
| how, though he was in the mill, hf
knew that his cottage was filled with
| Jolly jewellers.