Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-10-28

familiar. and yet cannot recall the
time nor place where We have met
before"
We meet so many men in the
world. answered the stranger, with
an odd smile upon his countepance,
as he warmed himself BY the fire.
I'VE meet so many men in the world
that their faces linger without cause
in our memories. Ifyou yourself can
not recall the time that we have met
before / cannot aid you to do so"
well" answered the. miller, as he
f-rcse~xud- took the lamp In his hand,
"if grist is to be ground there is no
time like the present to grind it in.
Lead the way and | will follow, g"
replied the stranger; and Peter Fame
proceeded to the mill, while the strang-
er walked behind.
Bring in your grist." said Peter
Fame, as he swung open the wide front
door of the mill with many a creak
and groan of its rusty hinges.
May | not also lead in my horse?"
asked the stranger. 1t is q cold night
outside, and your shed has many a
crack and crevice that lets in the cold
north wind. The brute is faithful
brute, and has borne me we'll, and the
shelter OF the mill is better than the
shelter Of the shed"
"Ay, lead him In, answered the
miller. Never truer word was spok-
en- than that the merciful man is
merciful to his beast. 'Tis a fine ami
NAL, he continued, as the horse was
led forward, land, III warrant. one
that no ordinary amount of labor will
tire. But | marvel much that go fine
beast should be of such a color"
1t is not the least of his merits"
replied the stranger. There is not
one dark hair upon him. From ear
tip to hoof his coat is white as the
driven snow"
He will not mind the clatter of
the mill, will he?" asked Peter Fame.
mot he!' replied the stranger, lift.
ing down the bag of grain. Now
miller show me the hopper where I
As with a rumble and jar and
many a hoarse moan the old miIlwheel
started on its revolution, the frame Of
the building shook and creaked and
groaned in all its joints, as if in pro-
test at this unseemly disturbance Of
its rest.
1t was quaint scene. The lamp
Illuminated only a narrow circle i'm
mediately surrounding it, and threw
the shadows of the ioists and beams
a'hwart the darkness beyond in bars
Of deeper blaclness, and cast disk
Of light on the roof overhead which
seemed like a sun looking down
through thick 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 indistinctly
seem, was the stranger, still closely
mnitied in his cloak, and the vague
figure of the horse; and in the back.
ground was the darkness quilted with
the weird shadows of the revolving
machinery, while glints Of fire glitter
ed from the eyes of startled rats as
they peeped cautiously out of their
holes at 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, he
knew that his cottage was filled with
jolly jewellers.
You seem to have gay company
yonder," said the stranger, nodding
his head in the direction whence came
the merry sounds.
80 it seems" replied the miller,
"and yet know not who they are mol
what those sounds mean, nor can |
leave my grist to go and see."
But even as he spoke the door be-
tween the cottage and the mill flew
open, and crowd of figures trooped
in. Old Peter Fame placed his HAND
upon his head in wondering thought
Can l be asleep" be said. IAN
dreaming that here tonight have
come the friends OF my past yeArs
bows whom played with in childhood
girls that | loved, wife and children
. parents and brothers and sisters, thos'
whom thought were dead-have yol
. in truth come to me again, or are yo'
, but the farcies Of my dreams"
. And he stood erect and gazed a
. them as If waiting for an answer.
Late in the afternoon OF the follow
ing day a party OF the country folk
,a.,,,;n, lnrsrar1 paSssl the oi.