Montgomery County sentinel., 1891-07-03

tackle out Of tho mill, and was hesitating
whether to go up the pond or down 10
the wheel when neighbor came over
and asked us to lend him the boat. He
took it. and we went down 10 the wheel.
Wed beer fishing probably an hour,
and caught some fine ones, when, all Of
sudden, down poured the water from
the flood gate above, and the wheel
commencing turning The sudden start
threw us both down. got on my feet
in an instant and helped Kitty up and
we commenced to tramp in the direction
opposite to the way the wheel was nov
ing. We had to in order to keep our
feet. was calling as loud as could,
but it was Of no use. The noise made
by the falling water, the revolving wheel
and the grinding mill drowned my voice.
We couldn't get il. The plank from
the mill had fallen in tho water when
the wheel started, and gone floating
down the stream. The water poured
through the cracks in the Old wheel all
over US The deep hole was full now.
There was two feet of WAGER in the bot
tom of the wheel. Tramp, tramp, tramp
through two, now three feet of water.
| held Kitty by the hand, and we kept
on our tramp. was praying it might
be q small grist. Neighbors often
brought two-bushel bag of corn to be
ground in hurry. l thought if that
was the extent of the grist we might
stand it. We kept up our march till
Kitty gave out, The water and the
tramp, tramp. had numbed her limbs.
Her lips moved, but could hear moth
ing she said I only knew that she was
sinking down in the water. | picked
her up in my arms, with one hand put
her arms around my neck and resumed
my tramp in the middle of the wheel.
| believe folt happier than had ever
felt in my life. | held Kitty in my
arms. Her arms were around my neck,
though did put them there. | could
feel her breath on my cheek. | could
walk now easier than before, but even
with Kitty in my arms began to tire.
My footsteps were more uncertain. My
limbs began to feel numb. At least |
could die with Kitty. looked at her
face. Her Dyes were closed Had she
tainted put my lips close to her ear.
They touched her face. Kitty! Kitty 7
Her eyes opened. Our lips met. Her
arms drew tighter around my neck.
My brain whirled. Was I becoming
unconscious? | could feel that | was
reeling as | walked. The water from
above ceased to fall. The wheel stopped.
Some one leaped in. knew no more
"When | came to | was lying in
bed. Kitty was sitting by my side my
hand in hers. had been delirious
for week. AS my eyes met hers she
said Alex, dear Alex and she stopped
and kissed me. That kiss brought back
to my bewildered brain the events that
led to it. did not regret me
"Uncle Ben had come down to the
mill, and not seeing the boat thought
of course, we had gone up the pond.
He lifted the food gate. and started tho
mill to grind small grist. Finally he
chanced to see the boat with the neigh
Dor in it out in the pond He knew
Llhb We bOiucJimtS uouou iiDiu buo WuCtl,
and with trembling hands closed the
gate, rushed down and into the wheel,
to find me roeling and staggering like
drunken man in the water with Kitty in
my arms. He got us out, but fell
unconscious.
1.-The next spring freshet carried
the old dam away, and now mills having
been built in Jonesboro, we reclaimed
the land where the pond had been, and
the old mill had gone to decay. Kitty
and were married that fall. Father
and mother lived to see our children
playing round the ruins of the old MILL
and died within month of each other
''Now, I've told you tho story of the
old mill, and if you'll come up to the
house and have cup of coffee before
you go back to town I'll show you the
wife | won in the old mill wheel; and
when you take look at my daughter
Kitty you'll see my wife as she was
when we entered it that day. Two years
after we married an uncle Of mine died
and left me farm up in Knox county,
where we spend part of our time; but
there's no place so dear TO Kitty and
me as the farm on Cedar Creek, for its
soil covers the remains Of dear old Ben
and Martha, and here, besides, are the
ruins of the old mill "