The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-11-18

"What has happened?" asked Dick as
500. as his mirth could be suppressed, as
ne aided the miller to his feet.
81 don't know" stammered jane
son.
His wife, hearing voices, cautiously
peeped out from under the coverlet.
"Robbersr' she cried shrilly. ''They
have been here again. Have they shot
you, HarveyT"
mo, wife, I'm not shot" said Harvey,
"an 1 don't think there's been any rob-
bers round. Fact is I've been sleep
walking"
''Whatl"
GIVE been walkin in my sleep, sure as
you ive," groaned the miller. I'm all
wet, so must have gone out of doors
an the Lord only knows where have
been or what I've been dom. l was
dreamin of that ten pounds
He broke off and hurried to the spot
in which he had hidden the money. 1t
was not there.
you're rather old for such capers,
Harvey" his wife was saying.
But he didn't hear her. Very blankly
he turned to Dick, who had now retreat
GU " lnO JtlIcsIlOlh "nCIC OCuIllO Neto
standing, white and startled, but ravish
ingly pretty.
LAD" the miller said solemnly, Il
believe I've robbed myself. I've heard
of such things, an now believe I've just
done that, an hain't got a notion where
put the money"
"Is it gomez"
eyes"
''Then you had best put on dry clothes,
sir, while l go out and try to follow the
tracks you have probably left in tine
garden. Your feet are so muddy I'm
sure you must have been there. I'll re-
port in few moments"
A whispered sentence to Jennie at the
door, and Dick was off to don his boots
and laugh at the remembrance of the
miller's plight.
With lantern he went out into the
rain, and his gravity departed again as
under the window of the miller's
chamber he discovered deeply indented
footprints, which proved that Jameson
had emerged like a schOolboy.
The big, bare feet left plain traces in
the soft soil of the garden. Dick fol-
lowed them ON across the road, and
found that they ceased at one corner Of
the mill. A loose board had been
freshly replaced. He drew it out and
there, in the aperture, found small tin
box.
Taking it out, he hurried back to find
Jameson, his wife and Jennie up and
dressed, waiting for him.
The miller took the box eagerly and
opened it with scarcely steady hands.
There We're the ten pounds, and under
them the money of which he had thought
Dick had robbed him.
Lad" he said, turning to his en-
ployee, 1--WE been thinkin i'll of you for
the last few days, an l ask your pardon.
If can ever do you !; good turn call on
me-
II take your word, sir" said Dick
cheerfully, going straight to Jennie and
taking her hand. Il want your consent
to my marrying Jennie some day, when
have proved myself able to take care
of her. We love each other, and hope,
sir, you'll not forget what love was to
yourself once"
mo, l don't, lad," said the miller,
with tender glance toward his wife;
''but mill hand gets but poor wages,
an you'll have to wait awhile"
CAS- for that" said Dick, q think
you'll have to look up another mill hand,
Mr. jameson, for | have another offer,
and intend taking it. wasn't brought
up to labor and was at college when
my father died, leaving me, instead of
the thousands l expected, nothing but
my empty, unframed hands. left the
college and fate led me hither. If |
have shown no talent as miller, have
won the sweetest girl i'll the world to
love me. Now friend of my fathers
offers me the post of bookkeeper in his
bank at a salary OH which Jennie and
cau live, know. l didn't take your
money, sir, and I'll forgive you for sus-
rccting that l did if you'll give me Jen-
ne"
What do you say, daughters" asked
the old man wistfully.
Il love him, father" she whispered.
"Then III only say, God bless you
bothr" said the miller.-Yankee Blade.