Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-04-12
THE OLD MILL MYSTERY.
By ARTHUR v MARcHMoNT, B. 4.
Madeline DJ
land" "I-a,"&
be

|
cent be wronPfully punished"
Heaven will have to work some.
thing like u miracle. then, TO cope with
this business" answered Tom, despair.
ingly
~ wish you'd tell me what has passed
between you all to-day"
81 saw Gorringc, and he told me tho
charges last night, saying all the
papers had been sent 20 Mr. Coode. !
went to Mr. Goodies place and then
found he had come here. came
back TO Walkden Bridge, and saw the
two together at the mill They laid
the papers before me-my receipts for
the money, and the accounts ] had
given OF the money. They were short;
while some Of the entries ! made are
for payments which the people swear
they've never received. It's all so
plain that II didn't know I'm limo
cent should believe the papers against
myself Old Coodc said he hadn't the
slightest wish to believe me anything
but innocent, but what could he think
in the face OF the proofs2 Then he
urged me to go away quietly But |
wouldn't agree. | was violent was
mad could have smashed every.
thing In the place In my rage told
him wouldn't 20; and that II he liked
TO lock me up for what I'd never lone,
he might But he urged me. lie was
us kind as man could be to one
whom he thought a thief What could
do In Walltden Bridge when ! wasn't
allowed In the millp he asked Better
90 and try TO make new life OF IL
somewhere else; forget this, and try TO
live down tho memory Of it But
won't go while the running away means
u confession of an act that haven't
done. Como what may, I'll hold my
ground"
Whose work is this, do you think,
Tom2" asked Mary
"Some of the strike hands That's
about the size Of IL, ! expect. But
can't get at the secret. They've laid
the plant with such devilish cunning
that they've taken In Coode and Cor.
ringc. and would take In the very devil
himself But won't run awny;" and
this he repeated several times until II
seemed almost as II he wished to
strengthen the resolve by many pro.
testations OF IL.
"Why not see MIR. Coodc alone? lie
Is a Just man. or said to be so. and II
you were to talk over the whole Of
the matter quietly with him you might
be able to persuade him what the
truth Is"
But I can't talk quietly about H.
Besides, he wouldn't see me alone,
expect"
else than for your fathers sake. Go
to the mill and ask him He's SURG to
be Mt the mill this evening, II lie
doesn't go back home TO Grange"
lie agreed at length to do rs the
girl wished, and little later she went
home, Tom promising to come to her
as soon rs he had seen Mr.. Coodc,
lie seemed much calmer than when
she left him She was glad, very glad,
that he had resolved not To run away
from the trouble; and her faith in Tom
gave her quiet undercurrent nssur.
ance that all would be well. And down
In n corner of her woman's heart she
was glad 10 think that at any rate she
would have an opportunity OF proving
To him how true was her love.
After she had had some tea Mary
took book and went up to her bed.
room, the window of which overlooked
the road, and she sat there to wait and
watch for Toms coming.
Whom dusk grew into darkness and
the mir began to grow chilly Mary
closed the window and went down.
stairs, thinking II could not bc much
longer before Toms arrival Then II
struck her that II might cheer him TO
have bit Of warm supper. Moreover,
the preparation of II would occupy her
while she waited, she thought, and
help to make the time pass.
But when the meal was ready, and
the clock pointed to ten o'clock, there
We're still no signs of Tom.
Eleven o'clock struck, and the sharp,
quick strokes of the little drum clock,
ms she counted them, made her begin
to feel anxious.
Where could Tom be? Sha looked
regretfully at the meal she had made
ready for him In vain; and she sighed.
She went outside again; but this time
as TO look for TOMS coming.
At midnight she was mora anxious
than before. Tom could not possibly
be with Mr.. Coode until such nm hour
as this. But II not, where was he?
Could they have locked him up?
The thought harassed her so much
that at last she felt she must find out
for herself whether there was any
ground for H. She resolved To go
down to Toms cottage and ascertain
whether any tidings of him were 20 be
obtained there.
The village was very still and dark
as she hurried through H. AS she
passed the cottage where Savannah
Morbyn lodged she saw light in II
and sudden impulse prompted her to
go and nsls for Savannah and find out
whether she had seen Tom
, She knocked lightly at tho door A
woman came TO the door holding a
lighted candle above her head aud,
peering out. asked who IL was
! Its me, Mary Ashworth. Mrs
olirien," said Mary. us Savannah IMP"
/ "'Deed and she's not" answered the
woman" She's away, and she'll not be
comm back till after Whltsuntide "
"Thank you. | happened TO be pass.
ing, ana, seeing "A light, | thought |
would nsk her question. Thets all
Good night"
The news was a little relief TO Mary
Wherever Tom might belt wRs certain
he was not-but she chided herself for
oven harhorindr sueh n fhouOht and