Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-10-13
THE MILL OF EVIL OMEN.
CHAPTER. I.


There are few places in this country
more calculated TO raise doubts as to
the benefits Of existence than Med
worth Marsh. Seen at the end Of a
November day-as Roger Wilmer saw
it for the first time-it is a picture at
once somber. misarG bic and uncanny.
The lurid sky is reflected in the great
patches of water crossed by bars Of
black where the comparatively dry
land is, giving the huge tract of coun-
try the semblance of mighty gridiron,
and only one object relieves, or. to
speak more truly, intenslfles the mon
OtCmy. There is an old disused wind
mill upon the marsh. which was orig
inally used for pumping up water, but
which has long since been the sport of
wind and weather; the home of an evil
spirit, according to common gossip, and
a place stunned in daytime by the SUI
perstitiOus and those who profess to be
interpretations alike. The stunted
mill, with It's great sails broken and
dilapidated. stands out in sharp black
ness against the sky. The wooden gal
lery around the base of the mill has
crumbled into jaggedness, and the two
or three sheds besides it the wind has
made roOAess and riddled with holes
Only the cry of a marsh bird comes
from the mill sometimes, or if the wind
is high. a dreary moaning from the
sails. which can be heard far across the
country. Legands s1ys 1t is the voice
of the spirit. and when the spirit cries
from the mill il pOrtends disaster to
some one living in the neighborhood
The road from Medworth-the mark1
ct tcwn-tO Ashton village runs for at
least three miles of the distance along
the edge of the marsh. On the Med
worth side the road comes down a steep
incline. cut between high banks, and
at the foot Of this the marsh suddenly
bursts upon the view.
Great Heavens, What a weried
scenew exclaimed Roger Wilmer to his
companions, rs the mare, having de-
scended the hill at a walking pace,
broke into n trOt again.
eyes. itwould make the most cheerful
man ever created miserable returned
Martin Halse. "Take the reins a mo-
ment while I light UP another cigar.
However, my place at Ashton does not
command view of this wilderness, I
am thankful to say. I have not asked
YOU down here to tempt you to commit
suicide"
MY dear fellow, I am delighted with
il: it is full Of artistic feeling. 1 shall
have it upon canvass before the week
is out"
Martin laughed as he took the reins.
THAT is the worst of you artists
Some of YOU can see beauty in dead
dog on the roadside-Or say you can. ="
There was little artistic taste and
less Imagination about young Squire
Halse. of Ashton Manor Sports of all
kinds he reveled in; sporting literature
was the only literature he read, sport
inc pictures the only ones seen in his
particular rooms. Horses and dogs he
loved. perhaps better than his sister
Edith who kept house for him, and
whose influence prevented him from
being only "hOrsey" member of So
cietv. She made him act so as to be-
come in many ways an ideal squire
and few in the neiEhborhood were more
generally respected than he was. Ash
ION Manor was Liberty Hall; there was
always something going on; it was con-
stantlv full Of people. Money was OF
no object TO the Halses, and although
Edith was not outrageously extraya-
cant. she was lavishly liberal.
Roger Wilmer was a clever artist
only inst beginning TO be recognized,
ON exceedingly good looking man, and
= NOR gentleman. He had his way 10
make in the world, and was determined
N make it. He and Martin Halse had
met on the Continent some months pre-
vious a friendship had sprung up be-
tween them and the consequence was
this first visit to Ashton.
Half way down the road, beside the
marsh. a small cottage stands. the only
babitation to be seen, and it is certain
" lonely enough for hermit. Roger
made some such remark before they
reached it.
Yes" Martin answered. "Old Mrs.
Bows and her son live there, but the
figure entering the place now does not
look like either of them"
Certainly not man. nor an old wo-
man. either" answered Roger. II
looks like a young woman"
Artistic feeling again" / suppose,
laughed Martin.
As they drove up to the cottage a
man came out into the road from the