Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-08-13
THE KING OF THE MILL.
BY JOSEPH NEvIN DOYLE.
COPYRIGHT. 1861

Shaven face rudy and pleasant 10 look
upon. Brabon, the drummer, who came
up from Montreal, to st. Pyx occa-
sionally on business, sat smoking quiet
Nv in a chair that was tilted against the
wall.
Good EVENING"" said NJ. La Rose.
Good evening, monsieur lie notaire!"
answered Brabon, indolently.
Then there followed little spell of 81
lence that was intensified by the clat-
ter of distant COW bells.
Presently there appeared in the street
Immediately before the hotel sort of
living fatasy-a singular dark-faceo
old man, who strobe slowly past clad
in loose robe of many bright colors.
His eyes had the unmistakable and rest
less look of the daft. On his head was
crown of buttons; brass, silver, bone,
pearl, presumably sewn together on
card board and making headgear of re-
markable brilliancy. Behind him
walked a gray-haired, gray-eyed woman
sn ordinary garb. Her look was clear
and steady; her demeanor in every way
sane. Yet though it was plain to see she
was a commonplace woman, there was
something august in her carriage. unac-
countably so, perhaps, but as natural as
the studied pose of The other was con-
strained and unnatural. Her eyes were
set fairly upon the fantastic figure be-
fore; but, | declare, this is newt"
an evident interest beyond his ludicrous
pomp and preoccupation.
1t was not surprising then to the no
tary that this apparition, emphasized in
the magic atmosphere of the summer
twilight, should have made Brabon to
cry out with establishment.
"Allous! What is this, monsieur? I
have been in Saint Pyx many times be-
fore; but declare, this is new"
"a very pathetic affair it is, Brabon,"
said the notary, taking chair and look
ing at his watch, to be assured he had
time to tell the tale before going for his
customary evening chat with M. LIE Cure
in the presbytery rose garden.
'"There is a tale?"
''Well, as you will: history, nothing
absorbing but very human, very touch
ing. Old Cesaire Moisson, man with a
large family, thrifty, sober, God-fear
ing man once owned the mill by the
River of Angels"
Eyes, 1 see it from here; the squat
white building near the cluster of will
lows yonder."
Exactly. Well. He was man
with a considerable family, said, did
I not? and when the epidemic of small
poX occurred in the village-that was
many years ago, monsieur-poor Mois-
sons family was attacked, and one
after another his wife and children
passed away, and he himself, indeed,
till there was only left this son Zeph-
rim. whom you saw go by moment
since"
at left him so-the smallpox"
''No. He was not at home when the
epidemic occurred; he was at college.
Old Cesaire managed to put by enough
silver to educate the lad-the brightest
of his hrood-and NJ. LIE Cure also con-
ttributed, for he had hopes that Zephrin
would become priest"
"Then, I presume, the shock of this
great calamity unbalanced the young
mans mind"
THAT may be pretty true, monsieur,
though for a long time after the affair
he was thought to be perfectly sound
mentally. Well, Zephrin was obliged to
leave college and take up the business
of the mill-a lonely task it must have
been for one who had but just tasted
the sweets Of knowledge. Then. every
dusty timber of the mill fnust have
seemed to him like ghost of the happy
days when the place was trimming
with laughter and good cheer.
''IIe was not liked by the villagers Of,
account Of his silent and arrogant man.
ner; he was unlike any miller who
had ever been known. When the in
habitants came with their grists he
received them with the grand air of a
seigneur of the old days who, amid his
courtly encourage, received the fiefs oil
his dependents. It's like that always,
grumbled the crones; poor parents
fill their children's minds with foolish
notions of greatness! Poor old Cesaire
himself-rest to his bones-was not
like this peacock. Cesaire knew his
place bon vieuX! A miller is a miller
If his head be crammed with Latin OF
-four dust!'
Everyone pitied Zephrin, of course
On account of his great bereavement
and the business of the mill suffered nc
serious retrogression in consequence Of
his singular demeanor. This exclusive
ness, this hauteur, however, was takel
lightly by the young folks of the villag,
and often of a summers evening, like
this one for instance, they passed by the
mill crying up at Zephrin, who ipvaria
bly, pored over his books in the little
dormer window: Behold the king O.
the MILL Then with gestures of noel
gravity: Think of his mighty empir'
of rats!' ......- ....
''Quite So" said Barbon, ''they taunt
ed him into insanity with these gibes
The crown! the robes! see now how
they camel"
Indirectly these taunts may hav,
affected his mind, monsieur. His curl
pus attire and mien are obviously sug
gestive of the fact; but it is my opinion
his sad arrangement is only partly du,