Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-11-11

.
oak tree. Then she turned and glanced
across the stream toward the mill. The
miller was leaning out of the upper half
of the mill door, his arms resting on
the lower half.
THE top of the morning to you, Miss
Eliza called out. do you know
I've found the nest of the old goose
I've been hunting so long? 1t was In
the crotch of willow at the lower end
of the dam. Step over and take look
at it,"
Elizabeth was about to trip lightly
across the bridge that led to the mill.
when she was hailed by a voice from the
kitchen, reminding her that life is not
all play, even on a merry May morn
ing.
"EIizabeth! Elizabeth" cpied the
grandmother there is a large ironing
to do, and we are late at setting about
It. Come, little idler, TO your task"
But it's such lovely day!" sighed
the girl, slowly entering the room, and
casting many q longing glance back
ward, silently wishing that she were
a bird or leaf that could let the rain
do it's washing and leave the smoothing
process to the wind and the sunshine.
"But If 1 am diligent this morning,
grandmother, 1 suppose that 1 may 60
into town this afternoon TO see Mary
Anne"
"Yes, yes, child; but now we must
make haste, or else noon will be here
before we have finished all that we have
on hand" responded the grandmother.
laying generous patches of dough into
the bread baskets to rise and make
ready for baking.
When the clock struck 12 the last
piece of snowy linen was hung up to air
on the line stretched across the kitchen,
and when the traces Of the midday
meal were cleared away Elizabeth tied
on her sunonnet and started for the
village. OF course she had to pause for
q moment at the spring, for she could
never pass II by unheeded; but little
later she was with her cousins In an old
garden, sleepy with sunshine and
fragrant with blossoms.
What with gossiplng over Ellzabeth's
coming flight from the home nest and
the relating of stories by Mary Anne
from a delightfully."- fascinating book
that she had come across-but which
her mother had withdrawn from her
ere she had fathomed half of Its fasci-
nations-the afternoon skipped by all
too quickly.
Elizabeth suddenly realized the late
ness of the hour, and fastened away,
but it was growing dark as she pressed
into the shade of the pine woods beyond
the spring. and she was considerably
startled when she observed in the path
ahead of her the figure of an unknown
man, who, when he heard the approach
ing footsteps, lodged behind the trunk
of q tree, as though fearful Of discov-
cry.
Dear me-" thought Elizabeth, who
In that? 1t must be beggar or
tramp, unless 1t is king or lord in
disguise. Anyway, It's best to avoid
him. There, he has turned of to the
right, so I'll hurry along as fast as l
can"
In another moment she saw her
grandmother coming to meet her. Eliz-
abeth threw her arms round the old
lady's neck in an ecstasy of joy and
relief, and confded the story of her
vision and her fright. Grandmother
looked little worried.
81 almost wish that you had brought
William home with you 20 spend the
night" she said, as she Iarcned the gar
den gate behind herself and Elizabeth.
"Woolly says that there is fox prowl-
ing round, also. You must shut up the
chickens with more than usual caution.
David went away for the afternoon, too,
and will not be back until late this even
ing. Do you run over, Elizabeth, and
see that the geese are In the pen near
the house. lest they be in peril, and
drop O word to his wife. poor lame Su-
san, to charge David to keep his ears
open for anyone who may be abroad to-
night. However, / think that we have
really little to fear. The stranger was
probably q traveller, going through the
country on foot"
Elizabeth few away to her grand
mothers bidding; but, while securing
the fowls from surprise, she fell to
wondering about the man that she had
encountered, and to weaving romances
In her customary fashion, and not once
did she recall to memory the orders
about the miller's geese. The moon was
climbing the skies when she went up
stairs to go to bed. and when she walked
to the window for parting glimpse OF
the world without she fancied that she
L q l. 4
hide himself in the woods beyond.
"It's Just nervousness that makes me
imagine that I find strange things
everywhere now" she assured herself.
to stifle little spasm OF alarm. anG.
with q light laugh at her ewn notions.
she sprang into bed, and had soon lost
herself and her troubles in dreamlard.
But after an hour or two of sleep she
was called back to real life. She awoke
suddenly TO descry somebody standing
by her window.
who's thcre?" she demanded, In
quavering tones.
at is l." replied her grandmother, in
q whisper. "I heard the sound of
whistling, and / stole in here to peer
out on this side OF the house, and here
is q man walking up and down the road.
He Is trying. perhaps, to find out II
there is a man about. or else wishes to
signal to some accomplice. There, do
you hear him?"
Elizabeth was at the window In a
.trice, and she could plainly discern a
tall figure creeping stealthily IN
through the gate.
"Oh, why was / SO foolish as TO stay
here without a mani" said grand
mother, catching her breath. 1--WE can
not protect ourselves, and there is one
shutter in the parlor that Is not closed,
because the white rose bush has grown
In SO far that 1t holds it open. There,
he is ut the other window now, and will
soon make an attempt at the one behind
the rose bush"
Grandmother had in her hand small
calico bag, which she tucked beneath
the mattress OF the bed, and then she
began to push some of the heavy, old
fashioned mahogany furniture against
the door of the room.
"Woolly is safe enough In her corner
in the attic" said grandmother. but
we must have something that the rascal
Is after. 1 will fling up the window.
and we must scream for help. David
must have returned by this time, and
mayhap he will hear us and come to our
rescue. You spoke to Susan Of this
matter, did you not, ElizabethP"