Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-08-20
CHAPTER v1u.-CcOntinuedJ

a short time later, and he drew up in
front of the old mill. 1t was as pictur-
esque a spot as one could well imagine,
for great trees overhung the ruined mill
and the noisy fall Of the water over the
dam could be plainly heard.
Roger had evidently been here before,
and made all arrangements, for, even as
he lcaped to the ground and was in the
act Of lifting Carol down, the door open
Rd and a woman appeared in view, hold
Ang a sputtering candle.
The shadow of a terrible crime hung
over the place, and most people in the
neighborhood avoided it. especially after
nightfall. All the money in the vaults
of the treasury could hardly have tempt
ed one of the negroes on Richmond Ter
race or Darrell Chace to have willingly
gone to the haunted mill when darkness
AIad descended upon the land
What this crime was does not enter
suto our story. so far as particulars are
concerned. but let it suffice to say that
the mad miller murdered his wife in a
fit of jealousy, and also the man who was
working for him, ending the terrible ira
6edy in a fitting manner by taking his
own life.
i ne CuiiuFtu VI THIS unhappy NouptS
had been taken in charge by relatives
who tried to rent out the mill, but the
effort was in vain, for all united in de-
claring it was haunted, and that in the
middle Of the night they would be arous-
ed by terrible din
They declared they heard the mad mill
er chasing his wife and hired man from
room to ROOM cursing and reyiling, while
they prayed and pleaded with him. Then
would come the sound Of heavy blows
with knife, one for each person, heavy
falls. terrible groans and silence would
.ensue.
For some years back the mill had been
Inhabited by a woman who called herself
Mrs. Randall and 1t was assumed that
she was widow. She was quiet and
troubled no one, and always seemed to
nave enough money to keep herself in ex-
dstence and aid those poorer than herself
Carol was warmly received. She sank
YEARLY into a chair, and then gazed
about her with trifing show Of interest,
while the woman went TO prepare room.
Somehow the young girl hs . thought
Mrs Randalfs eyes had rested upon her
IN most singular manner, and yet to
her knowledge she had never seen the
lady before.
That she was a lady despite her poor
surroundings was plain to be seen. Her !
hair had once been black. but was now a |
silver gray. and brushed smo bly, away |
from forehead that was white as snow, |
though furrowed by the cares Of years
The room In which Roger and Carol |
were left was scaNily furnished. ard /
what few articles there were showed |
signs Of age, having, no doubt, once been
the property of the mad miller.
Upon one wall was picture, in a small
frame, with its face turned away. Sew
eral other pictures there were, but none
had been treated in this way.
She saw Roger standing near her. his |
eyes glued upon her form as though he
was drinking in all her loneliness, and |
she did look beautiful beyond all COM
paras0n in her wedding dress of white |
silk. but somehow her mind wandered |
back again to the picture on the wall, |
md again she let her eyes fall upon 1t.
Curiosity in itself is strong enough in |
any one. but IL was some greater power
than this that urged Carol to walk over
to the picture. 1t seemed as though some !
invisible power had hold of her hand and
was leading her on.
She turned the little picture. gave one
glance. and then, with a cry of dismay
and establishment, let it fall back in its
old position.
She had gazed upon the face Of her
father!