Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-04-21

eel the horse and, helping his fair com
panion to arIght, the two went inside
the mill and watched the rumbling
wheels. Alice introduced her escort to
the miller, and after they had BEEN
shown the mysteries Of grinding he in.
vited them out to the pond, and after
bailing the old leaky boat SO it was
usablo the two visitors started after
the lilies
Mind you don't tip me over" said
Alice. 81 can't swim"
"If l do I'll rescue you or drown
with you" he answered calamity.
What silly nothings these two young
people uttered az they made the circuit
of that long wood bordercd mill pond.
One ut least was just tasting the first
sweet illusion of love. and the CLASSY
surface of the water that reflected the
trees bending over if. the lunches of
water flag growing here and there and
the scattsed patches of broad lily
pads with now and then Il white bios.
som. made a most picturesque back
ground for the girl who snt in the
stern. Her piquant face, shaded by
broad sun hat. was faircr to his eyes
than any of the lilies she pluckcd, and
as she drew one sleeve up Il little to
reach for them the round arm and
dimpled hand she thrust into the wa
ter looked tempting enough to kiss
The miller had shut the gate and gone
home when they returned to the mill.
DO you know" remarked Frank
when they had left the mill behind and
were driving through Il bit of woods,
that ] have anticipated this visit for
weeks: | know scarcely anything
about the country. and it is all Il rcve-
lation to me. I've seen pictures of old
mills and ponds covered with lilies,
but no painter can ever put the reality
on canvas. Why, that great wheel,
covered with moss and churnng away
all day SO steadily. with willow
bending over it, is Il poem in ITSELF"
THE mill was built over n hundred
years ago. observed Alice, land has
been grinding away ever since. love
to visit it. for It takes me back to child
hood, and" she added, n little sadly.
'it makes me live over the happicst
days of my life. when father used to
take me will him everywhere he
went"
But the mill will never grind with
the water that has passed." quoted
Frank. land the tender grace of day
that is dead will never come back to
me- ! wish had been country born.
| think I've missed countless pages OF
pleasant memories. DO you know he
added. turning to his companion, II
am rapidly falling in love with the
country and-and its pretty sights
Whose idea was it to pounce upon
me that way at school?' exclaimed AL
ice suddenly, throwing off her retro
spective mood and smiling again.
Was it yours or Bert's?"
Il confess / coaxed Bert to do it.
We had to take the train at 8 o'clock
in the morning and have coffee and
rolls at the station for breakfast and
pie and sandwiches for dinner"
And all to surprise one poor little
schoolma'am and break up her school,"
put in Alice. Was it worth al. that
annoyance"
Up to the pre- ent moment" an.
swcred Frank. Il mus honestly say
it was. This drive and the mill con
slider cheap at any price"
II don't mean this part of the sur
prise" said Alice, blushing Il little at
his open admiration. And then in self
defense she added: What has become
Of the Gypsy: Bert writes me that
YOU two ave planning trips in her al
ready"
she is still in winter quarters an
swercd Frank. I've been too busy
studying law to do more than think
OF her. I've reformed. You know"
Alice made no reply. The memory
Of what he had so evidently wished her
to infer regarding his reasons for this
new departure came to her in an in
slant and brought little wonderment
rs TO the possible outcome of it. Turn
which way she would and propose
what topic she might he seemed bound
To use it as IL vehicle of his UndiSguiSed
admiratioE She had wished tu con-
slider him as friend, because he had
been a friend TO her aGured brother
when that brother needed one, and
while she had written him a dozen
chatty letters which misht he printed
for all the privacy they contained, she
had stuliously rcfraincd from allow
ing him 20 infer even that she had any
special interest in his actions.
Wien they arrived home Albert was
on tho piazza and Aunt Susan had sup
per waiting. The table was set witt
blue ware Of a very old and quaint pat
tern, and when Alice had tillel bow
with lilies for Il centerpiece they gather
ed around and passed things in true
country fashion. The evening was un
usually warm for June. and after the
two young men had smoked and chat
ted for half an hour Alice appeared
dressed in spotless white, with a half
open lily In her hair and another at her
throat. The moon. which was nearing
its full, shonc through the open spaces
Of the vincclad porch and added an
ethereal touch to the sylphlike picture
she presented.
Well" she remarked cheerfully as
she seated herself near her brother,
my time is yours, and what can | dc
to entertain you!'
Il had planned to take Frank to q
trout brook tomorrow morning. re.
sponded Albert, land in the afternoon
Vol, and no can HINT for mill DOuds and