Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1904-06-09
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When she had locked the schoolhouse
door they got into the carriage the two
young men had come in and left the
forlorn little temple to the solitude Of
the trees and bushes that almost hid it
from sight
81 will stop in the village" said AL
bert as they drove away, land leave
you two to go home or take ride, as
suits you best; only, mind, be home by
tea time, for shall be hungry"
There is no time when drive along
wooded country roads is more charm
ing than when the trees are fast grow
Ing green and the meadows spangled
with daisies and buttercups.
Let's SO around by the mill pond"
said Alice after leaving her brother in
the village. ''The road to it follows the
brook up mile. We may find a few
lilies in the pond"
The brook beside which they We're
soon walking the horse was charming
bit of scenery as it came leaping over
messy lodges, laughing, chattering and
filling the pools with foam hecks, and
the old mill, with its great wheel drip
ping and Gathering, and the mill itself
proved even a greater curiosity to
Frank than the schoolhouse. He hitch
ed the horse. and, helping his fair COM
panion to alight, 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
battling the old leaky boat so it was
disable the two visitors started after
the lilies.
Mind you don't tip me over,' said
Alice. II can't SWIM"
"If do I'll rescue you or drown
with you," he answered CALAMITY.
What silly nothings these two young
people uttered as they made the circuit
of that long wood bordered mill pond!
One at leas4 was just tasting the first
sweet illusion of love, and the CLASSY
surface of the water that reflected the
trees bending over it, the punches of
water flag growing here and there and
the scattered patches of broad lily
pads, with now and then white bios
som, made most picturesque back
ground for the girl, who sat in the
stern. Her piquant face, shaded by
broad sun hat, was fairer to his eyes
than any Of the lilies she plucked, and
as she drew one sleeve up a 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 a bit of woods,
chat I have anticipated this visit for
weeks? l know scarcely anything
about the country, and it Is all reve-
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 churning away
all day so steadily, with a willow
bending over it, is poem in ITSELF"
'The mill was built over hundred
years ago." observed Alice, "and has
been grinding away ever since. l love
to visit 1t, for it takes me back to child
hood, and" she added, little sadly,
ut makes me live over the happiest
days Of my life, when father used to
take me with him everywhere he
went"
But the mill will never grind with
the water that has passed." quoted
Frank, 'and the tender grace of day
that is dead will never come back to
me- wish 1 had been country born.
think I've missed countless pages Of
pleasant memories. Do you know" he
added, turning to his companion, III
am rapidly falling In love with the
country and-and its pretty sights?"
Whose idea was 1t to pounce upon
me that way at school?" exclaimed AL
Ice suddenly, throwing of her retro
spective mood and smiling again.
WAS 1t yours or Bert's?'
II confess I coaxed Bert to do it.
We had to take the train at 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 all that
annoyance"
up to the present moment" an
swered Frank, 81 must 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 little at