Amador ledger., 1908-07-10
THE TAVISDALE MILL
by Harold Bindloss.

works secretary's smooth cropped
lawn. The girl looked fresh aud dain.
ty III her long white dress; but Tayis-
dale, who wore plain blue serge,
seemed somewhat out of place at a
garden party. lie was a big, and US
ually somewhat silent man, with me-
chanic's ingraiued hands, and a
thoughtful face that had grown paid
from loug night watches beside tire
less machines. lie was there partly
because the secretary, who disregarded
his wife's protests, had insisted upon
Il, and for another reason that con-
cerned himself
lit is in one way, proof of your
courage as we'll as Kindness to sit here
and talk to me" he said, with half
ironical smile as he glanced at the
fashionable assembly.
Agatha Leslie understood him,
though she would not, of course, ad =
NIT it. She had given up wondering
why this man, who was certainly not
of her set, interested her as he did.
WHY" she asked.
Tavisdale laughed. 81 am, OF course,
what | believe is called an outsider,
and little while ago the gates of
your world would never have been
opened to me. don't know that |
would have cared to enter them"
"And now?'
I'm one way it is amusing to step
inside the pale. 1t is only few
months since several of these people
who have tried with no great tact to
patronize me passed me every day
without glance. Still there is good
deal in your life that appeals to one
its quiet orderliness-your opportu-
mites of enjoying art and music
am ong other thiugs.'
You seem to know as much about
them as we do" said the girl, who
had realized that fact some time ago.
Haven't you equal opportunities
now you have invented the Tavisdale
millp'
The man smiled dryly.
my patent brought newell say
tenth part of what 1t should have
done. l was triAe conhding and left
the royalty question open.
Wasn't that foolish of your"
cit certainly was. Still, you see,
l didn't worry about the money the
mill might bring me then. 1t was the
result of years of such self -denial as
you. could probably never understand,
and [ loved the thing itself, and only
wanted to see 1t go. The directors
took advantage of the fact. Perhaps,
one couldn't blame Them
He sat silent awhile, and the girl
noticed the slight hardening Of his
face.
"Now," she said, "You want to
enjoy the fruits OF your Iabor!"
Eyes" said ravisdale simply, and
fixed his eyes, which we're very steady,
full upon her. GAS L said, your lite
hasa good deal to offer me. l have
grown very daring lately, even bold
enough toslong for the apparentlySun-
attalnable.
Agatha Leslie smiled, though there
was trace of color in her face.
"Ah," she said, perhaps nothing is
really unattainable il one is bold
enough"
Then she rose and left him as the
steel works secretary, Immediately
groomed, came up. He sat beside
ravisdale.
1--WE are going to have one of the
directors down in couple of weeks,
and l expect him to bring two or
three leading engineers to see yonr
mill,'' he said. "We shall probably
give luncheon and make it kind of
function. You mentioned a fresh
improvement. How have you been
getting on with it?"
~ almost think it wilI.-be ready
then," said Tavisdale with the Curl
Gus little smile. which had once or
twice since he made a certain hard
bargain with him caused the secretary
vague uneasiness.
In the meantime two of Miss Leslie's
acquaintance we're discussing her,
and one of them glanced at Tavisdale
as she said, Gone naturally expects
something eccentric from Agatha,
but it is tritie difficult to see why
she encourages that man.
The other girl laughed little. 81
rather like Tavisdale myself. lie is
refreshingly genuine, and there is