The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-06
IN THE OLD MILL
BY DONALD ALLEN.

on entering the village postofice that afternoon Miss
stranger because he didn't look bit like Deacon
thompson or Elder Stebbns She judged his age be
tau she was going to Judge whether he good
locking or not when he turned his back to her
An An il-bred mani" said Miss Kitty to herself.
boys They spoke the ice going out Of the river and
one OF them asserted that the running
them in half hour Miss Kitte decided to go fishing
the very next afternoon Down by the
her to bait her hook
Miss Kitty Havens was an orphan who had been
Drought up" by her Uncle Elijah and Aunt Mary
Nineteen old fair looking and most Of the VII
streets and say something about somebody being
a'nartern whip" That the highest of praise
They couldn't have got off anything after think
Uncle Lie. the suckers running" announced the
girl when she reached home.
wv ell let EN- run" was the quaint reply.
But I'm going fishing tomorrow"
~ ell don't fall in and get drowned"
- SUI theres stranger In town saw him at thu
Ye-es l heard he down at the old mill fishing.
re stopping at the tavern. and he won't tell Mr.
self He just said he'd take the best the house
and rd care for expense hear that Constable
He must be- said Aunt Mary. "A man who don't
answer questions is bound to be pirate in disguise
Elijah you want to that the kitchen door fastened
every T night until he leaves town."
at the old mill to sit fish. I'm going to have that
place II this person gets there frat he's just 90
take himself of Strangers mustn't think they
come mere and crowd girls out Of their fishing places
mill On the way down she passed a boy with a string
OF fourteen suckers and he halted enough say
They are thicker than heas down there, and you
orter see that fellow haulin them out He don't
ha VT to spit pit, on his bait"
why the Teller who's stoppin at the tavern He's
hog"
SO the stranger was there. he? he'd got the
pest place and was sticking to 1t? Well, he would
get jar. She wouldn't speak to him, OF course but
Inn ont Df mind
Yes; he was there He the beam. was
ire in any villagers breast The way to haul up a
nsh Is to haul HIM instead Of turning the handle OF
e0 neu NIL for fifteen minutes
didn't even turn his head On the contrary he caught
another sucker She coughed lightly. Another sucker
She got ready her pole and line a third sucker! She
[ nd like b striking the man over the shoulders with the
hoie and there was no use fishing in the rippss.
If can't fish, then he shan't," the deter
mnation arrived at and presently log drifting
down to spin around In an eddy. Then came board
her way. He simply suspended his fishing and
looking over the river Nothing could be done with
with tear. in her eyes Uncle Elijah drnwI aa almost
Well thars folks lie nigh sighted and thars
as Is deaf Mebbe he didn't see nor hear YOU"
.hna see see, Nor Tsa hear ear s sd., Ann.
hit him au5 ia pscs sxan na to
all the old mill into the water to bother him"
The morrow came and the stranger there.
He was pulling out the suckers the old way. No
o. her
presence She walked to the far end MILL gath
cred all the drift wood In sight and heaved it into the
The deep hole soon became unnshable She was
3ofcins when there came fash of lightning and a
hand Almost before could the shelter of the
m it grew dark and the rain began to fall heavily
thunder storm the thing Miss Kitty Havens
was y. AFRAID OF She sat down on beam and covered
ming fierce and the thunder awesoms. In two
minutes the stranger was forgotten
Il shall surely be struck dead moaned girl. and
He
didn't know that he had my place He ought have
seen girl when she stood him. but perhaps
he's almost blind"
by a thunderboit. and the old mill shook trem-
The girl out and the next moment she felt
hand on hers 1t must be the strangers,
Say, 1t was mean of me-" she said the thun-
der died away.
No answer. but he held the hand nrmer pres
sure
mad about it. Girls do get semetines. you know
wouldn't notice me. Hadn't right to be mad.
But I'm going to be killed and don't want any
body to be glad of it. threw all stun into the
rosr d to x spite you Just hated you If you were girl
HIM: Hm'was the reply.
What? Can't you tak?'
Il guess If try"
And can you and hear?" ~
"will--wiH the lightning hit the milf"
7 don't think so The worst seems to be over. Yes.
Then, sir" said Miss Kitty. she pulled her hand
away and reached her feet IF not TO be struck
me?'
oh, that you snippy and con-
ceited and needed taking a peg | am Mr.
Charles Earle, Of Boston. and believe you Miss
Kitty Havens."
mo, sir. Miss Simply Ravens and you please to
remember it! You can return to your hshing!"
But. Miss Havens-"
And l. sir going home"
But during the storm"
But the storm has passed and snippy! Fish.
sir-fsht'
And two years later when they finally became en-
gagged the 'sntppy girl said 10 the artist:
"If you hadn't tried take me down a peg we
might have been married a whole year ago. That is
might If there had been thunderstorm and a
preacher together"
Parole All Convicts.
Congress passed a bill authorizing the parole OF
Federal prisoners except those convicted arson
murder, tapping. and the is now
before the President for his approval
Whether this is designed by Congress to effect
the freedom of any of the former members who may
be in prison who on the way. does appear,
but becomes a law 1t Is easy that there
turning loose OF long list states
and fnanciers who have slowly been gathered