The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1914-11-19


| stunning" as his brief comment
She was silent for a long time, o
long indeed that he turned to looA
at her.
"A thoroughly decent, fair minded
chap is Leslie Wrandall," he pro-
nsunced, for want Of something bet
tar to say. "Still, I'm bound to sAy,
1'rs sorry he is coming home tomor-
row."
The red crept into her cheeks again
II thought you were such pals" she
said n~ervously.
II expect to be his best man II no
yer marries," said he, whacking q
stone at the roadside with his walk
Ing stick. Then he looked up at her
turtively and added, with a Quizzical
smile: Unless something happens"
What could happen?"
He might marry the girl I'm La
love with, and, in that case, I'd have
to be excused"
Where shall we walk to this morn
drawn closer to her in the roadway.
"Is 1t too far to the old stone mill!
That's where l first saw you. II you
remember"
Yes, let us go there" she said. but
her heart sank. She knew what was
coming. Perhaps It were best to have
1t over with; to put 1t away with the
things that were To always be her
lost treasures. II would mean the
end Of their companionship, the end
Of . love dream. She would have TO
lie to him: to tell him she did not
love him.
Coming to the Jog In the broad 10
adam, they we're striking off into the
narrow road that led to the quaint
old mill, long since abandoned in the
forest glade beyond, when their atten-
ton was drawn to a motor car, which
wac slowing down for the turn into
Sara's domain. A cloud of dust swami
In the air far behind the machine.
A ba~re-headed man on the seat be
side the driver waved his hand to
them, and two women in the tonneau
bowed gravely. Both Hetty and
Booth flushed uncomfortably, and hes
itated In their progress up the forest
road.
The man was Leslie Wrandall. His
mother and sister were in the back
seat of the touring car.
"Why-why, It vas Leslie" cried
Booth, looking rel his shoulder At
the rapidly receding car. Shall We
turn back, Miss Castleton?"
NO." she cried instantly, with some
thing like Impotence in her voice.
And spoil u Walk" she added IL
the next breath, adding a nervous
little laugh.
ously.
"Oh, let us have our day" she cried
sharply, and led the way into the by.
road.
They came, In the course OF a quar-.
ter OF an hour, to the bridge over the
mill race. Beyond, In the messy
shades, stood a dilapidated, centurion
structure known as Rangely's mill, Q
landmark with a history that included
incidents of the Revolutionary war,
when eager patriots held secret meet.
ings inside its walls and plotted under
the very noses Of Tory adherents to
the crown.
Pausing for a few minutes on the
bridge, they leaned on the rail and
looked down into the clear, mirror
like water Of the race. Their own
eyes looked up at them; they smiled
into their W faces. And a ieecy
white cloud passed over the glittering
stream and swept through their faces,
of to the bank, and was gone forever.
Suddenly he looked up from the wa
ter and fixed his eyes on her face, He
had seer her clear blue eyes All With
tears as he gazed into them from the
rail above.
"Oh, my dear!" he cried. What Ia
it,"
She put her handkerchief to her
eyes as she quickly turned way. In
another instant she was smiling I'D
at him, a soft. pleading little smile
that went straight to his heart.
Shall we start back?" she asked,
a quaver in her voice.
No." he exclaimed. I've got To
go on with 1t now, Hetty. l didn't
intend to, outcome, let us go up and
sit on that familiar old log In the
shade Of the mill. You must, dear!-
She suffered him to lead her IN
the steep bank beyond and through
the rocks and rotten timbers to the
great beam that protruded from the
shattered foundations of the mill.
The rickety old wheel, wea~ther-beatsn
and sad, rose above them n threat.
ened to topple over II they SO much
as touched its fimsy supports.
He did not release her hand altar
drawing her up beside him.
You must know that love yvv.-
he said simply.
She made no response. Her ~
lay limp in his. She wal stars.
straight before her.