The Washington herald., 1920-07-11


show me the pool where you can
see the trout playing. this after
noon. never saw trout"
Late one afternoon Father
Abram set out for the old mill
alone. He often went to sit and
think of the old days when he
lived in the cottage acroxs the
road. Time had smoothed away
the sharpness of his grief until
he no longer found the memory
OF those times painful. But
whenever Abram Strong sat in
the melancholy September after
noon on the spot where "Dums"
used to run in every day with her
yellow curls flying, the smile that
Lakelands always saw upon his
face was not there.
The miller made, his way slow
ly up the winding, steep road.
The trees crowded 50 close to the
edge of 1t that he walked in their
shade, with his bat in his hand.
Squirrels ran pIayfuIly upon the
old rail fence at his right. Quails
were calling to their young
broods in the wheat stubble. The
low sun, sent a torrent of pale
gold up the ravine that opened to
the west. Early September!-it
was within few days only of
the anniversary of .Algaia's dis
appearance.
The old overshot wheel. half
covered with mountain ivy.
caught patches of the warm sun
light altering through the trees.
The cottage across the road was
still standing. but 1t would doubt
less go down before the next win
ter's mountain blasts. 1t was
overrun with. morning glory ano
wild gourd vines. and the door
hung by one hinge.
Father Abram pushed open the
mill door, and entered softly.
And then he stood stiH, wonder
ing. He heard the sound of some
one within. weeping inconsolably.
He looked. and saw Miss Ches-
ter sitting in a dim pew. with her
head bowed upon an open letter
that her hands held.
Father Abram went to her. and
laid one of his. strong hands firm
ly upon hers. She looked up,
hreathed his name, and tried TO
speak further.
Not yet, Miss Rose" said the
miller. kindly. Don't try to talk
yet. There's nothing as good for
you as a nice, quiet little cry when
you are feeling blue"
1t seemed that the old miller,
who had known so much sorrow
himself, was a magician in driv-
ing ii away from others. Miss
Chester's sobs grew easier. Pres
entity she took her little plain
bordered handkerchief and wiped
away a drop or two-that had fall
en- from her eyes upon Father
Abrams big hand. Then she
looked up and smiled through her
tears. Miss Chester could always
smile before her tears had dried,
just as Father Abram could smile
through his own grief. In that
way the two were very much
alike.
The miller asked her no qIes-
tions; but by and by Miss Ches-
ter began to tell him.
1t was the old story that al
ways seems so big and important
to the young, and that brings
reminiscent smiles to their ell
ders. Love was the theme, Ss
may be supposed. There was a
young man in Atlanta, full of all
goodness and the graces, who had
discovered that Miss Chester also
possessed these qualities above
all other people in Atlanta or
anywhere else from Greenland to
Patagonia. She showed Father
Abram the letter over which she
had been weeping. 1t was a man
ly, tender letter, a little superla-
tive and urgent, after the style
OF love letters written by young
men full of goodness and the
graces. He proposed for Miss
Chester's hand in marriage at
once. Life, he said. since her de-
parture for a three weeks visit.
was not to be endured. He
begged for an immediate answer;
and II it wer favorable he prom
ised to fly. ignoring the narrow
gauge railroad. at once to Lake
lands.
And now where does the
ler when he had read the letter.
Il cannot marry him." said Miss
Chester.
bO you WANT 10 marry ulh
asked Father Abram.
''oh. 1 love him." she answered,
but"
Down went ner head and she
sobbed again.
Come. Miss Rose" said the
miller: you can give me your
confidence. do not question
you. but 1 think you can trust
me-"
II do trust you" said the girl.
II will tell you why 1 must refuse
Ralph. am nobody; 1 haven't
even a name; the name / call my
self is a lie. Ralph is a noble
man. l love him with all my
heart, but l can never be his"
What talk is this?" said Faith
er Abram You said that you
remember your parents. Why
do you say you have no name?
! do not understand"
II do remember them" said
Miss Chester. II remember them
too well. Ny first recollections
are of our life somewhere in the
far South. We moved many times
to different town ms and States.
have picked cotton, and worked
in factories. and have often gone
without enough food and clothes