The Owosso times., 1921-07-01
THE MILLER
BY MoLLIE NEATHER.
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pointedly. Gerry, in her own city
home, was accustomed to the compan-
ionship of various cavaliers. Aunt
Phoebe's resident village seemed desti-
tute of thls-in Gerry's opinion-nec-
essary attention. Who would there
be to drive her down the long inviting
| road? Who, to row her across the
willow-bordered stream? The young
women Of the town appeared to be
absorbedly engaged in tiresOme tasks
Gerry had come to play.
'Aunt Phoebe" shelasked one morn
ing, do you know any nice young
man who might care to pleasantly
while away the time of my visit?"
Aunt Phoebe stared. while her
niece, with little laugh. turned to
the doorway. Evidently Aunt Phoebe
had no suggestion to offer concerning
her own summertime amusement, so
she would have to seek 1t herself.
The road to the mill looked inviting.
Gerry happily followed that road. She
had crossed, during her drive into
town, the picturesque bridge over the
ripping water. And she had, at the
time, mentally resolved to inspect the
old mill building, with its clean floors
showing through the wide doorway.
The mill had been in disuse for some
time. but bags Of grain were still sold
there, and business carried on in q
measure. Gerry thought that she
might be able to get some good snap
shots of the tiny waterfall over the
cliffs. But she was all unprepared
for the miller When a young man
popped his blond head out of an up
per window, she found herself snap
ping him in the picture. 1t was pro-
voking, though he was so very good
looking, and his stare Of pleased sur
prise at seeing her there would no
doubt be registered too. Gerry could
imagine the girls jesting remarks
when they saw the picture she had
mailed them.
Have you fallen In love with the
miller of Dee" Dot would probably
ask, while the young men back home
would probably joke concerning her
new admirer. The snap was bound to
be good one.
"GOod-by," said Gerry, with a smile
to take the edge from her words, II am
much obliged and l shall not see you
again."
The miller stopped to fasten his
apron.
"All right" he remarked casually.
"Glad to have met you. If you should
care to come over here again and have
the whole place to. yourself come
Thursdays. always go In to the city
that day."
Gerry walked on with mixed feelings.
1t was generous for the accommodate
ing young man to take her rebuff this
way. 1t was evident, however, that
the rebuff had not touched him deeply
he was whistling. Gerry thought
good deal about the miller. 1t was
silly, she told herself, and provoking
but she did. And when she had de-
velOped her snapshots she thought
more about him than ever. 1t was the
miller's wondering. pictured look, that
impressed her. Almost, 1t seemed, that
the sight Of her had surprised him as
one coming upon looked-for friend.
Gerry had been curlously aware Of a
like sensation as she had walked do
cilely at the young mans side. Well,
IL this was love at first sight, she
would have none Of It. Life as q vii
lage millers wife did not at all figure
in Gerry's future plan. She did go back
to the mill on Thursday, to see IL his
cool suggestion had been entirely dis
interested. 1t was; the young miller
was nowhere to be seen. But between
her Thursday visits-which became
custom-Gerry met him frequently
upon the village streets, or in the
meeting house. There was always a
mutual smile and word of recognition,
but that was,all; Gerry saw to it that
there was no more. While she was
now certain that she did not wish to
marry Doctor Don, and equally GER
tain that pompOus Bill would also have
his refusal, Gerry was angrily deter
mined that she was not going to allow
herself to fall in love with miller.
why, tHe very echo OI tndC lOVely
stream brought to her, even now, a
heartache. And then-Gerry fell into
that very stream. 1t was on Thursday
and she was crossing at a shallow
point on a slender board. The board
keeied up treacherously, just as she
was aiming her camera for a choice
shot, and Gerry's white-shod heels
showed for moment above water.
Then the miller fished her out. She
was comfortably sure, in some way,
that he would, even though 1t was
Thursday and he expected to be In
town. A white coat had been with.
drawn hurriedly from the mill win
dow as she approached And when
Gerry's wet figure was enfolded some
time later In that same long white
coat-and incidentally enfolded, also.
in the miller's strong, confident arms,
she looked at him reproachfully.
~ did not want to love you," said
Gerry