Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1922-09-15
The Grinding
of the Mills

BY MYRA C. LANE
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

Copyright 1922 Western Newspab per Onion.
That moment was indelibly imprinted
In Elsie's mind forever. The leering
face of the tramp who had come to the
door, the country scene beyond the
garden, sloping down to the foaming
stream, the little settlement with its
neat streets and the factory; then the
tramp's face blotted out everything.
$50 I've found you at last, Elsie
Waltersp he grlnned whats your
name nowf"
Lesson" answered Elsie mechan-
ically.
"Ah, that's the name. I've been ask
ing about him In the village. Good.
hearted man, but kind Of puritanical,
isn't he? Generous to fault, and kind,
but he wouldn't stand for-what he
doesn't know YETI"
"Wel?"
us that all you can say? Suppose
he did know about those days when
you and l were members of the same
transforming company touring the
rural dlstricts2 Suppose he knew
about"
stop In Gods name, why have you
come here to torture mef"
T'm down and out, Elsie, that's why.
But I've the promise of good job this
fall. Say, doesn't 1t warm your heart
to think of the times we used to have
old Mosso raying, and then the little
suppers together9 Even If We never
had much money, we saw life together,
didn't weT
The picture which she had banished
so resolutely since her marriage to the
kindly farmer whom she had at last
learned to love came wildly back to
her. John Lesson had never known
of that past at which Elsie had learned
to shIdder.
She had come to Springville after
everything had broken up. She had
sought months rest, with the last Of
her money, before plunging again into
the unknown. John Lesson had fallen
in love with her and asked her to
marry him. That had been two years
ago.
Now Cy Hemming had traced her.
The past had rerlsen before her eyes
she shuddered.
"What is 1t you wapt7" she cried.
IF twenty dollars will help you"
~ don't want money" answered
Hemmlng. II want you, Elsie"
Never Neverw
"Listenl" said Hemmlng laying q
hand upon her arm. 1--WE got you al
ready. A few words to John Lesson,
and he'll cast you adrlft. know that
type of man. Gentle as a lamb, but
hard as nails where his principles are
concerned. And what will you do then
You'll have to come to me"
"You-you unspeakable-"
Hard words don't mend matters,
answered Hemmlng think 1t over
Elsie. What / want you to do is t.
come away with me. l can raise the
money in the city. I'm only beating
my way like this because l heard you
we're somewhere In these parts, and
had to go cheap to find you. Come
away with mep
| "Never!"
81 won't take never till you've
thought things over I'll take your
answer tonight. If it's no. I'll go to
your husband with the story. Then
you'll have to come. You can cook up
some story about a sick sister or some
thing, and come Off with me. Maybe
I'll get tired Of you and let you go
back, and then John Lesson will never
know. I'll meet you an hour after
shutdown at the bridge down there"
He pointed toward the stream.
"I'll never go with your she an
swered fiercely.
But he only grlnned and left her.
And Elsie watched his figure as II
passed down the garden, with growing
horror. She clenched her fists until
the nails bit into the flesh. II was the
realization Of the nightmare which she
had always feared.
The blow had fallen at last. And
there was only one thing to do. She
must run away-from both men. She
had 500 She must disappear forever
from the home, from happiness. She
must start life anew.
Feverlshly she packed her grip. Her
husband would be home soon after
shutdown. She must not meet him. But
she put on the kettle and laid the table
mechanlcally-a last duty. Then she
went upstairs again and locked her
suitcase.
Somebody at the door, John He
was calling her He must have come
home on the earlier train, as he some
times did.
"Elsle"
Mechanically she went down. John
was staring at her. She was white.
"Why, you're as white as a ghost, FL
slel You haven't heardT
what? Whati' she gasped, putting
out hand to steady herself.
There's been an accident down the
river. A strange tramp stepped off the
plank bridge into the dark and was
caught In the mlll-race. Crushed to
pieces There, take 1t easy No won
der you're upset, darllng"