Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1922-08-16
The Grinding
of the Mills

BY MYRA C.. LANE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS,

mat 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.
so I've found you at last, Elsie
Walters!' he grinned. whats your
name now?"
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 a fault, and kind,
but he wouldn't stand for-what he
doesn't know YETI"
"Well?"
rs 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 districts? Suppose he knew
about"
stop! In Gods name why have you
| Soluc ucIc " TORTURE HE!
I'm down and out. Elsie, that's why
But I've the promise of good job this
fall. Say, doesn't it warm your heart
to think Of the times we used to have
old Mosso raving and then the little
suppers together? Even If we never
had much money, we saw life together,
didn't we?"
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 shudder.
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 rerisen before her eyes
she shuddered.
| what Is 1t you want?" she cried.
III twenty dollars will help YOU"
II don't want money" answered
Hemming. Il want you. Elsie"
| Never! Never"
| Listen" said Hemming, laying a
hand upon her arm. I've got you al
ready. few words to John Lesson.
and he'll cast you adrift. | know that
| type of man. Gentle as 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 Hemming. Think 1t over,
Elsie. What I want you to do is to
| come away with me. / 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 mel"
"Never!"
| II 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
youll have to come. You can cook up
some story about 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.
'Tll never 60 with you'll" she an
| swered tiercely.
But he only grinned and left her ,
And Elsie watched his figure as it
passed down the garden, with growing
horror. She>clenched her fists until
the nails bit into the flesh. 1t was :he /,
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.
Feverishly she packed her grip. Her
! husband would be home soon after |
shutdown. She must not meet him. But i
she put on the kettle and laid the table
mechanically-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.
"Elsie!"
Mechanically she went down. John !
| was staring AT her. She was white.
why, you're as white as a ghost, Ell !
! sic! You haven't heard?" !
what? What?" she gasped, putting
| out a 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 ,
| cAumh1 in the mill-race Crushed tn |