Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1923-06-28

the age of sixteen, when both par
ents died victims of flu, and over to
the adjoining place she went to live,
with her Uncle and Aunt Hale.
Milly's, father, unlike his brother-in-
law, Zeke Hale, saw no harm in nav
ing a still-it was his private business,
he had told Milly, and the only way
he could raise the mony to send her
off to school. He had let her into the
secret, saying they would surprise
MON" before long.
Milly had often watched him and
his associates atwork, and had gained
all necessary knowledge required to
make good liquor
When she went to live with her
uncle and AUNT, they told her her IA
theirs place belonged to her, and she
at once resolved to carry on his bust
ness" She told the men, who had
worked with him the still was hers, and
she would be boss just as Pop had been
so the distilling went on. Mllys am
bition to be educated had been fired by
travellers who stopped at her father S
house during storm.
Among other things they told of the
fine schools in their town, and the great
advantages offered Millys mother had
timidly inquired into the cost OF a
boarding school and Jason Brown, sit
ting quietly by, determined to get the
money sem ehoW to send Milly off, and
finally decided still was the thing.
Mllly became quite studious, and
progressed we'll in her books, consider
ing her opportunities She had been
with the Hales' a year, being now sew
enteen and she told them she wanted
to go to a city where there was a good
school, and she could work and pay
her way thru.
They consented at last, and, armed
with an address, secured from paper,
and good sum OF money she had been
saving, and which was we'll hidden,
she was driven to the village to take
the train for N. By chance, she
had selected an excellent school, and
ARRIVING thert without mishap, she
ran up the front steps, knocked loud
ly, and called for Miss Austin, the prin-
clpal, who happened to be in the hall
way and came at once
Tho mortified at Mllly's outlandish
costume, she decided to keep her, be-
ing charmed with her naturally sweet
manner and brilliant beauty, which
shone out in spite of her mountain APP
pare
After getting the right kind OF
clothing, with Miss Aust;n's help
Milly, like Cinderella, was completely
changed. She had wit, and her noun
tain drawl rather added to it.
Milly did not forget she was there to
study, and went to work with a will
but it was not all work and no play
and excitement was mixed in now and
then, and broke into the monotony OF
school routine. The girls had their md
night spreads and narrow escapes from
Watchful teachers Milly often MIN
licked them, causing much sly laughter
Finding mouse i'll trap one morn
ing, she fastened to slip it into Miss
Smiths desk before class. She arrang-
ed the top to afford mousie little air
so 1t would not suffocate, and when the
desk was opened at recitation, what a
commotion! Little Milly was Mortified!
At home in the summer, when bust
ness was dull in town." Milly studied
and helped at the still.
After three years at Miss Austin's
this young lady would be charming in
any society.
she told tie folks she had made good
a!G sav2d sufficient money to h4v. a
II r. comic table h ne and want. il
butt right away, ann ii was moi =!
before uncle and aunt Hale were en-
Toying a pretty bungalow planned by
Milly She planned, too, to send Dan
off the coming year. She was going tc
teach in the neighborhood, and hei
partner would look after everything ir
town. She had gone in business anC
had taken in partner she could trust
and who would keep her posted, she hat
told them. Dan was aunt Hale's only
chlld-a bright boy OF seventeen, the
he looked much younger, being srlal
for his years. He had worked at the
still during Milly's absence, and every.
thing had gone smoothly. Milly left nc
trace of herself at Miss Aust;n's, ant
none of the girls heard from her. Hel
particular friend, Mary Leonard, hac
been telling her brother, Francis. anc
her cousin, Allan Lyndhurst, about the
beautiful Millcent, and they had re.
piled Millicent was myth, for she
neither came nor wrote.
while hunting we'll see if we car
find her." they jokingly said. They
were planning camping trip-Allan
loving nature, wanted to look for some
plant specimens, while Francis hunted
and hshed. well go into the wit
country and be the only inhabitants
then we'll have better luck" said Allan
Preparations being made they left If
a car for parts unknown" After long
rough drive, they found themselves or
lonely road, and finally coming 10 Z
small river, they pitched their tent Nc
human being seemed to be near-they
were surely in the wilds. But the noun.
taineers soon discovered the camp anc
at once suspected the young men WERE
"revnooers, and kept an eye on them
Allen was successful in finding many
new plants, and Francis had equally
good luck in his line
After a week of pleasure, and w til ;
sigh, Francis began packing for home
to keep an important business engage
mint. Allan wante to remain littlt
longer, thinking he would surely comt
across a rare plant he believed grew j.
those parts, and ARRANGED to stay witt
the widow Downs and her son Bob.
Engaging a mountaineer to SHOW
him the shortest cut to the main road