1s0 CAROLINE.

Beechnut finds Rodolpkus in the mill. A conference

 

 

When he had entered, Beechnut looked around the
room, to find Rodolphus. Presently he saw him in a
corner, engaged in tying up some bags. Beechnut went
to the place.

“ Ah! Beechnut,” said Rodolphus, “have you got a
grist to grind this time of the day?”

“No,” said Beechnut, “I came to see if you were going
on the blueberry expedition to-morrow ? ”

“ No,” said Rodolphus, in a mournful sort of tone. “I
cannot go. They can’t spare me from the mill. There
is a great deal to do to-morrow.”

“ Would you have liked to go?” asked Beechnut.

“ Yes,” said Rodolphus, “I should have liked to go very
much, but I can’t.”

“Could Ellen and Annie go?” said Beechnut.

“Yes,” said Rodolphus. And then looking up joyfully;
as if a sudden thought had occurred to him, he added,
“« And as I can’t go, I wish you would go and take them
with you.”

“No,” said Beechnut, “I cannot go to-morrow very
well, but I will go and see your uncle, and perhaps if I
speak to him, he will let you go.”

“« Well,” said Rodolphus, “ you can try; but it won’t do
any good I know, for the water is high, and there is a great
deal to do to-morrow.”

It was Rodolphus’s uncle that had charge of this mill.
He owned one half of it, and Mrs. Linn, Rodolphus’s
mother, owned the other half. It had originally belonged.
to Rodolphus’s father and uncle in partnership. They
were brothers. When Rodolphus’s father had died, his
share of the profits went to Mrs. Linn, while the sole