Helen of the Old House

No well informed resident of Millsburgh, when referring to the principal industry of hislittle manufacturing city, ever says "the mills"-it is always "the Mill."The reason for this common habit of mind is that one mill so overshadows all others, and sodominates the industrial and civic life of this community, that in the people's thought itstands for all. The philosopher who keeps the cigar stand on the corner of Congress Street and WardAvenue explained it very clearly when he answered an inquiring stranger, "You just can'tthink Millsburgh without thinkin' mills; an' you can't think mills without thinkin' the Mill."As he turned from the cash register to throw his customer's change on the scratched top ofthe glass show case, the philosopher added with a grin that was a curious blend ofadmiration, contempt and envy, "An' you just can't think the Mill without thinkin' AdamWard."That grin was another distinguishing mark of the well informed resident of Millsburgh. Always, in those days, when the citizens mentioned the owner of the Mill, their faces tookon that curious half-laughing expression of mingled admiration, contempt and envy. But it has come to pass that in these days when the people speak ofAdam Ward they do not smile. When they speak of Adam Ward's daughter, Helen, they smile, indeed, but with quite a different meaning. The history of Millsburgh is not essentially different from that of a thousand other cities ofits class. Born of the natural resources of the hills and forests, the first rude mill was located on thatwide sweeping bend of the river. About this industrial beginning a settlement gathered. Asthe farm lands of the valley were developed, the railroad came, bringing more mills. And sothe town grew up around its smoky heart. It was in those earlier days that Adam Ward, a workman then, patented and introduced thenew process. It was the new process, together with its owner's native genius for "gettingon," that, in time, made Adam the owner of the Mill. And, finally, it was this combination ofAdam and the new process that gave this one mill dominion over all others. As the Mill increased in size, importance and power, and the town grew into the city, AdamWard's material possessions were multiplied many times. Then came the year of this story