noon
BACK at the mill old Gabe was troubled . Usually he sat in a cane-bottomed chair near the hopper , whittling , while the lad tended the mill , and took pay in an oaken toll-dish smooth with the use of half a century . But the incident across the river that morning had made the old man uneasy , and he moved restlessly from his chair to the door , and back again , while the boy watched him , wondering what the matter was , but asking no questions . At noon an old mountaineer rode by , and the miller hailed him . `` Any news in town ? '' he asked . `` Hai n't been to town .