Romance of the Old Mill's primary photo
  • Romance of the Old Mill (1908)
  • Short | Short, Drama
Primary photo for Romance of the Old Mill
Romance of the Old Mill (1908)
Short | Short, Drama
Robert Harrington, a young English lord, while hunting meets with an accident, and is nursed back to health and strength by Nora, the pretty daughter of Donald Clark, the village miller, and at the opening of our story, Robert declares his...See moreRobert Harrington, a young English lord, while hunting meets with an accident, and is nursed back to health and strength by Nora, the pretty daughter of Donald Clark, the village miller, and at the opening of our story, Robert declares his love for Nora, but the miller has long cherished the hope of seeing his daughter the wife of the rich squire who owns the mills and most of the property in the neighborhood. Our second scene is a reproduction of an English water mill in full operation. Squire Reed calls for his answer, and is promised Nora's hand by her father. The young girl, knowing her father's iron will, consents, but secretly hopes to elope with the man of her choice. Matters are brought to a crisis by the arrival of a letter addressed to Clark from Robert's mother, Lady Harrington, "I understand my son is amusing himself by making love to your daughter. I have higher views for him. No good can come from such a union," writes the aristocratic lady. The miller in a rage orders the young man from his house. "No, father, if he goes I go with him," the daughter declares. The enraged father raises his cane to strike the disobedient girl. Robert takes her in his arms. "Stop, sir. She is mine now. You shall not harm her." "Then take her and be gone." Nora's mother intercedes. "Stand hack," the stem father replies, "she is lost to thee forever." Robert takes the girl and leaves. We are then taken to the exterior of a church on the English border where Robert makes Nora his wife. The arrangements for marriage Robert has entrusted to an old friend of his family whom the mother has sent to the mill with instructions to bring her son back home. Barney, the servant, thinking Robert's love for the lovely miller's daughter is only a passing fancy, and knowing that Robert's mother wants him to wed a lady of his own station, cunningly contrives, as he thinks, to get his master married under that peculiar cloak for rascality (a Scotch marriage) a foolish law that has ruined the life of many a simple minded English maiden. Barney's plan, however, goes awry, but the discovery of the legality of their union only comes to light as the rascally servant has spread the report that his master's marriage was a Scotch one. This news is brought to Nora by Robert's mother and it nigh crazes the girl. She casts aside the jewels and finery her husband's love has lavished upon her and returns to her father's home only to overhear him curse and deride her for her boldness. A calamity has befallen the old mill. All his life he has worked amidst the grit and grime of the old mill. This has weakened his eyes, and as old age creeps upon him it brings with it blindness. Nora, thinking her shame has helped to bring this misfortune to her father, leaps in the old mill stream and determines to die, but her young husband, who has just returned from Scotland, arrives in time to rescue her. Nora's screams bring the blind father to the bank of the river. He recognizes Nora's voice and helplessly stands by, moaning, "My child is drowning before my face and I cannot help her for I am blind." His mill hands carry him back to the door of his cottage. Robert enters with his wife who kneels at her father's feel and begs forgiveness, "Take her in your arms, Donald," pleas his old friend, Squire Reed. The report was a lie. The church was on the English side of the border." Then, thank God, my daughter is an honest wife," the old miller cries for joy, as he clasps his child in his arms, and our story closes on a happy tableau. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less
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Producer
William Nicholas Selig
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Status
Edit Released
Updated Aug 29, 1908
Release date
Aug 29, 1908 (United States)

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