The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-08-27

sheer fatigue fell into profound slum-
Der, and never awOke till noon.
Accompanying a late matutinal meal
| there came what seemed to be voluml-
nous post. There were letters and letters
! opened prodigious envelope directed in
Gertrude's severe Italian hand. There
fell to the floor my missive of the night
before. What did it mean? opened and
read her explanatory note:
Mr. FITHIAN-I return you the letter to your
friend Hattie which you misdirected last ev, n
. ing. l hope you will keep the engagement that
| unconscfOusly interrupted, and will be able to
protect her rare lovelIness from the vulgar atten-
/ lion you much deplore
Respectfully, GERTRUDE VANDEwATER
After recovering from this thunder-bOlt
of Justice, | took up Hattie's little note,
which contained these few but terrible
lines:
/ you were unwilling should go to the concert
/ As must not be unpleasant and imperative
obstacle to you, l shall never see you again %
! took up my hat and went out without
knowing exactly why, and found myself
presently at Gertrude'S house. The blinds
/ were partly closed, but under the curtain
! | saw the clumsy ties of the Reverend
| Cavendish almost touching the slippers OF
! Gertrude, and all four feet were under the
/ table laden with architectural drawings.
A sudden impulse of rage seized me |
/ ran up the steps and pulled loudly at the
! bell. The servant only half opened the
door,
Miss Vandewater is not at hOme," he
/ SAID
handed him my card, and beckoned
/ to him to take it within. Something in
my face made him obey. He went in with
/ it, but came out again almost Immediately
with the card in his hand.
Miss Vandewater is not at hOme," he
| repeated, in that dry, hollow voice pecu-
| liar to the Vandewater household.
plunged madly down the steps and
made my way homeward. My land!ady
called to me as was going up the stairs
that somebody was waiting in my room
for me. He would insist upon going up
and waiting for yOu, she said. "9Ou
see, sir, people must be seen sometimes"
She thought it was dun, and so did |.
was prepared to throw an importunate
creditor over the balusters, and went bold
ly into the room.
In an armchair near the fire sat Bigby
i've come to talk to you," he said.
''First of all, Bigby," | exclaimed, ''you
must understand that love your daugh-
ter Hattie"
Bigby almost fell out of his chair. He
stared at me Open-mOuthed. L saw from
his face he was in complete ignorance of
every thing; but went on, nevertheless
II love her to distraction. | never
loved any woman before, and never will
again. l want you to tell her so, Bigby,
for of course | shan't see her."
81 won't do nothing of the kind" said
Bigby. 'What do you mean by saying
y1rhn 'rn
to marry anOther?"
''I'n never marry Miss Vandewater,
Bigby. That's all broken off,"
Bigby fell back in his chair.
Broken off!' he gasped, when Eve
had my men working night and day on
them there clothes of yOurs!"
II can't help that, Bigby. know I'm
a ruined man as far as those things are con-
cerned; but it's out of the question.
wouldn't marry her if | could, and
couldn't if | would" Then l told him
everything.
Them there clothes OF yours IL be all
out of fashion," he said, mournfully, when
Ihad concluded.
II won't need them, Bigby. I'm going
out to the mines.''
Bigby gazed musingly in the fire. Once
or twice he turned and looked at me.
''lf woman is good enough to love,
she's good enough to marry, amt she, Mr..
Fithian ?'' he said at length.
'Unquestionably, Bigby."
"And you love my Hattie, you say?"
81 adore her Bigby /"
"And you think she's fond Of yOu?"
broke in the old gentleman.
IL hope so. earnestly believe sheis."
"And if | give her to you, Mr.. Fithian
and yOu know how much store we set
by her-and if my wife and me never
would lay a straw in your path, and would
keep from troubling you all we could.
would-would you give me your honor as
a gentleman, Mr.. Fithian-as a gentleman,
mind-yOu'd do your best to make Hattie
happy?'
[ took his shaking hands in mine.
said But what does it matter what
sBid? had always been fond of Bigby.
respected him now more than any one
knew; Mrs. Bigby was the handsOmest
woman for her age [ ever saw; and as for
Hattie-you all know how L felt about
Hattie.
Some weeks after met Vandewater. He
shook hands with me repI Oachfully.
81 couldn't help it, Van," said. Il de-
cided to marry for love-"
"Hem ~ said Van, with cynical smile
=" let me see. think old Bigby must be
worth in the neighbOrhOOd of halfa million
of dollars"