The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-08-20

she fancled she heard a noise inside, as Oi
the shufiling of feet on wooden floor, ac-
companied by others whose character she
could not distinguish. She became alarmed
as the sounds continued, and MIR. Seton
did not appear.
Gradually all grew quiet again, aid she
awaited with no little agitation the open
ing of the door. 1t stirred not. Presently
she heard footsteps near her on the gravel
walk. and looking up, beheld Arthur ap-
preaching. He had changed his coat, and
carried dark bundle in his arms.
Good evening again." he said merrily.
frightened you. returned as soon as
possibly could, and brought with me a
blanket shawl"
"Is the door unlOcked?"
g | am really unable to say, l did not
try it,
81 thought that was what you went
for"
$50 did |, when | started on the expe-
dition. Later, however, changed my
mind"
8 don't understand
swell, to be palmer, went for the
purpose you mentioned; but just as [ was
on the eve of accomplishing it, something
went for me-"
"Oh dear. What?"
at turned out to be dog-loOked en-
Ough like the one in front to be his twin
brother. almost stepped on him before
he made his presence known, it was so
dark in the passage. But come over to the
settee wonder, and | will improvise a divan
for you"
What do you mean?"
60 | mean that if you persist in not letting
me give some one the alarm"
''Oh, pray, Mr.. Seton, please don't do
that! ~
you will have to pass the nightOut
here.''
Madeline hesitated. 1t was a dire alter
native. but on reflection she held to her
first resolve. Scandal must be avoided at
any cost. 1t would be sure to follow if
they reused the house at this hour, where
as the early morning would afford abund-
ant opportunities for creeping in unob-
served.
Arthur contrived an ingenious couch for
her on the settee, and as she was about ac-
cepting it she CHANGED to lay her h md upon
the shawl.
"DO come here, Mr.. Seton!" she eX-
Mercy it's bloOdr'
W llil SIslll SllC hNlI ilCl III
gers to the light.
"Wait moment, then, till 1 turn the
other side up" replied her companion,
coolly.
Did it come from. you? Are you
hurt? Are you bleeding?"
The questions came in rapid success
sion, with half gasp between each two,
and their mixture of earnestness and dis
may simply enraptured Arthur. How
pleasant it seemed TO have some one take
such a lively interest in his welfare!
- 1t is nothing but a Scratch" he an
swered, with calmness, despite his inclina-
ton to whistle for pain. Il had to Crap
pie with that confounded dog that guard
ded the rear dOor-that's all"
But this announcement did not reduce
Madeline's anxiety one degree on the
contrary, it rather increased it. She in
sisted first on examining the wounded
hand, and then going with her compan-
ion to a little brook at the further end of
the field to wash the cash before dressing
it with a handkerchief. Their path lay
through thinly wooded grove, into
which the mOonbeams stole with just
enough dimness to invest the whole scene
with a weird enchantment, and Seton be-
came so imbued with romance as almost
to forget his thrObbing hand.
When they returned Miss Gregory re-
clined on her divan. and submitted to be
covered with an unOccupied end of the
shawl.
Now" said she. am as comfortable as
can be, and don't want you to spend an
other moment in my society. You must
climb into your room, and go right to
bed"
"Bui you
:" shall get along very nicely, thank
you. You are disabled hero. | am your
nurse. | tell you that you must deal very
tende'ly with that bite, unless you are pre-
pared to suffer most unpleasant results
from it. Do you hear?"
"I have ears, and hear, but will not un-
derstand."
"Candidly, won't you go?"
Candidly. not one step"
every well; have done my duty in
warning you. Henceforth your blood be
on your own head-nO, no, don't mean
that! But as you decline to pay atten-
ton to my advice, shall consider myself
absolved from all responsibility on your
behalf. As evidence of my disapproval of
your conduct, | shall wrap the drapery OF
my couch about me, and court the patron
muse of silence for the remainder of the
night"
$50 be it.''
Arthur thrust his hands into his pock-
cts, and sauntered off for a stroll in the
woods. He lowered near enough, though,
to catch the sound of the others breath
ing.
Soon he returned, and placed himselfin
front of her.
miss Gregory"
- Mr.. Seton"
At the sound of his voice, strange to say,
the girls resolution to maintain silence
vanished like mist before the sun.
lyon cOndescend to speak to me, then
Pray, what were you doing in the garden
when you were locked Out?"
Taking the air, told you once"
81 remember. But what did you find
to occupy your busy mind while you were
eXercising?"
"Oh, my thoughts"
"You purpOsely play at cross-purposes
with me. What were you thinking
aboutg'
"Your motel"
" Did it offend you?''
The blood mounted to her face.
- YOu kplo1c better than that"
"HOw, then, did it affect yOu?"
"You have suddenly become very in
quisitiye.''
Il beg a thousand pardons! You may
refuse to answer whenever you choose"
"Well, it gratitied me exceedingly.
Have you nothing pleasanter to talk
abOut!'
Between us, we can probably devise
something"
That obstinate something" however,
declined to come when hidden. The stars
might have afforded a subject, for the moon
had by this time run her course in the
heavens, and retired below the horizon,
leaving them TO shine with enhanced lus-
ter. But they were such little things, at
best. and so far removed; whereas both
minds were in large broad frame, i'll
adapted to the contemplation of minute or
very distant objects.
In short, they exhausted a long cata-
logue of suggestions without finding any
topic grand enough or near enough TO suit
them: and at last they were obliged to re-
turn TO that old, old text, whose antiquity
is equaled only by its monstrous magni-
tude and importance, namely, them
selves.
Madeline broached it first She began
to experience misgivings regarding the