The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-04-23

Royalston's knock he got up, and had his
clothes and his dressing-gown, and totter-
ed into the room with his cane, and, faint
as he was. didn't allow Francis the chance
of syllable with another soul. "Anna,
said he. next day, 81 see the whole OF
this.'' And he told me to be civil at the
masquerade, since that was settled thing,
but forbade me to speak with Francis
Rovalston either before or after. 81 have
suffered enough" said he, ''withOut en-
countering that humiliation" Isupposel
was because we pitied father so. and knew
he was sick and disappointed and wretched,
that he had such authority. | felt must
obey, and was angry with myself to think
| cared, and when Francis came again, L
was out. He wasn't to be baffied, though,
and he followed me-everywhere went,
along the shore or the yet leafless woods,
he waylaid me. But | managed to escape.
Then he left off seeking me. l met him
once, and he lifted his hat and rode on,
and felt very strangely. His sisters came
several times to see us that month, and
borrowed the antique dresses they wanted,
and taught us some of their dances, and
once Jane kissed me, and said, What
makes you do so, puss?' And looked In
her eyes as if | hadn't the faintest idea
what she meant, though my heart sank till
it ached. And at last, the night of the
masquerade-a wet May night; it had been
raining steadily aweek-Judge ROyalston's
carriage came for us, and | cOnld hear
father swearing about it, it seemed to me,
a mile behind us-he did swear, if he was
a Featherstonehaugh.
OF course the masquerade was a success.
No matter Just now about the Others-I
wore, not the purple, but white brocade,
creamy with the long years, and bunch
of scarlet maple blossoms at my breast,
and looked just like my ancestress. What
scene it was! We three had never
dreamed of anything like it. and for while
were dazzled. Everybody danced with us !;
but. somehow, it all began to seem hollow
and hateful to me. Everybody danced
with me but Francis ROyalston; he never
came near me. | lOnged for it to be over.
And when the last blast of the music died,
and the carriages began to roll away, Iwent
into the conservatory and sat down in the
shade of a dwarf palm, to wait for ours,
which of course would be the last. As | sat
there heard movement, and | glanced up,
and Francis was sitting beside me, and
looking steadily at me with his great dark
ewes, and he took my two hands in his.
Now will you tell me what you mean by
this 2" he said; and burst right out cry
ing, and | couldn't wipe my eyes, for he
held my hands so and the only place
had to hide my tears-well, hid them
there and. oh, he was so kind, so kind
and good, and when he kissed me that
first time felt loved him so!
Of course. the next morning, after father
was ready for the day, | told him all about
it. had told mother. and she had hugged
me, and cried, and been so glad. that it
was blow when father cried out worse
| than ne did at the carriage the night be
! ore. And in the midst of it Francis came,
and. wet as he was-for the week warm
steady rain was ending in a thunder
storm, whose bolts were falling round us
at the time-he walked directly into faith
er's room, and faced him, and said he
wanted me for his wife, and would be a
good husband to me. Father sat up
straight in bed, and swOre an awful oath
| that it could never be. young man"
he cried. ''you need not think that because
am beggar, throw my children away
for the asking! My girl shall 60 dover
less into no rich family, to be its slave and
| dependent. And you can never have her,
so help me Heaven, till she can match you
dollar for dollar" What Francis would
have answered was hindered by a flash
that blinded us every one. Something
tingled up my arm: screamed and COW
cred nv ewes. A red arrow had darted
across the ceiling, down the wall and
through the floor; there was report as
if the heavens had fallen; a chimney was
crashing through the roof; the house
had been struck by lightning.
For a moment we were paralyZed.
And then Rob and Francis had dashed
up to the scuttles, and were following the
path of the bolt to the cellar. 1.-The house
isn't afire, at any rate" shouted Rob, as
he passed the door on his way back, only
pausing to snatch a tire-brand and we
followed them down stairs. And what q
sight it was! The bricks of that cellar
floor were tossed about as if they had beer
threwn UP by volcano; the earth be.
meath them was ripped open brook
was running where no brook had
run before, and its waters, we saw
by the light of Rob's fire-brand, were
washing over something bright ant
yellow, over heaps of bright and yellow
gold, some fused together, some in rolling
coins-the gold that grandfather had bu'
ried on that night And we turned, attel
that moments petrifying and appalling
gladness, to see father standing behind us
sheeted in his coverlet, tall and gaunt a.
Banquo's ghost.
II ALWAYS knew it must be there sale
he, calmly. "NOw we shall have our old
place again. or so much of it as these level
inc times allow" We were all palpitat
ing, half laughing. half praying, ready tC
fall down and thank God.
"Oh, what a stroke of luck , " cried my
mother, as we scooped the treasure into hel
shawl.
"Say rather of Providence" my father
answered.
81 call it a stroke of lightning" ex
claimed Rob, catching Amy and Maria
and whirling them about the dark place il
company with his fire-brand and their hug
shadows.
"Mr. Francis" said my father then
grandly as monarch crowned, " If Judg
Royalston has any proposal to make to M
for my daughters hand, shall be glad
be glad to hear from him !"
care you sure, sir?" asked Francis, witt
his gay, contagious laugh. Il have m.
own way to make, and can match dOlla
for dollar with no heircss of yours"
$50 much the better" said my father
and for the first time in all our memorie
he laughed too. He paused beside us
moment, and think he would have like
TO take me in his arms and bless me-h
seemed to see the unfulfilled promise c
: his youth before me-but the coverle
: made it inconvenient. ou have foun
} greater treasure, sir, than have sal
= he then; and l sprang and covered his fac
with kisses. And from that summer day
t a month later, when | put on the cream
t brocade again to be married to Francis, IN
7 father forsook his bed. And though al
a always looking forward to clean ne,
t cottage, where you can sit in the middl
5 and touch the four walls, Francis will nc
, listen to it, and somehow or other we col
: trive to have perfect bliss still in the ol
Featherstonehaugh hOuse.-Harper's Bc
(, z1r.
A Weed.
), A weed! What is weed? Nothing bl