The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-05-21

/ surprise to Harry'S relative as he had 0c-
casioned but a few minutes previously.
40 Uncle Brownjohn ~ exclaimed Ma
tilda Jane, suddenly recovering her
speech and rushing into his arms, g m
so glad you've come. Now, all can be eX-
/ planned"
Brownjohn firmly withdrew from his
niece's embrace, and. gazing sternly at
! her, said in tone evidently meant to pen
citrate from the cellar to the attic of the
semi-detached villa: Yes, if you please.
An explanation, by all means. First OF
all, how is it that you, Matilda, and your
mother, made me promise to stand god
father; and that, after getting up the de-
tails of the important ceremOny-to say
nothing of preparing long speech for
| the luncheOn-l'm told I'm not wanted?'
! Alas, it was all over. Henceforth, the
BrOwnjOhn property was to be diverted
/ from the Highflies and their successors !;
| by an uniucky accident their future hopes
were blighted The disappointed parents
saw alkthis staring them in the face as
plainly as though old Brownjohn had writ
| ten it upon the wall of the passage in
which he stood. Ere Matilda had con-
cluded blundering attempt ct an excuse,
| the lOud-voiced BrOwnjOhn roared !:
"Madam! no more; l shake your dust
from off my feet. Expect nothing from
me-"
During this conversation, Job had been
attentively examining Matilda's uncle
gazing at him from top to toe, and eyeing
/ him from right to left. At the moment
when the great Aristides was about to de-
part Job was, with his hands upon his
| knees, intent upon minute observation of
| the burly Oil-man's boots.
| BrOwnjohn looked down and Job looked
up-the result being that their eyes met.
Then Harry and Matilda saw the sturdy
! BrownjOhn turn pale, and the hitherto
submissive Job adopt defiant air, as he
said: "Oh, Mr.. Bob Steppit, I've found
you at1ast. have | ~
Could it be possible? Brownjohn, the
prosperous tradesman of the Borough,
was no other than the man who many
years ago, had so disgracefully defrauded
| that goOd-hearted, trusting Job!
The doubt which dwelt in the mind of
/ the Highflies was but mOmentary. Who
could resist the evidence afforded by the
sudden change in BrOwnjohn's face, the
air of abject submission with which he
| begged Uncle Job to speak in more sub
dued tone, and finally, the promise he
gave that he would make restitution!
"COme into this room, where we cannot
3
! leading the way to the back parlOr. "Iou
also, Harry and Matilda"
/ They complied. and then Uncle Aris-
tides explained, that having quarreled
with some of his relatives, they were una
ware of his being in business at Bristol !;
| they imagined he had departed for Aus
tralia; but it was not until two years after
| he had hidden them farewell that he left
England. The adoption of the name
Steppit precluded discovery. OF course
he had heard Harry speak of his Uncle
Smith; but never having met the latter
when visiting the Ealing Villa, he little
thought it was the same man he had so in
iured He confessed his misdeeds, and
begged Jobs forgiveness; he felt the only
recOmpense in his power was to offer him
half his thriving business. But Job had
had enough of partnership, especially in
connection with BrOwniOhn; so. ultimate
ly, a compromise was thus effected Old
BrOwnjohn (who in his penitence shOne
with far greater luster than he ever had
done in his life before) gave solemn
promise that he would at once proceed to
his solicitor and make will entirely in
favor of Harry and Matilda. As for the
christening-well,r recent events had some
what upset him so. if Uncle Job would
llOb lJitiNSs iiC SiiO"lu w
obliged
Matilda looked appealingly at Job, and
hoped her dear uncle Git was wonderful
how suddenly he had risen in her estima-
ton y would pardon the neglect with
which she had hitherto treated him. She
was about to make lengthy appeal but
he stopped her with kiss; and giving
Harry a hearty shake of the hand, in
quired whether the clergyman would not
be impatiently awaiting them.
Five minutes after the crestfallen and
repentant Brownjohn had departed the
rest of the party were on their way to
the church. That artful Mrs. Highly
took occasion, while proceeding thither,
to ask Uncle Job whether he would like
the child called by any special name
she chose to forget that she had settled
the matter a week before. But that
unaffected creature shook his head, and
said he thought simple names were the
best; so, at the last moment, it was decid-
ed to have the infant called Harry" and
nothing else.
At luncheon old Brownjohn was not
missed, for Uncle Job was in such high
spirits, was so rich in humorous anecdote,
and. finally, uttered such pretty, modest
speech when he proposed the health of the
infant that the whole affair passed of in
the most agreeable manner.
To Harry's delight, Job Smith is now a
constant visitor, and he always receives a
genial welcome from Matilda. The great
Aristides does not come very often, and
displays to them none of that bombast
which was in former times his character
istic.-Cha1nbers'S Journal.