The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-11-19
A CLERKS IDYL.


forth, aunt and guardian of Miss Vielef
Danforth, met with an accident that kept
her IN The city during the summer.
Poor. dear lady, she was one of the
meek sort. who go through life in a state
of chronic apology, always SO sorry tc
trouble one, always hoping. in purring
voice, that she did not intrude, and al.
ways willing to yield her own opinion in
Difference TO that of others-which last
quality was a great blessing to AIiss Violet.
who, from a natural gift Of domination,
which had thriven in her aunt's gentle &C.
quiescence, was certainly disposed to have
her own way i'm all things.
Any ordinary mortal would have been
exceedingly sorry to break up the plans
of a young lady as fond of summering as
Miss Violet DanforJh. Much more than
ordinarily did good Aunt DanfOrth mourn.
At stated intervals she would calculate. 81
wouldn't if ] could have helped it. DEAR
until the refrain became monotOnOus and
Miss Violet responded, not without a
shade of acerbity. and as if it had been her
verse in an antiph0nal chant, 'sABd who
would, if they could have helped it9'
Ii was in this wise that the accident hap
pened: Aunt Danforth, being a notable
housekeeper, had mounted the step-ladder,
which, being infirm and uncertain of pur-
pose, gave way and fell into chaotic ruin,
from which Miss Danforth, as usual dep
recatory, was extracted in a prone state,
and Immediately announced in an apollo
my limbs are broken, / am sure. I
would not have made so much trouble, if
/ could have helped it.''- D E
Letus give all due credit in the little ac-
count that we shall keep with Miss Violet
She might have left her aunt to the care
ofthe hirelings and strangers. She could
have delegated the anxious days and
watchful nights TO others. But she did
not. Faithfully and lovingly she attended
Miss Danforth, and lovingly and CRATE
fully the service was received. The Occu-
patton suited her. 1t was the first time i'm
all her young life that she had ever had
any real responsibility. And she enjOved
ii, although sorry for the cause. Yes;
there was that much of sweet womanliness
about her. She loved to minister to the
comfort ofa dear one, even when it in
volved WEAKNESS and self-denial. ~
But as the hot davs grew longer. and
there was less necessity of her close atten-
ton, as the circle of friends lessened to add
TO the '.vast army of martyrs at the sea-
shore and mountains" )" she began to feel
her loneliness.
I" | think. though, after ALL" she said
one day to her aunt, " that | rather enjoy
the city in summer; all these fOrsaken
houses and gardens seem ours by a sort of
C8Sarism-
Prom the center, all around to the sea,
My right there is none to dispute
We have the freedom of the city, any
way, Auntie, even five haven't had it in
closed in gold box, like Miss Burdett-
Coutts. But know just how it's going
to sound when they come home. I can
ust hear the crescendo inquiry, Why
have you been here all the summer?"
Violet tried her hand at a little transient
Irritation with the doctor attending her
aunt, but he had many disqualifications.
He was not handsome. ne was quite deaf,
he was net inclined to fiirt; indeed. he was
far too busy; he never noticed when she
had on her white dress; indeed once, bar
barian that he was, he stepped upon and
tore the lower frill. and discovering the in
jury. coolv remarked, Dress too long,
wasn't itg' If she gave him n rose, he was
quite sure 10 put it on a table and forget
it. And above all, he loved his own wife
sincerely, and Violet's innocent witcheries
fell like spent rockets into pool of water.
The days went on, the long, warm,
cloudless davs. The doOr-bell retired.
Emeritus. No more callers came. The
admitted, but it was a monotone, simple
and undertaking, and she was longing for
the caBricious chase of fuoue. In this
mood, one morning, the fancy seized her
to go to the shops.
Arrayed in white, with a white shade
hat tied over her head, from the curved
edges of which her face looked in almo {
infantine grace, what charm there was
in her very simplicity what artlessnessi
what quiet elegance!
Ii chanced that in a large shop where
she went-the "Stewart's" of the city-a
certain Englishman waited upon her.
Newly arrived in this country, he thought
this a veritable Princess of the land.
Her selfpOssession, the consciousness
in nowise akin to vanity-of her
beauty, the repose which shaded
into languor, the refinement of voice and
manner. her exceeding beauty of face and
form, all entTanced him. Diagnosis would
have clearly revealed a case of love at first
sight, accompanied by aggravated symp-
toms. He could scarcely trust himself to
lock at the delicate face bent over the
counter so near his own. Gloves, hand
kerchiefs, laces, all the little feminine
adOrnments were tossed over carelessly.
Evidently she was not easily suited-but
no shadow of displeasure crossed him. 1t
was but right that he should wait his
Princess's pleasures patiently. Finally a
dainty selection was made. As she moved
away, she turned her eyes dreamily,- seri-
ously, fiXedly upon his own. That was
Violet Danforth's piece de resistance, upon.
which she fell back after the garnishments
had been disposed of.
Now be if understood that she never al
lowed herself to glance often at the face of
any one with whom she might be con-
Versing. ltwas always after one had long
ed 10 have the blue-gray eyes meet his own
and give up longing i'm despair, that she
would slowly-always slowly. and as if
the lids did not obey her guickly-turn
and let her eyes rest on him, as if it Gcere
rest. No one could tell if she knew on
what or whom her eyes were fixed; ii
were presumption to think that glance in
tended for him for his own sake; there
was neither kinship nor recognition in it
TO offend the most fastidiouS, but it never
failed curiously to stir him on whom it
fell. 1t was as if she heard music from
another sphere than ours. or that she
saw something afar of and mysterious,
for which from you she sought explana-
ton.
Ii may be taken for granted that Mr..
Arthur Edward Sterry was not slow to as
certain her name and residence, and a quick
glad flush passed over him as he heard
!" "Miss.vD Yet he would have blushed
again at his own presumption had he al
lowed himself to dwell on the possibility
implied in, as some one has expressed it,
a. the why of his gladness."
Days went on, days in which one
thought, as maelstrom, absorbed all 9TH
ers-" Should he see her?'
Sunday came as blessed resource, for
he sought the church which he had learn.
ed she had attended, and had the felicity of
gazing on her beautiful face through the
service. ~s@N 80 - -
Early in the week. ORG morning, after
hope deferred " had wrought its work
with him, she entered the store, although
she did not come to his department, nor
indeed give sign or token chat sile~was
aware OF his existence. For the first time
he chafed against the fetters df his daily
and common-place routine of life. He
would have been free, that he inight sta
ton himself near her house at a.tinle when
she would be likely TO come forth for a
walk or 3 drive. Visions of an kinds Of
improbable possibilities panoramaed them
so1, L, u.