The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-10-29

you knOW-tnat now he had TWO dreams
instead Of one. His fate was his own fault
after that, do you say? and he was a fool
for being weak enough to let her trap
him? Oh yes; of course. But | guess
we are all fools. more or less.
Next time society" saw his Honor's
daughter a splendid diamond engagement
ring shone upon her beautiful hand, and
John st. George wasn't going to Italy
right away. In due time there was a
grand wedding in the rainbow mansion.
Iwish we might close here, and dare say
you do, too. But the story which | start
ed to tell you is not vet ended. The grand
wedding is only the beginning of that
story.
His HonOr's daughter thought she had
secured a rich man. She was mistaken.
She had secured tender, chivalrous, man
ly husband, ready to lay down his life for
her: a gifted husband, too, he was more
than she ever knew, or cared to know. be-
cause. like Rosamond, in Middlemarch."
she measured mans genius by the money
he gained; but he was not rich husband.
For that crime, when she discovered it, his
HOnOr's daughter never forgave John st.
George.
Ii shortly became manifest to the con-
sciousness of John st. George that he must
give up Italy and study, for the present,
and work for his wife. A fine sort of man
he would be, truly. who couldn't and
wouldn't maintain his wife comfortably.
John st. George was more than willing TO
bestOw on his Honor's daughter every
possible comfort and luxury. So he
cheerfully gave up one of his two dreams
for the time, and devoted himself exelus-
lively to the other equally beautiful dream.
He went to work manfully in the old
tracks, pouring out tender, graceful bal
lads, dreamy waltZes, and brisk, sparkling
polkas, with a facility and rapidity which
astonished himself.
"St. Georges marriage has made man
of him." said brisk merchant to Engene
Arnot. "He is ten times as industrious as
he used to be-
But somehow it didn't seem to strike
Eugene in the same way. He said moth
ing but only gave thoughtful, half-sor-
roWful shake of the head. | wonder if he
remembered reading of the Orphic legend.
wonder if John ST. George ever remem-
bered it as the years went on, and the gold
en- shores of Italy receded farther and
farther.
Mr.. and Mrs. St. George kept house, or
as Eugene ArnOt once said:
4" Mr.. st. George keeps house, and Mrs.
st. George lives with him."
Il never knew anything about seeing
after a house, . said his Honor's daughter,
"and surely you don't expect me to learn
now, do you"
"No, my dear, surely not if you don't
wish to-" said st. George, very quietly.
AccOr dinghy. after that, John ST. George
ordered the dinners, hired the servants
and discharged them, and did the market
ing himself Mrs. St. George arrayed her.
self in magnificent toilet, and visited her
friends. and made long trips of travel, and
wherever she went his HOnor's daughter
was the admired Of men and women. And
St. George? Was at home in a shabby
coat and trousers, perplexing his soul in
a desperate attempt TO keep the house to-
gether and make both ends meet, and
grinding out waltzes and polkas more dis
tractedly than ever. john St. George was
more industrious" than ever. He had
never dreamed wife was so expensive an
article of furniture.
1--WE must have a new carriage and a
pair of horses, instead of single one"
said his wife one day.
{" But, my dear, can't afford it, said
he.
afford there it is againl You've said
that wretched word two or three times.
lately. l wonder what you married me
for?"
John ST. George smote his forehead.
- God knows Eve wondered that myself a
hundred times" he said to himself.
"Why couldn't you teach music?"
grumbled his wife, ." if you must work
like anv common MANI"
$50 will, Margaret. You shall have
your carriage" replied st. George.
People wondered when he began to re-
ceive music pupils. But the undertaking
prOspered, and his Honor's daughter was
more magnificent than ever. A great
change came over st. George, though.
When he went out to the sidewalk some
times, to accompany his queenly, splendid
wife to her carriage door, those who did
not know might easily have mistaken the
pale, weary, shabbily-dressed, withered
little man for a seedy, cOnsumptive foot
man of his HOnor's daughter, only that
the fOOtman was ever so much better
dressed. The change in st. George be-
came unspeakably painful to Eugene Ar
not, and few of the friends of other days.
"How about Italy and the wonderful
unwritten sOng?" asked Eugene one day.
st. George tried to smile, but the smile
died in mournful sigh. "Tve not for
gotten it yet, but sometimes Pm afraid
now I'll never write it. Eugene, | don't
know why it is, but my life is failure" "
Il know why it is" muttered Eugene
Arnot " confOund women!"
"HushI" said st. George, with calm
dignity. SIN this world every one must
rive a part of his life for the life and hap
piness OF others, and sometimes the part
he is forced to give out of his life is the
best part In another world ] hope we
shall all have better sense. When die |
want YOU to have them chant over my
grave the melody of the song which was
never written.na .a---. .-s.-.-..
Eugene ArnOt looked at the other keen
". ''What melancholy nonsense is this -
he exclaimed. " Are you losing your
senses, st. George?"
Yes" answered st. George, calmly.
LAM
The pale, nervous, shabby little man
went back TO his waltZes and his pupils.
He did better and better, began actually TO
get on in the world, in spite of the fear
ful drain at home, and his Honor, the
puffy-faced father-in-law, smiled approx
ingly. One day st. George actually
mentioned the old dream again to Eugene
ArnOt.
"If do as well as this, one more year.
ana dOn I 90 crazy DeIOre Jne year Is out, |
do believe can go to Italy after ALL
1t is a blessed provision of creation that
we do not know the future, even three
days ahead. Three days after he had
| spoken to Eugene, John St. George was
standing beside the piano, timing the les
son for .wTetchedly stupid pupil. The
pupil made horrible havoc of both time
and tune, and st. George was suffering
| fearfully.
"La, Ia, la said the master, timing with
! his hand: ...--..
"Tum, tum, tin," thumped the stupid
pupil.
- [ think I'll sit down." said the mas
ter. Nov 90 over again lOuder-la, la,
| Ia"
"Tum-'' began the pupil. A heavy
body fell TO the floor. 1t was the master
The pupil opened the door and screamed
for Mrs. st. George, with a scream that
thrilled through the house. His Honor's
daughter and the servants came running
wildly. They lifted the master to a sofa.
His face was purple, and he was breathing
heavily. Some one ran for Eugene ArnOt.
His Honor's daughter met him at the door
with scared eyes and diSOrdered hair.