The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-11-26

sessed, just a bilin' cause forgot to get
her any dry wood. That little furry OF
snow we had one night, you know, just
spilled every stick she bad, and she couldn't
get a fire no way. Wall, Mariar ain'i
none o. your soft-spoken critters, Marian
amt, and She just nipped around there till
l thought she'd raise the roof, and Jest to
pacify her, / went into the shed to sec
what | could find that would burn. The
fIlst thing sot eyes on was that old secre-
tary Of Berry's that | bought of you a
dozen years ago, that I'd put out there
cause it was wore out as much as a year
ago" ..--..-
Hannah had been listening from polite
ness, but now she looked eagerly at Caleb.
That worthy took his hat in the other
hand, crossed his legs over the other way,
and went on.
Thinks | TO myself, the old thing may
as well be out o. the way. 1t amt worth
a continental, and it'll burn beautiful. So
| took up my AK and went at it. The fust
blow knocked it clean over and the second
bust it to flinders. Wall now," said Caleb,
getting excited, and rising to come and
stand before her, "I'd used that secretary
myself, and I'm sure I've opened every
drawer a thousand times, and, blame me if
/ can tell where it came from-but, as it
flew to pieces, saw piece of yellow pa
per fly out and drop behind barrel. It's
some old piece left in, says | to myself,
and stove up the rest Of it, carried it in,
and made up a rousing fire. But, some
how, | couldn't get the bit of paper off my
mind, and finally / says, wall, it won't
hurt none to- see what it is so out /
tramps to the shed, leans over behind the
barrel. and picks out this paper" Caleb
here drew out yellow package, opened
and spread it out before her.
Now, Miss Berry, fur as | can make
out, this here docyment is an insurance on
Berry's life. do know as it's wuth a red
cent, but leastways 1 thought I'd bring it
over. and you can do as you like about it.
Mebby it's good, fur there's a payment
made the very day afore he sailed on that
last v'yage. -
Hannah leaned forward excitedly, and
grasped the paper.
"Why, | never saw this 7" she ex-
" Ben did mean to provide for
me then. Why, it's for a thousand dol
lars :"
"A thousand dollars ~ said Caleb, "it's
ten thousand. and if it's good you're a rich
woman, Mrs. Berry, and will ride over US
all yet"
"Ten thousand dollars!' murmured
Hannah, sinking back in her chair, faint
and sick.
"Yes. but don't faint away. neighbor,"
said Caleb, suddenly; "mebby " it isn't
good"
That brought her TO.
" Sure enough. | must see Lawyer
Anthony right away" and she started up
eagerly.
"Wall, thought mebby you'd want
to see somebody" said Caleb, $50
brought my horse along, and I'll take you
right over"
''Thank YOU! thank you - said Han
nah, briskly, "I'll just get en- my things"
and she hurried out of the room, instinct
lively hiding the paper in her pocket as she
went. SIS .
WALL" said Caleb. as she shut the
door. &" I've heard say that Joy never killed
fainting away. Jerusalem what could |
do with a fainted-away woman? Thank
goodness, Mariar don't faint"
The anxious old woman met no ore on
her way to her room, where she hurried
on a faded old shawl and a wreck of a
hood. and in few moments presented her.
self at the door again.
"NOw am ready" she said.
Caleb Bent came out. helped her into
his sleigh. and in another minute they had
left the dismal POor-hOuse behind, and
were speeding down the street at the best
speed of the old bundle of bones which
Caleb called his horse.
Lawyer Anthony was fortunately at
home. and after looking over the docu-
l.. ,l,al,,.,l 70 ha sra1,Itino nd
told Mrs. Berry that she was the undoubt-
ed possessor of $4,000.
"But how can get it?" size asked, be-
by the good news.
" You must go to the office-I'n go with
yOu-and present the policy, and go
through certain forms. 1t will be a few
days, probably, before the money will be
positively in your hands, but meantime,
if you want any funds" he went on po-
litely, 81 can let yOn have any reasonable
| believe-" he hesitated, " if
I'm not misinformed, you reside"
80 Yes she said firmly; "Mr. Anthony.
| live at present in the POOr-hOuse; but if
this is true-ohl" and she fairly broke
down and buried her face in her hands.
Il didn't think | could ever shed another
tear she said presently, "and you must
excuse me, sir; but | have been through
very deep and bitter waters"
q know" he said, gently. Z" Make no
excuses. Your case is an unusually hard
one, and has excited much sympathy in
the town. Every one will rejoice to hear
of your good fortune"
OF course that policy was good, or /
never should have dragged the misery of
that most unhappy mother into your no.
tice. The insurance company acknOwl-
edged il, and agreed to payit soon.
Mr.. Anthony invited Hannah t. make
his house her home until she could make
for herself, and she CRATE
fully accepted the invitation. And that
very evening, dressed by the lawyers
kind-hearted wife in some of her own
clothes, she sat down to tea--as a guest.
Well. how do you think she felt? For
nv part, leave the painting of her feel
ings to those who delight in delying into
the secret places I'm human hearts. | can
only tell what she did. And III begin by
saving that she did not close her eyes that
night. She went TO bed because Mrs. An
thOny said she must, but she could not
shut her eyes, and the whole night was
spent in tossing about, and planning what
she would do. In the morning she un-
folded her settled plan to her sympathiZ-
ing hosts, and itmet their cordial approval.
- ''YOu needn't wait for your money!
said Mr.. Anthony, with suspiciously damp
eyes. "l'n go with you this very day
TO carry out your plan, and as said be
fore, can lend you all the money you will
need"
. Yes" broke in Mrs. Anthony, sand
| want the whole thing arranged before
Thursday, because that is Thanksgiving
Day, and it will be a thanksgiving sure
enough" 1850 tH
80 it will" said Hannah, fervently, re-
membeTing her conversation with Sally.
and | must get ready before that day.
"Ofcourse You must, and III help you.' 8
said Mrs. Anthony, heartily.
Meantime there was great commotiou
in the Poor-houSe. Not that our poor old
woman was of any great value TO that inn
portant institution. but that she had dis
appeared so mysteriously. Her absencs
was discovered about half an hour after sh'
had left. The mistress came into the kitch
en-, and missing her from her usual seat
asked for her. Sally said she had gone in
10 the other room some time ago TO SCI
some one who asked for her.
"Oh, hoi" said the coarse woman, will