The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-09-24

company by which he was surrounded.
but there was the neyer-tO-be obliterated,
indescribable something in his manner
that told of education and refinement
of years passed in very different
| society. The inevitable revolver was
not wanting, and he looked like q
man that would be terrible if once
aroused to anger, and whom nothing
wORld deter from vengeance once premed-
J itated. Yet there was restleSsnesS, a
! haunted look about the strikingly black
eyes. coupled with threads of silver in his
/ hair. that might well cause one TO believe
/ him the pOssessor of some fatal heart
wearing secret, and even, as the landlord
/ had limited. that he had done some deed
| tIat made him ever watchful for the
/ bloOdhOunds of the law might be upon his
/ track. a half hour Of play, and though
he had continued winning, he pushed the
/ cards impatiently aside, drained his glass
at a single draught, and crossing to where
/ Elting was leaning against one of the rude
pillars that supported the roof, said in a
| low. emphatic, but perfectly to be distin-
/ guished tone:
"Ah! May | ask your business here
Pardon me. 1t is a rude and ungentle-
manly question, but | have motive for
doing So"
There is no reason why l should not
answer you. am physician"
And you came from p
"New York"
Have YOU ever been in the South?"
Never"
Thanks. VIII you Join me in a glass
am not one to let drink get the mas
| terry, but / never decline a cup of friend
! ship"
The glasses were filled and emptied.
! There was brief discussion of the wild
scene around them, and they separated,
! the elder Californian pausing for amOment
! to give handful of gold to a sick miner,
and then walking briskly away to the
digging. But Elting was more than ever
impressed with the idea that there was a
mystery about the man, one that had driv
en- him from society and made him a rest
less wanderer from the scenes he was fitted
by nature and cultivation to adOrn. He
saw. however, that it would be in vain to
make any inquiries. The rude men
around him were too much engrOssed with
their own affairs-cared too little for 9th
erS to investigate the former lives of their
companions, and, as long as man s. dealt
on the square," gave no heed to his for
mer history. Soon Elting, also, became
engrOSscd in the practice of his profession.
There had long since been need of such
services as his. for he was i'm reality well
read and skillful, and his time grew to be
fully occupied. But he never entirely lost
sight of the strange man known only as
Mississippi" They often met and eX-
changed few words, and when the ply
sician found any one who needed assist
ance, he was always the most Open-hand-
ed. He learned, also, something of his
mode of living-that he occupied tent
apart from the Others-wOrked, for the
most part, steadily, and grew daily more
reserved and suspicious of strangers.
Thus nearly year passed with little of
change, save it might have been with tri-
fle less of reserve between them. Then
accident completely broke the ice of cere-
mOny, and Elting was called to visit the
semi-recluse, who, as was frequently the
case with miners, had been injured by the
falling of dirt and rock while eXcavating.
He found him lying upon his blankets, in
his secluded home, and tended by those
who had witnessed the Accidentally men
with sOrrowful faces and fearful eyes, for
he was universally beloved and respected
himself the most calm of all.
-" Doctor" he said feebly, stretching out
his hand, Il am glad to see you; have need
of your services. Not that | think there is
ANYTHING serious: but none of us like to
bear more pain than is necessary, and |
have enough of the mental without any OF
the physical being added"
careful examination showed that
though no bones were broken both limbs
had been severely bruised and there was
great danger of Inflammation and fever,
especially to one whose mind was already
upon the rack. But Elting took a cheerful
,-in Of no no
dies. and diSmissing the little group that
had gathered around, said he would re-
main through the night, calling for assist
ance if needed.
- | thank you very much for the quiet as
well as your prompt attendance" a" said the
injured man. " The presence of crowd is
hurtful TO me-"
"1hat | can easily infer. The men,
though kind-hearted, are rude in speech
and manners, and not such as you have
been accustomed to associate with"
You think then"
Il think nothing but that shall take
the most speedy means toward your re-
cOvery. Such is the province of a physi
cian."
And like those called to Lady Mae
beth, you cannot administer to a mind
diseased-pluck out rooted sorrow from
the heart?"
Certainly not, withouta perfect insight
into the case, and never force myself into
any man S cOnfidence-never pry into an
others secrets"
You believe. then, that have OneW
"Shall be frank? -
"0es. There is nothing deteSt so much
as duplcity."
"Then my opinion is that you have some
great grief-perchance may have done
bitterlV-repented wrong in an hour of pas
sion Why else should one like you consent
TO herd thus with your interiors, and waste
the best days of your life in searching for
gold only to squander?'
"You are mistaken. do good with it."
True; but your charity is erratic.
This discussion, however, must not 60
on. You need perfect quiet and rest"
Heaven help me. viii | ever find it
this side of the cold and silent grave %
The words We're very sOrrowf;;lly spok-
en-. The sufferer shaded his eyes with his
hands and remained motiOr'ess, if not
asleep. for long time. 1t was midnight
when he aroused himself again. All was
silence and darkness, save as the stars
looked down into the little lonely tent
through the needles of the great pines.
and a liquid melody stole to their ears
from the distant water-course. The suf-
frrer turned uneasily upon his rude bed,
the physician bent near TO him, and dis
tinctlv heard the unshOrn lips murmur.
i'm the paroxysms of distempered dream,
the single word:
Ella
But there was nothing more. Yet that
was sufficient TO set thought at work to
tell him that a woman was the cause of
the mental anxiety. Another hour and
the muttering of the thunder could be
plainly heard-not near. but sufficiently
so to tell the storm and cause the solid
earth to tremble, and the great trees TO
groan. Then the sleeper awOke and,
starting up, wiped great drops of sweat
from his brow and stared wildly around.
WHO is here :" he questioned anxious
IL and not without a tinge of fear.
liam alone with You and have been.
No one has entered since you went to
sleep"
" Thank heaven ~
"How do you feel q
Better in body but worse in mind :"
and he continued with startling earnest
ness, Doctor. for the last few hours
Z have been driven more than ever bv the