The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-08-20
/" Mr. Scion i''

Mr.. Seton,''
Should like to have-(you must lei
me finish my sentences, Miss Gregory
want to know who that person is -
In his excitement the young man had
Overstepped the boundaries of prudence,
and was conscious of his blunder.
OF course, after speech like that last
recorded, there was nothing for either OF
the twain to do but laugh and feel awk-
ward.
A lull in the conversation at this particu-
lar iuncture would be positively unendur-
able. Madeline therefore concentrated all
her energies for bold plunge, and, as the
innocent and inexperienced usually do in
such exigencies, brought down on her head
exactly what modesty had hidden heravert
at any risk.
g am going to turn inquisitor now,"
she observed iocOsely. q" IOu have not
yet told me what induced you to write that
note you sent me-indeed, | have yet to
learn what caused your odd behavior to-
ward me all through the day. You did
not treat the other ladies in the same
way''
:" You would despise me if | told you"
"If apprehended any such catastrophe,
should certainly allow my question to
90 unanswered. As do rot, shall let it
stand"
well, then, became very angry With
you at the hop"
Really? What did l do to make yo
angry?"
Nothing whatever that had any right
to take Offense at. 1t simply provoked me
to see you dance three times in succession
with that-that detestable Halliday"
Did dance three times with him-are
you sure?''
:" As sure as that stand here. counted
them.'
Hes a real nice dancer, don't you
think so? And | never heard a word said
against him before. I supposed he was a
perfectly proper person for me to associate
with"
so ne is, for all know. Nay, the less
brains man possesses nowadays, the more
eligible every one seems to consider him
for the society of ladies'
"Ha! ha hal You are very severe. "
:" | speak merely what feel; but feel
strongly. The more think of that fellow,
and the triumphant air he assumed in
changing places with me, the more in-
cline to knock him down. It's fortunate,
perhaps, that he left for home this after
noon, for there's no prOphesying the Sc
quel if we had staid under the same root
another week.
PLEASE continue; I am deeply inter-
ested."
1T may be amusing tOyOu, Miss GregO-
ry, but for me it is the soberest earnest.
was Enthusiastically jealous-all day.
And upon my honor, | don't know that
the sentiment was so utterly unjustifiable,
after all, under the circumstances. What
bore that evening would drive any man
a tritle daft who loved a wOmon as | loved
yOuI'
He ceased speaking. The fever heat into
which he had worked himself had quite
taken away his breath.
Miss Gregory sat as if stunned, with her
head bowed, and her eyes fastened on a
tuft of grass at her feet.
Seton knelt beside her, and clasped one
of her hands in his.
Madeline" he whispered, nervously,
g forgive my impatient abruptness.
spoke from the fullness of my heart. An
swer me, my darling!'
She did not open her lips, but quietly
transferred her gaze from the ground to
his pleading face.
He looked into her eyes, and beheld a
htDll llltlt llt iCNCl SCtll DtlOlt. IL
was as if an inner curtain had been drawn
aside, disclosing a vast treaSure-hOuse
yearning to be filled.
Early the next morning, when the por-
ter on duty opened the front door, and
marched the large watch dog off to his
kennel, he found the remnants of Arthur
sleeve in the animals keeping.
Hi, hi!' he sOlilOquiZed, tossing the
rag into coal-scuttle in the entry. "The
cove what wore that must have been
chawed up consid'ble fine, eff tn aint no
more of him left than a slice Of his
iacketr'
As he regained his post at the door a
gentleman came down the stairs from the
second story.
"Good morning, john" he said pleas
antly.
"MOrnin', Mr.. Seton," replied John,
touching his hat; ''what kin do for your
honor o-day?"
"If you will wake up the hostler and
secure me the best single equipage in the
stable for ii o'clock, / will attend to your
door till you come back, and give you a
dollar into the bargain"
Away went John at his liveliest pace.
Arthur glanced about, to see that the
coast was clear. and gave low whistle.
From the grove at the side of the house
issued Madeline, with handkerchief tied
about her head, as if she had been indulg-
ing in an questionable sunrise prone
made.
She passed quickly into the house, and
up the stairs to her own apartment.
After breakfast she informed her chap
eron that she had been invited by Mr.. Sc
ton to drive with him at eleven.
Eyes !" asked the old lady; and then
added, in a cautious whisper, "Do ysu
think it will be prudent to accept? Your
mamma adjured me especially to let you
do nothing rash."
"Oh dear, yes, it will be perfectly pru-
dent. Arthur and L are engaged, you
know. ."-Harper's Bazaar.