The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-10-15
SP0NGE-CAEE.

Thoughts Of the saddest, sweetest things.
SP0NGE-CaEE.
LoTTIE HANsCoM sat on the back porch
of her mothers house. A basket of pease
half shelled was beside her, and She was
abstractedly tossing empty pods at the
heavy-headed pOppies in the garden bor-
der. When the time for summer boartlers
came Hottie hsd to be second girl -
and a very piquant little hou>e-maid she
looked, with her black cUrls pushed into q
net. and her bright calico skirt fastened
back. She was humming in a low tone.
and listening between times to the gay
laughter of the group on the front piazza,
where three young ladies were cmbroider-
ing with Berlin WOODS and two gentlemen
lOungcd on the steps smoking.
The air she was humming wasa sad one,
but she felt merry enough. 1t Is true that
she was little tired with her mornings
work, and a little indOlent because of the
heat of the day. 1t is true too that she
was conscious Of a faint twingC of envy
when MIR. navenpOrt's barouche was
drawn up TO the house by pair of pant
ing horses, and its owner, leaping to the
ground, assisted a lady companion to
alight.
Lottie would have liked to 90 riding in
a harOuche with-well, with some one
who was net Mr.. Davenport. 1t is a pity
the "some one =" in question could not
have seen the crimson deepen in her cheeks
as she pulled the basket of pease toward
her and commenced the song over again !:
aye banks and braes o. rnnie Doom,
How can ye bloom sac fresh and fair ?''
A step and voice behind her arrested the
next words on her lips. Turning. she
saw Mr. Davenport, who had come through
the hall, and stood looking down on her
with his hat in one hand and a half-finished
cigar in the other.
"All the birds seem TO be singing on this
side the house, Miss Lottie.''
Yes" was the demure reply. "Silas
says there are two oriOle nests in those
elms. They're very pretty singers
Mr.. Davenport did not see the mischief
i'm Lottie's downcaSt eyes. He was more
amused than yexed by her literal response.
wiz you allow me to sit down here
awhile? Perhaps they may 90 on sing
ING"
Lottie made no objection, only shelled
peaSe very vigorously. When Mr.. Daven-
port had seated himself, thus bringing his
hair. which was already beginning to be
of the basket. she did cast a sly glance OF
admiration at the heavy gold chain at his
side and the rings that adorned the hand
with which he.was wiping his heated face.
q" It's excessively warm. Can't | help
YOU with those pcaSe. Miss LOttie 1t
is pity TO stain such pretty fingers as
yours"
Lotlie blushed, more at his glance than
his words, and replied, hastily,
"Oh no, certainly not; I'm used to it."
But you don't like hOusC-Work, do
you? You'd as lief somebody else would
shell the pease, and so forth? EhY'
"Why. YES. That's of course
All. I'm glad you're frank with me-
DO you know Eve been curious about you
often, when we've all been eRjOying our
selves. and you've been working away
hard like a good little Cinderella? Do
you know I've actually worn a path un-
der the kitchen windows trying to get a
peep at you!'
NO" said Lottie, with a frank look Of
surprise; but something in Mr.. Daven-
ports answering gaze suddenly caused Eer
10 bend over the basket, to hide the yCXed
color that burned on her cheeks.
Miss Lo.tie?'
The voice was almost a whisper, and a
hand softly tried to draw away the basket
of pcase.
"Wcll. sir?''
Put these away awhile, and let me talk
to YOU"
why, I'm listening, I sha'n't have
the pCaSe ready for dinner!"
Nevertheless. she let him put the basket
one side, only saying, with a nervous at
tempt at a laugh,
There now are you satiSlied?N
Mr.. Davenport deliberately took the
baskets place at her side, and, bending his
dark, bearded face very near her own, an
swered, ss-..I. .... .
mo, not vet. How can be satisfied.
Miss LOttie, when You show so plainly
that you don't like me ?'' 81
His hearer confIsedly diSclaimed this
conclusion.
why, Mr.. Davenport, IL OF course
Ido!' -
"Well, l don't want you to like me.
don't like you" .-.-
Her puzzled and somewhat resentful
glance made him smile. He continued.
bending so near that a fringe Of hair brush
ed Lottie's curl's:
a believe you know already what
mean. You little coy, black-eyed sprite,
love you. Didn't you guess it before |
told YOU - a ..- NJ rrI "-rr-r.l
The garden, the over-hanging vines. and
the sky .whirled before LOttie'S eyes.
Love her:-the rich Mr.. Davenport, who
had more money than he knew what to
do with Love her? She was too much
amazed to resist when he took her hands
in his. or TO compreh md the disconnected
sentence which confirmed his declaration.
The first words She heard distinctly were
uttered by lips that almost touched her
cheek:
"Nill you marry me-" q = .. r g.. .
"I-I-Somehody win see us" She ssid.
struggling in vain to free herself.
That isn't answering my question.
Poor. little stained fingers, they shall
never do anv more hard work. How
would YOU like TO be a rich lady. Lotrie -
He saw the quick sparkle in hcr ewes.
All. how beautiful To dress, to drive. to
dance. TO see a thousand things She had
heard Off, She let the elaSping arm draw
her closer and cleser, and the bearded iipS
touch hers once. The clump of marigOlds
cleaned in the garden like a prophecy of
the wealth she might possess if she would
No more calicoes and kitchen-work, but,
instead GttD a A. ~
Are you never going to tell me yesi,''
Some answer that Lottie managed to
utter earned her so many kisses that she
struggled again 10 rise. . -..,s-.
Let me go, please.'' she entreated,
scarletwith shame. .sr - E.s
well, want to put this ring on your
hnger. There. and now--
~, AN approaching footstep startled them.
Mr. davenport rose hastily. and IOttie tso
sprang to her feet. Susan. a. the house-
maid, appeared m the dOcryysr. aYf--9r
Davenport turned abruptly down INC ssT.
ueH '@'n' e's's r-'s f-,4l7 -.s-s /; = -