The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-10-08
determine. As Ethel walked away he


THAT Is Miss Ethel Wynne, and | did
not introduce you because was too busy.
IOu will meet her at tea. She sews for a
living"
Miss Somers pushed back her sun-bon-
net to look up at her nephew. His face
expressed the utmost uncOncern for, and
Indifference to, Miss Wynne. Her next
clipping was emphasized by a vigorous
"Pshaw." to which was supplemented
the thought, Z" I'll give that young man a
lesson"
Presently, her work being done, Miss
Somers took up her basket of seeds and
walked to the house, whittier her nephew
had preceded her. She found him reclin-
ing at full length on the sofa in the sitting
room. He was moody and dscOntented,
but Miss Somers took no notice of this.
She seated herself at her darning, and then
proceeded to ask questions about the city,
the State and the nation, but made no in
quiry into her nephew's personal affairs.
| The time was occupied with this until tea
was announced. Miss Wynne was stand
ing at the window as they entered the
dining-rOom: and to Miss SOmers's My
nephew, Mr.. Brown. Miss Wynne," re-
turned graceful little bow of acknOw-
ledgment. Brown and Miss Wynne were
placed opposite each other at table, and as
Miss Wynne' eyes were fixed for the most
part upon her plate, he had good oppOr-
tunity Of discovering how long and heavy
the dark lashes were, what peach-like
bloom there was upon the cheeks, and how
softly and lovingly the fair ringlets clung
to the dainty head.
every pretty.'' was his mental COM
ment; "butnO style, Laura Smith would
Overwhelm her"
Tea dispatched, they adjourned to the
parlor for the evening, and Brown, claim
/ ing TO be one of the family, threw him
self sans ceremonie upon the sofa. Miss
Selma took out her knitting, fas tened her
needle in its sheath and looked over her
spe tacles at her nephew. Miss Wynne
took up piece Ofembroidery, upon which
to employ her eyes and hands, and with
! the softened light of the porcelain shaded
lamp thrown full upon her, made very
! pretty domestic picture. Browns eyes
acknowledged this, even while his tongue
was making replies to his aunt's many
! questions, and he made one other ac-
! acknowledgement presently, TO the effect
that Miss Wynne was extremely sensible !;
for Miss SOmers had referred several dis
putcd points to her, upon which she had
( given her opinions in a few terse and we'll
! timed sentences. By-and-by the CONVEX
sation Jagged, and Miss Somers thinking
her nephew asleep, for he lay with his
\ hand over his eyes, requested Miss Wynne
! to read.
"Let us have The Letter L, said Miss
SOmers
Soon there broke in upon Browns mus
ings sweet voice, TO which he listened
dreamily nor took in the words, until the
sweet voice said
"He drew letter on the sand
The letter L.
| Then he listened and heard the whole
sweet story, and looked through his fin
/ gers at the reader, with new interest in
| his eyes and a new feeling in his heart-a
| feeling that for a moment made him see
! himself as he was. and made him feel lit
tie and mean. Now, by just what pro-
cess of analysis Brown arrived at this con-
clusiOn, | do not know; but | do know
that Miss Wynne was possessed of beau
ty of which Miss Laura Smith and his ''set'
were not partakers; something that he had
never realized before, or had never appre-
ciated.
The book was closed, and there was sill
ence in the room, until Miss Selma asked
for a song.
Miss Wynne glanced at the figure on
! the sofa.
"Oh, never mind him. said Miss Selma,
i'm response to the glance. "He is prob
ably sound asleep, and we may as well ig
more him. He evidently doesn't think
there is any politeness due us"
| The figure on the sofa WINGED, but Miss
Selma knitted away in apparent uncon-
sciousness. She was preparing her lies
sion for that young man."
| Miss Wynne was not an accomplished
singer in the full acceptation of the term
/ but venture to say that 1.-The Lord O. the
/ Seal'' never had a Sweeter Interpretation
than Ethel Wynne could give it; and
1 Brown, society man that he was and fire.
quenter of hundred operas, found tears
| in his eyes as he listened
/ The song finished, Miss Wynne left the
room. For a man who had been sound
asleep, Brown was rather sudden in his
awakening.
AUNT" he said as the door closed,
. tell me all about her."
Miss Somers smiled an odd, knowing
smile of which her words were not the in
depreciation.
80 Her? To whom does that pronOun
refer? Iconfess my inability to read your
| thoughts with ease"
TO whom? Why to Miss Wynne of
course"
"Oh, she is only a common seahstress.
You cannot possibly feel interested in her
history
"But l do. Has she always been
| poor?'
"Yes. Her parents were poor: but
! they found time TO give her an education
! in the city schools. Since shG was fifteen,
| however, she has never been Gay in
| school: but I'll warrant there are not
many young ladies who are educated in
/ Neutrality-suspicious. that have as thorough an
education. She is one who improves every
minute, and she has essentially made her
self"
"Why doesn't she teach school, then,
instead of sewing for living?'
81 expected that question. Because the
! schools are filled TO overtiowing with ap-
plicants while a really good seamstress,
who can DO all kinds of sewing. and do it
/ to perfection, is rarG GUts nowadays,
and is in great demand. If | were mind
| to let her, Ethel could work herself gray
with the amount of work she has to do"
"Where are her parents?"
dead. When she was fifteen her
mother died. Her father died some years
/ before"
And is she perfectly contented with
her lot?"
"She never complains; but every spare
moment is spent in study of some kind.
and she acknowledges that her chief de-
\ sire is TO gain all the information she can :;
! because. the more she knows, the happier
! she is"
And does she never feel that her work
| is beneath herr"
Beneath herl Harvey Brown, l am
ashamed of you! AS if any honorable
work could be beneath anybody! As if
work wasn't the song of the universe,
and the most dignified thing under heav-
en!'' and Miss Somers pushed back her
/ spectacles to look at her nephew in un-
/ qualified establishment.
He grew red in the face, and fidgeted un-
der this scrutiny, while he mumbled some
/ thing in reply, which Miss SOmers uncere-
/ moniously interrupted.
g always thought you had a weak
brain in some things, but confess never
realized how paltry it was until now. All
/ your life you've been dawdler, just be
cause your father happened TO leave you a
fortune, which seems to me decidedly the
worst calamity that can befan a Young
man. Your soul has got plethorie, be
cause your stomach and your purse were
/ full. and YOU haven't aay room left for the