The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-06-18
JOE'S SECOND COURTSHIP.
BY BIRCH ARNOLD.


BY BIRCH ARNOLD.
Four bright heads were bowed over a
newspaper, while four pairs of eyes were
fastened upon an item in that newspaper,
of such importance as to cause four voices
to eXclaim simultaneously:
"Oh DEAR Isn't it terrible?"
what is it, girls :" asked gray-haired
lady, who was busted over the steaming
cofiee-urn.
"Oh, mammal Hershfield & Drake
have failed % Even as Annie said this she
was interrupted by Adelaide's stern
" Hush " which came too late, for Mrs.
Sdllman had already taken in the full pur-
port of Annie's sentence.
There was a moments pallOr, hasty
clutching of the table, a resolute shutting
of the mouth, which brought partial COM
pOsure, and then Mrs. Stillman looked up
into Adelaide's anxious face to ask if she
was quite sure. Perhaps there was some
mistake.
1t is too true" said Adelaide, taking
the paper from her sisters hand. "Shall
tread it? Are you quite sure you can
bear it?"
Yes"
And Adelaide read as follows:
''We are sorry TO announce TO our readers that
Hershfeld 4 Drake, Of the Peoples Savings
Bank. have suspended, and one OF the worst fea-
lures of the is that there is probability Ot
q resumption of business. This is especially
hard upon the laboriBg classes, who had depend
cd upon their small bank deposits 10 carry them
through the winter In common with the public
we had always believed that the bank had a solid
basis, but in these da,s of economical earth
quakes it is hard 10 tell who will stand, and who
will not. -
There was silence for moment as Ade-
laide ceased. but Laura broke il pre-
sently by sobbing out, What ever shall
we do?"
"And is everything gone? asked An
ME.
Yes, except the house." answered the
mother. drearily.
" How much was IN the bank? ?"
"Only a thousand dollars of my own.
Adelaide had three hundred dollars in her
name.n
" Yes, mamma. and | had fifty dollars
that received from Mr.. Sherman, for the
painting | sold. | was keeping it to buy
that lovely travelling dress at BurtOn's.
Oh, dear! and there, my trOuSseau! and
can't even be married " exclaimed Laura
between her sobs
This broughta wan smilet to the four 9TH
er dreary faces. and from Adelaide an in
terrOgative ''Why?"
At this Laura turned Indignantly upon
her elder sister.
"Who ever heard of bride without a
trousseau, and where's the money to buy
one, I'd like to know? And here I've
been denying myself all summer, and
wearing old clothes and pinching and
turning in order to have money to get Il
comfortable outfit, so that Ralph wouldn't
be ashamed of me, and there's that lovely
travelling dress | had depended upon so.
Il r.la A
moments silence and then Laura broke
out again: You don't suppose Ralph
will refuse to marry me now, do you Ad-
dieg'
There was real alarm upon the dimpled
face, and Adelaide answered her gravely
'GOu don't suppose he would take a
bride without trOusseau, do you?'
Nonsense! Yes, if | was a beggar
he'd take me-"
Laura's indignant response served some
how as partial clearing up,' and Mrs.
Stillman found courage to call the girls
attention to their breakfast, which was
rapidly getting cold.
"Well, it is a consolation to know that
if banks do fail. we have waffles for break
fast" exclaimed the volatile Laura, as she
helped herself to three at time. SLOW
much longer do you suppose this state of
pens, let us stick To the waflles. They are
such a consolation in times like these. >
and she smiled roguishly over the top OF
the sirup-cup.
This little sally of Laura's helped mat
tiers amazingly, and they were soon dis
cusSing the future in quite hopeful tones.
They were a hopeful and helpful family
this of mine. 1t was hard-earned and
harder-saved money which they had lost
in the general panic and it really made
times fearfully close with them. Here il
was the first of October, Laura to be mar
ried in December, and all the household
expenses to be met, to say nothing of the
new dresses the girls had been saving
their money fOr-and no money TO dc
it with. On the whole, it was rather
a dubious outlook, but they met il
bravely. The widowed mother was
just up from a long sickness, brought
on by OverwOrk in the schoOl-room, fOI
she had been a teacher in the city schools
and Adelaide. Joe and Laura had been
clerking in one of the retail store, whilC
Annie. with the help of Hallelujah Nor
ris. the black cook, had managed the
household. Laura had Just thrown up hel
situation. intent upon the trOusseau which
she and her mother were to make, - all by
themselves as she had informed the wait
ing Ralph. Laura'S money, or what little
Of il she had managed to Save-f0r L2ur;
was something of spendthrift in a quie
way-had gone with her mothers, anC
this was how they were situated when tn,
crash came.
"Well." said Laura, pushing back he
plate, when she had devoured all tn,
watfieS within reach. HAS the trousSeaI
vanished into the air, ma chsre mere ~
- No 1par I tbipl- fharp Is iittl,
of il still in palpable shape. but you vii
have TO do without so many dresses Tha
dress at Burton's, | am afraid, will have L
be as a tale that is told,'" said the mOthe
with a half smile.
Laura made up face, and exclaimed
trasically:
Impossible! You know not what vol
ask. The wedding would not be lega
without that dress"
A good way out of the dilemma woult
be for Ralph 10 marry the dress instead
1t would be a quieter and much less eX
pensive bride"
Adelaide lodged just in time to escap
the box which Laura puposed admins
tering. and then the mother arraigne
them all before her with = Hush, girls, W
must be serious now. There is so IGuc
10 arrange"
" Weare all attention ma'am," said Lau
IA. standing with a demure face and folde
arms.
How much money is there in tn
house?' asked the mother.
Instantly four hands went into fou
pockets. and four heads were busy count
ing the contents of four purses.
Presently all answered but Laura, wh
counted and recounted. and at last locke
up with a puzzled air.
had fifteen dollars yesterday. but
can lind ii. | wonder il Eve lost ten do
lar on. know she exclaimed
nrlgn'elih% mp. Five went for EN-
broidory. two for gloves, and let me So
the rest -went-yeS, l know. It's a
right"