The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-05-14

! My plants need fumigatlng, think,
he mute red so he wandered among his
treasures for an hour, lifting their delicate
leaves and blowing among them the pretty
blue rings which are smokers pei
achievement, and thinking thus:
- June! Its pretty name. wonder
! if it brings summer sunlight to the owner
4 sad trial to Mrs. Marston!' Poor
childl more likely her mother is a sad trial
to her. Fred rebelled long ago, and june
can't help bubbling over now and then.
! shall like to see young girl who doesn't
try to be prim. If Miss June dare assume
any stiffness I'll remind her ol
sundry episodes at Vevay, before
her dresses grew long. | remem-
Der her laugh in those DAYS; it was
! living music. and-really-it wouldn't
sound badly floating through this dull old
house now. Pshaw!" and the unfinished
cigar was flung away impatiently. "Fd
better let well enough alone. Aunt Ra-
chel does nicely in spite of her prosing,
and when | need other society | can seek
it. Thesefl flowers are growing beautifully.
Wonder if they would do better if June
were always here?''
But all this was very ridiculous; so the
Doctor drew on his gloves, nodded good
by to Aunt Rachel at the top of the stair
ease, and sauntered down the street.
Looking in at the pOst-office, he encoun-
tered Fred Marston, exchanged heartiest
greetings, and Fred's house being nearest
the two friends went thither. Open
ing the halldoor, a long, ripping,
merry laugh was their firstwelcOme
fortune herself was having grand frolic
with two little ones. who were busy at
" hide the handkerchief" i'm the long hall.
II. l.
companion, started, flushed, then beamed
with positive delight, and sprang impul-
sively forward.
CDR. Deane! | am very glad to meet
yOu again but you see Tm not bit more
proper than | used to be. Poor mother is
in despair.
Mrs. MarstOn came with her pleasant
recognition, and the friends chatted gayly
of days that were gone, of days now pres
ent, and then commenced plans for the
long evenings: into all of which Mrs.
MarstOn entered with dignified interest,
remarkinr at last that she had already met
Miss Deane.
Here June interrupted" And, o Doc
tor! Miss Rachel said you had quantities
of smilax. We can't get it here, and !
want some so much! Mayn't l come
begging!"
"Jttaer' began Mrs. Marston severely,
and then added: "Dr. Deane, it is not
my fault, but June will always act like an
impulsive child. / wish she would con-
troll herself!'
June blushed, the Doctor felt uncom-
Portable, and Fred audaciously whistled,
going over to pinch his sisters
cheeks, and answering, "It's no use,
mOtheri June will be June, and you
can't make November out of her. Rex
doesn't mind, I'm sure.n
The tall Doctor arose, saying:
Il shall be delighted to send to you
any plants you may like, if you will come
now and then and see my treasures. You
will do so, won't yOu?'
There was IA miSchievOus twinkle in
June's eyes, but tone and manner were
demurely proper, as she answered:
Whenever mamma calls upon Miss
Deane [ shall be happy to accompany
her.
The Doctors eyes twinkled back to her
own merry thought. but all he said was:
VERY well | shall take care that
Aunt Rachel earns a visit Immediately.
My flowers are my pets, and they do re-
ward me with such grace and beauty! My
roses are lovely. even now"
Roses. O Doctor !'-and June flushed
and dimpled with the quick thrill of de
light. looking very sweet, as the Doctor
thought. as she added, in spite of mani
mas frOwn:
"Why didn't you wear one here so |
could have stolen it? Do you remember
how used to cOntiScate your button-hOlc
bouquets at Vevay, and how vengefully
that poor English old maid would watch
me? 1t was such fun to listen to her end
less TRADES about pert American girls = "
Mrs. MarstOn was looking unutterable
annoyance at these "reminiscences Fred
laughed outright, adding his own bit of
absurd recollection. which the Doctor
might easily have supplemented, but wish
ing to cOnciliate ''mamma' he only smiled
quietly and made his adieus.
OF course, poor June then received a
lecture to which we didn't care to listen.
The Doctors thoughts are more interest
ing. "She'S grown certainly, but she is
the same charming child | knew three
years ago, in spite of her added inches.
I'm glad she isn't after the pattern of Ash
land damselS, and it is decidedly nice that
she regards me as so much her senior. I'll
keep up that Illusion for while. Aunt
Rachel shall call this very afternoon, and
.yes-well-I think will escort her."
Arrived at his own door, he went
straightway toward the conclusion of his
plans. calling from the hall
"Aunt Rachel! Where are you? Here
are some letters, and, oh! | met Fred
MarstOn, and promised him we would call
this afternoon. You have no engage
mcntsg'
"No. We will go about four, if that
will suit you" -. ..
Exactly. Now | have writing to do"
He left like a conspirator, as he marched
straight to his floral darlings, severing bud
and blossom, leaf and tendril, till his hands
were full. Then filling dainty basket
with damp moss he made the flowers
nestle closely together; disentangled
smilaX sprays till he found a root; pot
ted that: and then sent basket and vase
to Mrs. Marston's with a card explaining
that the plant was for Miss June, the
flowers for mamma,
If June found deity hidden under the
shining leaves a tiny moss rosebud, it was
most improper for her to kiss it and fasten
it at her throat, blushing all the time. She
couldn't have told " WHY 1t was an in
impulse. The flowers despatched,
DIR. Reginald settled himself to write an
article upon the proper treatment OF
- femOral fractures" He had been pro-
voked beyond measure by some most un-
methods in use among country
Indeed he had worked him.
self up to such pitch of medical indigna-
ton that he fancied the treatise in ques-
ton would almost "wrIte ITSELF" but the
= sivine affiatus" refused to come. Even
the opening sentence was failure. He
caught himself writing feminine" for
= femoral;' instead of thigh-bones he
thought of dimpled. flushing face; and
hen there flashed across his memory
Ruskin had written about eX-
,eptionably proper girls. He must look it
lp; so down went surgical plates and vol
lnes, and Ruskin's Ethics of the Dust
was rapidly turned over till this paragraph
was found.
81 don't know any more tiresome flow
er in all the borders than your especially
modest snow-tlrop, which one always has
o stoop down and take all sorts of tire
some trouble with, and nearly break its
poor little head of before you see it, and
he half of it isn't worth seeing. Girls
should be like daisies: nice and white, I
With an edge of red, making the grounds (
ook bright wherever they are
"Ruskin was right there, by Jove! De I
liver me from these shy misses who wait TO /.
De drawn out, and are not worth the pro- /
,ess. Bshr' 49, ~ = 81 .r