The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-04-09

l. -.
= rose she looked as if she had shared her
husbands wakefulness, and proceeded to
:, take corresponding view from the other
: window. Then both passed some yawning
!. comments on the weather, and tried to APP
e pear sublimely unconscious of approach
+. ing events; and each secretly wondered
i how the other could be so cool under eX-
: isting circumstances.
: They retired to their respective dressing
rooms, and adorned themselves for the
: day. 1t was like making ones last toilet
l prior to execution.
= Next in order came coffee, and rolls, and
broiled chops, and the disgusting necessity
!? of forcing an appetite. Afterwards Mr..
Tapscott complained of a headache, and
thought he would not go to the Office that
t morning.
"Oh, don'tl" exclaimed his wife joyful
) ly. "Stay home and let me nurse you
there's good Caddy."
} Good Caddy! Stay at homel Nurse
; If she is so enthusiastic, there is some
/ thing at the bottom of it, reasoned Cad
: walader.
''I have decided to change my mind"
: he added aloud, as he bent his steps to-
ward the hall to put on his Overcoat.
''The fresh air will probably do me good.
am just as much obliged to you for your
|
this with a cynical smile, and Cynthia
sighed.
, Benevolent is a cold word, DEAR"
said she, land hardly applicable to my
: intentions; they are spontaneous offer
ings from an affectionate, faithful wife"
J She laid particular emphasis on the last
three words. The whole speech cost her
an effort.
"Humphl'' was the ungracious re-
sponse from somewhere inside the sur
tout.
Then they embraced for farewell kiss.
Each party feeling like the veriest hypo-
crite, the caress was, of course, unusually
fervent.
Cadwallader went no further than the
hotel on the corner. In the reading-roOm
he took up position whence he could
command the best view of his dwelling,
with all its channels of entrance and exit.
He sat there perhaps an hour-it seemed
an age-when he saw his wife emerge,
neatly but uncOnspicuOusly attired, and
walk at rapid pace in the opposite direc-
ton.
He darted off in pursuit, but kept safe
distance behind her. At length she turn
ed corner; he hurried after, and just as
he completed the curve found himself face
to face with her. She had evidently for
gotten something, and was going back for
"Cadwallader
"Cynthia !"
Which blushed the deeper it would be
hard to tell. The wife was the first to
speak.
81 supposed you were at the office"
"That was natural enough; but you see
| changed my mind again."
"Oh!"
"Yes. And now which way are you
bound? | should like to accompany
you"
Very glad to have you, I'm sure. 1
am on my way back to the house."
Both were victorious, both discOmfited:
so they walked back arm in arm. Tapscott
| led the way to the library, gestured TO his
wife to enter, followed her, and locked the
door on the inside.
Before very long," he began huskily,
''we had better bring this game of fast and
loose to a close. 1t may be highly anus
ing, but my mind is not in fit condition to
! appreciate it."
"What do you mean. Cadwallader? Z?
Your words have some hidden import"
"Have they, indeed? You are doubt
less very much mystified?"
81 am. IfyOur remarks contain any al
fusion to conduct of mine, L am utterly
| uulnD1OundeQ.
Her self-possession was amazing; it
looked like etfrOntery to Cadwallader, and
! he resented it accordingly. Folding his
arms with an air of indignant virtue, he
inquired:
Would your enlightenment prove an
easier task if we were to send for Ed?"
His wife stared at him in blank amaze
ment.
"Send for Ed?" she echoed.
"Ay, send for Ed; those are the exact
words used. You can give him what
ever proof he needs in my presence, can't
yOu?"
Mrs. Tapscott moved her head slowly
from side to side, to indicate her want OF
comprehension. Cadwallader became
| simply eXasperated. He tried once or
twice to hurl forth some denunciation,
but his utterance seemed choked. As a
last resort he drew from his pocket the
crumpled memorandum. and slapping it
vigorously with his forefinger, vocifer-
ated:
Read that -
Mrs. Tapscott redeemed, and looked up
into her husbands face with an express
sion of pain and merriment.
"Is that all you have against me?"
Explain that first''
She hesitated. Her pride revolted at
what seemed to her an unmanly attack
from behind cover.
Stop moment" she said, gently but
! firmly. ''As head of the house it be-
comes yoa to start this era of explanations.
What is the nature of your errand to-day
at Miss Isabel Whitney's?'
MY goodness, Cynthia! How did you
find that Out?'
"Never mind the method; the fact is
| all-Sufficient. When YOU shall have an
swered my question, l will yours.' She
composed herself in a rOcking-chair. and
met her husbands gsEe quite fearlessly.
After few moments deliberation, Cad
wallader thought it best 10 comply with
her request.
IF you are resolved to know, will tell
you. My business profits have increased
so within year, that l felt able to sup
port a more stylish establishment than
this. have had my eye on % Marcelin
Place for a month or more, learning that
Miss Whitney was thinking of renting it.
A day or two ago | saw her advertisement
in the Messenger. 1t was the same morn
ing that you were so very, uery pressing
with your interrogatories." His lip curled
slightly and he paused.
"GO on, please"
swell, | hurried down there directly
after breakfast, but the house was not to
| be shown to isitors till to-day. Never
theless, | have the refusal of it, if | con-
tinue to like it after due inspection"
"Why did you not say something to me
about all this? You don't know how your
behavior has worried me-"
Il wanted to keep the secret as a sur
prise for our anniversary. Now are you
! satisfied ~
Mrs. Cadwallader gave no direct reply,
but tossed into her husbands lap a roll O
oblong strips of paper, with printing on
one side. and cabalistic pencil marks on the
margin.
ED stands for editor and there are
the sproofs,'" she exclaimed. triumphant
| ly. This, also, was originally intended
for surprise on anniversary day"
Cadwallader grasped the loose sheets
eagerly, and ran his eye over them; they
| looked very like novelette, for the La
dies Literary Visitor.
Then you didn't correspond with the
editor or any one else through the Mes
sengerP"
"Of course not. Why should l? Every
| line that has passed between us is up