The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-06-25


did not know better
"' But am sorry to have done anything
disagreeable to any of you. | am so fond
of Anna; and you have always, always
been so kind to me-
"'There is no harm whatever done,
Dorothy; circumstances helped you out
of difficulty, as they very often do help
the innocent
"Then we were both silent. | saw she
wanted to go on, but did not know how;
and, for myself, l had a sort of fear of
what should hear-but helped her.
"' Well, pussy l asked, what are you
going to say to Charles?'
- do not know and she looked mis-
erable
''' have always thought you were very
clear in your views, and distinct in stating
them
''' Yes; know my own mind quite
well, but She stopped, and seemed
about to cry. L do not know what to do
she went on.
Do you mean that you do not know
whether you like Charles well enough to
accept him or not?'
40 no, but there are so many difficult
ties This was said hardly above her
breath.
"'Do you mean the long engagement;
and so on?'
"She blushed with vexation and an
swered; % dear no. But am SO afraid
of hurting your feelings, or displeasing
you. | do so wish it had never happened.'
:" But, my dear child. what could there
be displeasing to me, or injurious to my
feelings, in your being attached to my
son? ! think it would be an indirect COM
pliment to me-
"She hardly let ME finish, but spoke
very earnestly.
Did you ever think that / No;
you never can have supposed that; you
must have been as much surprised as |
was. If anything of that kind had been
going on, must have been the most de-
ceitful creature possible; but am afraid
of your thinking that Charles would not
have asked me, if | had not encouraged
him. l am sure should say so OF any one
in my circumstances. l hope the lesson
will make me very charitable. I have
really never thought about Charles at
all. 1t no more entered my head that he
! thought about me in that way, than that
you did,
II WINGED. She had been speaking so
fast that | could not get in word. ! was
sitting in what they called humOrously
! her fathers easy chair; she was opposite,
ON low seat, leaning forward, with her
little hands clasped in her lap, her pretty,
warm, brunette complexion, heightened,
her eyes sparkling, her cOuntenance eX-
pressing what she was trying to put in
words.
| Dorothy said, 'you will grieve me
very much if you imagine for one moment
that it would be possible for me to doubt
your candOr. | am sure you were as
much surprised as | was. To tell the
truth. my dear little girl, never gave
| Charles credit for so much good taste. and
| it had never entered my head to think of
! his marrying at ALL
"She looked, however, only partially
relieved when she returned: Il am glad
you understand mel hope you always
WILL
DOra?'
60 No; want to know what l am to
do?'
"'That must depend entirely on your
own feelings. am quite as anxious for
your happiness as my own children's. De
you love Charley? She only replied by
tears and began to consider she had
secret fOndhess for him, and thought
might object to her want of money, so
went on: IF you do, | consider him the
luckiest fellow in the whole world, for,
! though he is my own boy, he is not worthy
of you;
az will tell you ALL she said, wiping
her eyes. Il do not love him; | am sure
[ never should love him well enough to
marry him; but l do not like to say so to |
you: it seems so ungraciOus.'
In the depth of the meanness hidden in
my heart | was delighted that she had
spoken thus of my son, but | smOthered
the feeling, and walked to the window to
look out.
So am afraid you think me ungrateful,'
she resumed.
"'That would be utterly unreasonable. |
No one can command his heart
You see that do not think | could
make Charles happy if married him with
out loving him, and it would not be tight,
either-wOuld it?'
80 Certainly not
"' hope he will see it all as you do
"'If not, it cannot be helped. He has
managed very badly, Young ladies are
! not usually gained by coup de main. In
my young days, men went thoughtfully
and carefully to work, venturing on little
graduated attentions. which had an inf
mite charm in themselves, and were skill
full feelerS. Whatever be Charles's disap-
pOintment he has no one to blame but
himself
dLl 81 Sldu gOu llllllh 50 -IHlS WIS
said in her own natural manner and yet
| it is great shame to say so. But you do
understand-don't yOu?'
"Of course did. and told her so. Then
she asked if | would tell Charles for her.
81 compressed my lips. laid my head
on one side and tried to look as if [ was
considering. What does mamma say?'I
inquired
So She thinks l ought to answer his let
ter. 1t is due to him, she says
6 was of her mothers opinion. OF
course, | did not see her letter. and we
never recurred to the subject afterwards. |
Charles asked me no questions when | re-
turned home, made no remarks on DOro- |
thy's decision, which, knew, reached him
the next day, and bore his rejection with
the apparent impassability which had
characterized his wOOing. He took his |
fellowship and settled into conscientious. !
respectable, somewhat pompous don.
do not think he ever met Dorothy subse- /
quently."
" 1t was pity for the girl and she ~ was
evidently nice girl, observed Jack, ''and
her father and mother must have been
disappointed"
"No doubt. When Dalton was diving |
two years later. Dorothy was very heavy
at his heart. TO think of that bright, |
pretty, high-spirited creature, chilled, drill |
ed, kept under. as / have seen girls as
sweet, lively and good as she is, lacerates
me- he said to me one day. And then |
told him that, with Gods help. she never
should be; that | had taken forethought
about what would be best and that if Mrs. !
Dalton agreed, would find the moneyfor |
them to start school for little boys which |.
| considered the least labOrious undertak-
ing for ladies, and she not only need not !
be separated from her daughters, but
would be materially helped by them. His (
look of perfect satisfaction is among my
dearest recollections.
. You are a good fellow remarked
Jack huskily.
Not at all, Jack. | made no sacrifice.
and insured myself very great happiness.
They have all succeeded extremely well, I
and they spend their summer holidays
with me; Anna, her husband and children
come at Christmas. As to the loneliness
which you thought must oppress me. /
know nothing about it. OF other mems I
hidden experience, | know nothing; but
for rnVSalf find ti,at I rrY.oxrr old tho,,cb