The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-12-02
A LIFE'S REGRET.

A LIFE'S REGRET.
am the youngest of three sisters
Margaret, Louisa, and Helen, the last
named being of course myself. We re-
side in a small villa on the outskirts of
the town of NortOn-FOlgate, and from
all appearances are likely TO remain for
the rest of our lives pursuing what
strangers would suppose the calm and
even tenor of colorless existence.
Our income, though small, admits of
our keeping two dOmestics; and when
we pay visits, which at rare intervals
we do, TO some of the country families,
we jointly subscribe and charter close
carriage, which enables us to make our
calls with something like dignity. Not
that my two elder sisters are lacking in
that respect, for they never, either sleep
ing or waking, | believe, forget that
our late father was descended from an
ancient and honorable family, and that
the name of Howard, which we bear, is
derived from a source which, even
though it does not acknowledge us, is
ours Justly, and on the tree which tes-
tifieS to our pedigree our relationship is
clearly set forth. Our late mother
could also boast of gentle blood, so that
on both sides of the house our cOnnec-
tions were undeniable.
In addition to those advantages, ma
ture had not been unkind to us-indeed,
in our younger DAYS we had had our
own share of admiration, and the three
Misses Howard had on many occasions
been pronounced the best-looking girls
at the numerous balls which, chaper-
oned by our mother, we used regularly
TO attend. Our admirers were not few,
and we were always engaged for every
dance whenever we went; but there TO
all appearance it ended, for after more
seasons than | care to record, none of
us were married. Palmer girls, by far,
even penniless ones, in due time made
their appearance, had an interval of
gaity, and then announced their en-
gagements, which duly ended in mar
riage, and they would return in all the
dignity of matronhood to patronize and
remind us in more ways than one of the
gulf that separated our unapproprlated
selves from them and their ''pOSitiOn"
as married women. At first it was not
so CALLING, but by-and-by ! began to
feel it keenly, and to long-as every
woman does sooner or later-for ties of
my own; but my longings were not to
be gratified, for the one hateful reason
that no ordinary man was supposed to
be good enough to mate with ga How
ard, though one degenerate descend
ant dared to wish it could be otherwise.
BY degrees it became known that we
were hard to please, and though it was
true enough of Margaret and Louisa,
still | felt so differently from them on
the subject that it was rather hard to be
included; but | was ga Howard" and
so had to pay for my privilege.
Margaret was seven years my senior,
and Louisa five, consequently | was ac-
customed to being considered quite a
child until | had attained the ripe age
of twenty-five, when an event happened,
which, but for my precious pedigree,
might have changed the color of my eX-
istence.
We had received invitations to a ball
given by certain Lady Aylmer, who
always made a point of asking us 70
her entertainments; and though | was
beginning to be very weary of gaieties,
to decline was out of the question; so,
after some deiberation as to our attire,
etc, an acceptation was sent, and when
the evening arrived, we, accompanied
by our mother, crushed ourselves into a
hired carriage and set out for Aylmers
Court.
We were received, as usual, most cor
daily: and after a few dances were over
1 e = g,F
a gentleman who seemed to regard me
with some interest. He was a very nice
looking man of about thirty, rather fair,
and with a small moustache slightly in
clining to red. He was not tall, neither
was he very short; his figure was good,
and he had a soldier-like look about him
which rather admired.
As usual, | was well supplied with
partners, and when Lady. Aylmer ap-
preached with the individual l have just
described and introduced MIN TO me,
was very glad had a spare dance still
left, for which he at once engaged me.
/ did not catch his name when Lady
Aylmer brought him up, and when my
eldest sister inquired who my new ac-
quaintance was could only say he was
Captain Somebody; l fancied Bruce
was the name.
"a good name, " remarked Margaret
81 daresay he is a relative of Lord
Bruce
But was doomed to undeceive heI
shortly. for on addressing him rs Cap.
tain Bruce he smiled and told me hi;
name-hiS name being Bebb.
Bebb, thought-what funny name
However, it did not prevent my think
ing him very pleasant, and being Sc
cretlv glad when he told me he wa:
quartered at Norton-Folgate for some
months TO come.
To be brief, after several meetings
Captain Bebb, whose name had trans
pired in my family, began TO pay mt
marked attention; but although in my
inmost heart | liked him, still Twas wei
aware that for - Howard" to ally her
self with Bebb would beregarded as al
imposSibility by my family.
He came to call-endeavored to in
oratiate himself with my mother anC
sisters-sent me bouquets, books, music
and. in fact, did all he could to show
his preference, which in my heart O
hearts I would fain have shown wa,
mutual. But how could |? My sisters
alarmed by my evident leaning toward
him instituted a system of ridiculin;
him. which, had he only family guessed
would. felt sure, have prevented hin
from ever again entering our house.
His personal appearance was Stigma
tized as the most vulgar that had eve
been seen; his hair, which was reall
brown, was always alluded TO as carrots
and when a shuddering tit frequent