The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-08-05

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think so? -
'Of course you ought. Jem. But I've
advised you so often on that subject that
don't know what more TO say.'
"NOw there is Violet Ramsay. Violet
What a suggestive name. If there is any
perfume am fond of it is that of white
Yiolets.''
| sawthat matters were getting serious.
His nose had dropped into the poetry OF
its vocation, and as he always followed his
nose there was no knowing where 1t might
lead him.
"Jem," said |, desperately, "ViOlet
Ramsay is a lovely girl, as sweet as the
flower she is called after; but there is no
more chance for you than"
MY tongue halted just in time. l was
going to say Grandfather Bailey" who is
Verging on to ninety.
Uncle Marvin drew a sigh, and dropped
the subject, much to my r-lief.
" Here's a document that will interest
Jem," said Arthur, several months later,
when Uncle Marvin had become estab-
lished among us. He drew from his pocket
a notice TO be read on the following Sun
day for parish meeting.
"They are going TO renovate the
church," said Arthur.
"Then Jem will be on hasd, with his
plans and proposals, am sure"
- In fact, Puss," said my husband, cit
is the advent of this rich and liberal bach
elor in our midst which has set this thing
afloat. They'll expect pretty penny from
him."
They won't get a cent unless they
make the ceiling higher" grOwled Uncle
Marvin, coming from the study.
Uncle Marvin plans for the remodel
! ing of the church on basis of pure air were
all eventually carried, though not without
hard-fOught battle. Some wanted a
spire, some frescoes, some stained win
dOws, and some a new organ. But the
idea of sinking all the money they were
able to raise in furnace cellars or letting it
vanish into thin air in the shape of venti-
latOrs in the ceiling was, naturally enough,
! opposed by the greater part of the parish.
However, the cause was Unexpectedly re-
enforced by an event occurring the next
! Sunday. Deacon Chandler. one of our
most influential men, was attacked with
apOplexV near the close of the morning
service, and after his recovery became an
ardent adherent of the tresh-air party.
! Uncle Marvin's plans prevailed and he was
| triumphant.
~ feel as if | had not lived in vain,
| Puss," he said to me, soon after.
"Dear me! Jem,'' said, "yOu talk as
if it were about all lived and you were
summing up final results"
Well, | rather guess it is" said he, in
| a despOnding voice. You see, when L
thought of marrying and settling down,
like other young fellows. and have at last
| found somebody who just suits me, you
! just throw cold water over the whole affair
! and say it is of no use to try"
Wbu 1OOtt UOn take fancy 70 some
body who will be likely TO reciprOc.te,
Jem ?'' | asked, feeling twinge of COM
passion for the unconsciOusly paSsee lover.
- could name a number of suitable ladies,
any one of whom would be likely to ac-
accept you"
All old as the hills, tOo," he said, cross
! ly. Il tell you, love goes where it will,
not where it is sent" lie added, rising and
going to the glass TO pluck out the gray
hairs which would now and then make
their appearance on his temples.
AsI looked at his tall, shapely figure,
| his clear, kindly brown eyes, and the
/ healthy blood, which had been kept so
pure by the very idiOsyncracies of its
| landlord, tinging his handsome face, !
wondered much that he had never mar
ried.
"We'l, Jem, you know you never could
stand ar jeCti9n," said !.
mo, never could. l believe it would
kill me-" said he, nervously. "And that
is the very reason | have never married,
Puss," he added, after pause. 81 have
never asked any body to marry me in my
life."
You dear old fellow" said |, petting
him. Il do believe you could marry any
body you asked"
Ahght famed up in his eyes at the
tborTht: but it faded out again at the
next moment. His inherent humility had
always stood between him and the bappi'
ness he coveted.
Did | take back my words regarding his
suit with Violet? did not dare to do it.
could not send him to certain defeat, for
knew it would be worse than death TO
him. In the early summer the severe i'll
ness of my mother called me from home
MANY weeks. | left Arthur and Uncle
Marvin established as hOusekeepers. Vio-
let's French lessons were set aside amid
that young lady's lamentations. Uncle
Marvin came to the rescue.
LET me take charge of the French,
Miss Ramsay" he said, in the plying be
nevOlence of his heart.
ooh! if you would, Mr.. Marvin" said
Violet,delightedly, 81 should be so happy
Uncle Marvin was q fine French scholar
and had spent year in Paris. The French
lessons bid fair TO be benefited by the
change; but did not think the arrange
ment wise. / could do nothing, however
and so left them, with a heavy heart fol
the fate which felt sure would befall.
"How are the French Iessons?' | asked
the same evening of my return, after ten
weeks absence.
al OF fh11p tn fa1i
truth, they've been kept up with praise
worthy assiduity on the part of both
teacher and pupil. When | recommended
a holiday, the other day, on account of the
intense heat, though more because | want
ed Jem to go with me on fishing excur-
sion, they both declared that they did moi
feel the heat in the least-in fact, they fell
quite cool. The thermometer stood al
ninety-fi five, you know" said Arthur mis-
chievOusly. "They sat together Ovel
'Iphigenie' (they have but one book be
tween them, you know and both insisted
they never suffered from heat and thai
they were too much interested to take 6
: vacation. : [ believe you are said |, get
ting out Of the room, to have a good laugh
/. at them"
| at is perfectly dreadful, Arthur; and
you know it." said |. "Jem is forty near
! ~, anu NlOieI seventeen, anu Hc NOISulp'
! the ground she walks on"
"Violet is twenty-one, my DEAR" cor
rected my husband. 81 heard her moth
er say so the other day, and do believe
she likes Jem quite as well as he likes her
1t is clear case of fate.'
"She does nothing of the kind" said
} shortly and if she did 1 say it is per
2 feet shame for people to marry who ar,
twenty wears aDart1
e "Softly, my love; only nineteen year
: apart. Consider, Jem has all the advan
a tages of a perfectly pure, childlike life
His heart is as young and his nature a
). unsullied as boys. He is, moreover, il
t the most splendid health and comes of
race of octogenarians; so there is no like
i. lihoOd of her being left young widow
i As the insurance companies would say
: he's a good risk"
D "Well,'' said |. with a little sigh, hal
hopeful. half-despairing, g. confess don
I see the least disparity, except the actus
!. years. But just think of even ninetee
t Years difference in age" Besides"
{ added, she never will have him in th
7 world. She does not think of such
!; thing"
= If she does not, then 1 don't kno'
A