The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-07-22


iron this Breeze Rogers. He Is no c0m-
panion for you, tie betrothed Of Rollin
Weatherbee. | think we have been suffi
ciently kind to him for the service he did
you, and do hope the acquaintance, or at
least the familiar footing on which he has
placed himself, will be discontinued. in
future. 1t is not proper for bride-elect
to be asSOcating 50 familiarly with a
strange young man of whom she knows
no good. You should tell him of your
approaching marriage and then his atten-
tiOns would undoubtedly cease, If he has
any sense Of honor whatever 4
TIE necessity was saved me. That very
afternoon my mother took the task upon
herself. Breeze came to Merideth House.
and found me absent, gathering moses.
He sat down ia the cool porch, and fell to
chatting in his light, careless, easy way.
with my mother. How it happened do
not know, but mother happened to speak
of nv approaching marriage.
1t was almost dark when 4 reached the
avenue that led up to Merideth House.
A 1.-the figure stood leaning against the
gateway as sauntered by, my hands full
of moses. ''GOod evening"" said, gayly.
"Will you walk up with meY
He did not answer save to step forward,
draw my arm within his, and turn me
away from the house down toward the
lake
ave will GO this way" he said and |
felt the fire of his eyes burning my cheek
10 a fame. We walked so in Dir, adful
silence for a moment, then lie spoke:
81 is this thing true your m9ther tells
me| he asked.
What thing" almost whispered.
h.. Eav.aa1xr
'Is it true that you are to be the wife of 8
white faced aristOcrat, next October? Tha'
YOU are here to make your pre- Iarationsr'
Yes" The word came reluctan ly.
and almost with a gasp. He took my
hands in mis- and looked down upon me.
" You shall not-yOu shah nOtr' he
hissed. II love you, you are mine, now
and forever"
Before could speak or cry out he had
taken me in his arms, and was rainiR g
kisses upon my lips. | was young, rO-
mantle and impulsive. This man had ar
OuSed strange feeling in my breast, that
now, as | lay in his arms, l believed must
be love. | could SIC the reckless beauty
of his face as it bent over me, and almost
uncOnSciously | clasped my arms about
his neck, sObbing wildly, and whispering,
"Oh, if | had known you sooner-lf 1t
were not too late"
"Tt is not too late" he cried, passionate
ly, straining me to his heart. You are
mine, now and for all time. You must
be my wife ~
"But cannot, - | sobbed, 81 am bound
to anOther-the wedding day draws near. "
81 care nothing for that. You must
wed me, and no other. | cannot give
you up" - a.-.a4 --'.s
His imperious manner, his impassiOned
earnestness, aroused my girlish admira-
ton. He seemed like some knight of olden
romance TO me, beside whom ROllin
Weatherbee, with his patrician beauty,
was completely Oversha lowed. We
walked along the cleaning, he pleading,
| hesitating, almost yielding, but leaving
him at length with no definite decision.
For three weeks met Rogers clandestinely
each day, and listened to his words of
passionate devotion, and let him imprint
warm kisses upon my lips. Day after
daY he urged me to fly with him, but
though | believed loved him better than
[ had ever loved Rollin Weatherbee, hes
itated to make him any promise, and a
strange fear of him held me back from
flight. Yet each day my resolution grew
weaker, each day the man hold upon
me and power upon me became stronger.
Al last came an afternoon late in Septem-
ber. | was to meet Breeze that evening,
and stood looking out at the gorgeous
sunset, Nth heart full of contending
emotions, when mamma came into the
room. Rose" she said. ''you remem-
Der B-eece Rogers who came here so often
some time agog'
Remember him but only said, Yes,
mother" in a very low voice.
- Well. .Har wood tells me painful thing
in connection with him. She says her
husband tells her it is the neignbOrhOod
talk now Ii seems there is a very lovely
young girl, gardener s daughter, Cora
Smith by name. whom Breeze has beer
very attentive to for some months. The
girl's father says she is betrothed to him
At all events, he has been a most arden'
lover, for a year or more, and now, with
out wor d. or any apparent cause, NJ
has deserted her. Has not been near her
for two months, and the girl is very i'll
calling for him constantly, but he does no
90 near her. I5iS thought she will die
She is poor, frail, childish thing, anC
never knew what il was to suffer before
liz is very sad. What a heartless villain
he must be-"
NV heart seemed to die within me.
rush of emotion. shame, anger, grief, mis-
placed love and wounded pride fought to
oether in my breaat. Oh! how mean tn,
man was whom | had placed above Rollir
Weatherbee in my hearts affection. How
despised him. for that moment. Then
began to think it might not be so-ther'
might be some mistake. II will go Il
him tonight" thought, "and shal
know"
[ did 20. when the shadows of tn,
cleaning settled down over the earth.
found him waiting for one. He held ou
his arms. bur stood alOOf. ~ II .
60 to Cora Smith," | said, "She i
entitled to your caresses-she wants then
Il do not"
Ineeded no further proof of his guilt
His face turned crimson from brow t
chin. and then pale as death.
"What do you know OF her?' he cried
hoarsely, "Who has been telling yol
lies %
mo one" answered. g Your face il
proof of the truth of ali have heard.
will make this our last meeting. My eye
are opened in time, thank God. do no
want to set them upon you again. Do no
try to see me, for it will be useless. lut
| terly despise you. Go back to the onl.
person who believes you worthy OF love
who is dying for you"
turned and sped back to the house, an
/ for two weeks scarcely stepped outside II
WALL. was i'll in mind and body. M
unreasonable, romantic folly that | ha
called love, died suddenly at one blow
aud knew there was only one man in tn
world loved, or ever had loved, and tina
one man was Rollin Weatherbee. Blu
my heart was filled with regret for m
past folly, and fears for what might TO
low. But two weeks passed by and
heard no word and saw nothing of Breec
Rogers until that chill October night, whe
my story opens.
[ turned my face away, lest the light {
those dark eyes should bring back the ol
delirium. For at that one glance felt Ii
blood leap through my veins, and strang
glow shoot through my heart. | th'
roughly despised this man, yet he had
power over me still. A woman who ha
ever been held in mans arms, and fe
his kisses upon her lips, can never
learn 10 despise or forget him that II
sight of his face will not sometimes moY
her. At length arose and moved ava
1 from the window. A second later som,
thing struck the glass with a sharp cllcl
"What was that's" asked mamma.
1.-THE wind hurled something again
i the window-pan Ianswered. A momeI