The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-03-02


drive a poet mad-eyes melting anC
laneuishing, If she chose, with passion
or quickened and vivid with apprecia
ton and intelligence-the daintiest hand
and foot, and a shoulder and bust jusi
statuesque in their lines. This lady
dressed in dark cOlOrs and with exqui.
site taste and culture; she was well
read; she had infinite world experience
and saUoir Jdire she was rich, kept her
house with regal magnificence, enter
tanned charmingly; she affected and in
deed unafiectedly loved the society OF
handsome young men, and defiantly
/ snapped her fingers in the face Of every
woman who questioned her character
in any respect, or showed the slightest
aversion TO her. You may be sure such
a presence was not wholesome for Gu
pressina, place not renowned for its
| sensations.
A universal favorite in the town was
a young Pole, named Julian Karpofsky,
who had settled there since the war and
engaged in business, which very respect
able foreign connections enabled him
to pursue both with success and enter
prise. Julian, a man of fine presence
and some accomplishments, good dan
Ger and good llnguist, fond of music and
skillful as performer, seemed to gray
itate naturally towards Madame Aglae,
and famous friendship sprang up be-
tween the two, upon which scandal did
not scrupple to lay its unsparing tongue,
calling the intimacy one which it need
ed a priest to hallow. The chonicler
has no business to sift and weigh opin-
ions, however, and | will not stop to
particularize the gossip of provincial
place like Cupressina. Madame Gala
machi enjoyed Julian's society and
made much of him, and Julian must
have taken pleasure in Madame Gala
machi's carriages and dinners, her
grand fetes and petite SouperS, even if
he took no particular delight in herself.
The rivals for her favor gradually drift
ed off-all save one.
This one was a Kentuckian of very
nearly the same age as Julian, who es-
tablished himself at the bar of Cupres-
sina since Julian had come there, and,
indeed, since Aglse had made it her
residence. Walter Sorel was a quiet
young fellow, yet noticeable withal; of
medium size, some inches shorter than
Julian, a blonde, with soft voice, pleas
ing manner, a woman-like mouth, and
a calm, ObServant gray eye. There was
not nearly so much dash about him as
about Julian, he attended to business,
did not mix much in society, but it was
observed of him that all the friends he
made he kept.
Sorel seldom visited, but he had some
how been thrown within the vortex of
Aglae Callamachi's fascinations, and
yielded instantly. Aglae did not give
him any compensations worth speaking
about, indeed it is probable she rather
ScOrned him, but it does not take an eX-
perienced woman of the world long to
know her slave, and that was the rela-
ton Sorel was unhappy enough TO have
towards Aglae. He bore the chain
willingly but not cheerfully, for it CALLED
him. There was no intimacy between
him and Julian, but a quiet, reserved
courtesy, rs became brave men who
knew themselves to be both good shots
Julian rather bOaSted of his skill with
the pistol and the small sword, and
Walter was a Kentuckian-aRd who felt
themselves TO be rivals.
Things went on this way for several
mOnths-Julian the accepted favOrite,
Walter the distant worshiper-when
another actor came upon the scene.
This was a young and brilliant heiress
who had come up to Cupressina from
her estates in an adjoining county to
pass the fall and winter. Miss DoSier
was reputed to be, and undoubtedly
was, very rich; she was quite pretty
and rather accomplished, though still
too young to succeed in society, vain
and with a head turned by flattery and
self-consciousneSs. Miss DoSier was
not conteRt to follow the lead of the
other ladies of Cupressina and treat
Nine. Aglae with quiet scorn, genuine
or well assumed at least. 1t entered
into her giddy head to engage in a riv-
airy with the madame, and win back
from her some of her cOnqueSts. The
contest was not so uneven as might be
assumed. Both rich, on the one side
youth, ineXperience and vanity were
matched against all the powers and ac-
complishments of a russo and unscru-
pulouS woman who knew the depths
and shoals of passion of a human weak
ness by having measured and felt them
but on the other hand, there was char
acter, innocence, social standing, against
what? A dark curtain which could not
be lifted, and which every one felt had
better not to be peeped behind. There
was not much skirmishing after war
was declared before the forces We're
ready for more serious trial of strength.
CupreSsina has only one theater, and
that not always open. On a certain
night in November last, however, there
was a good company-for Cupressina
playing there, and all the nice people
of the town who could afford to 90 were
present. Nine. Callamachi was there,
in q stage box, attended by Walter Sorel
and some other gentlemen, but Miss
DOSier was seated in a box alongside
Julian karpofsky, who had been rather
attentive TO the heiress latterly. After
the first act Julian came to Nine. Aglae's
box, and there enSued some lively con-
versatiOn between the two, when Aglae
laughingly sent him back to his COM
panion. At the next break in the per-
formance, Sorel, who was pretty con-
slant adorer, saw Aglae give an almost
imperceptible sign to Julian to come to
her Julian either did not see her or
did not respond, but kept his seat by
Miss Dosier. A look of surprise, min
gled with some pain, passed over Nine.
Callamachi's face, accompanied by
sort of hesitation that was quite mark
ed. At that moment Karpotsky' and
Miss Dosier, gayly laughing and talk
ing, turned, and both of them looked
full face into Aglae's box. There was
no more hesitation. With a large, i'm
periOus gesture of her fan Aglae beck
oned to Julian to come to her box in the
face of half the house. Julian turned
his back, while Miss Dosier cOolly look
ed at Mime. Callamachi through her
lorgnette with woman's cruel stare
The battle had been Joined, and Aglae
was defeated. First days fight
Her face lost none of its equanimity,
however. Sorel, his eyes beaming,
leaned over and murmured, Say the
word, and | will fetch that fellow to
you by the nose, Madam!" "Appease
l.