The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-07-27
INDEPENDENCE GAINED AND LOST.

ave viii have an elegant time. Yot
must come"
al don't think / can," said Carrie
her eyes wandering over Julia's dainty
fresh linen suit, and up to the bewtch
ing Dolly Warden hat, which completed
a lovely picture.
"Why not, dear? Oh, 1 want you
TO! Perhaps you don't care to Gomez
This last with coaXing pOut.
'Yes, do; but"
"Never mind the butts ! shall ex
pect you. Cousin Frank Warden /,
coming up, and he can walk over will
you in the evening"
al don't mind the getting home, >
replied Carrie, with laugh.
"Then, good-by. You'll Gomez"
al think not" But Carries voice
was faint, and her eyes danced at the
thought of the fun.
The thoroughly buttOned groom tuck
ed linen duster over his mistress
founceS, and Julia kissed her hand as
the sprightly ponies stepped off down
the road. Carrie leaned her arms OF
the gate and watched the phaetOn with
pleased face. Julia was dear friend
as young ladies estimate affection
and it was pleasant to see her drive NJ
with so much ease, and leave agreeable
thoughts of untold good things. When
the leafy branches hid her from sight
Carrie turned, and, stopping a moment
to set up plant which dropped, and tC
examine a bush which gave promise OF
speedy blossoming, returned to the
house.
"Oh, want to got" she declared as
she threw open a closet door. 81 do SC
like to have some fun on the Fourth
and this will be splendid-crOquet, mu-
sic, dancing, fire. works, ice cream, with,
out having to make it yourself-oh!'
and Carrie whirled about the room al
the thought. /" But all the ladies will be
so elegantly dressed. Julia said she
would wear white Organdy trimmed
with Nalenciennes. Now, | could never
bear not to be well dressed too;" and
she darted into the closet, and came
out with two dresses over her arm.
There's no use looking" she exclaim-
ed, throwing them on the bed; 81 know
what they are like. The barege has q
great darn in front, and the muslin is
horribly faded across the shoulders.
can't wear my black silk, for | should
ruin il. Oh dearl'' With a great sigl
she sat on the foot of the bed, and, curl
ing up her feet, rested her chin in the
hollow of her hand. "Then nv hat
1t isn't a Dolly Warden, or any thing
but an old sundown." 1t would be i'm,
possible to give the emphasis of con
tempt with which Carrie uttered that
word.
Why should l care?" she solilo,
quized. " If the year had been better
L should have had a white pique
but poor father was so pressed, | die
not ask for the moRey. | know it's al
right; but | had counted on going, al
the time, and | can't unless | have
something pretty to wear" Carrie
spoke with determination, and gave the
fading sunset a perplexed, troubled
look. As the quiet sky and the whis
pering trees presented no solution of the
question, she brought her gaze in unit
it rested on her lap. She saw neal
white apron, and under that a really
very pretty blue and white striped cam
oric.
"I'll wear thisi" cried Carrie, Jump
ing up. "There, freedomi Haven't
read and read about women emanci
pating themselves from the rule OF
fashion-that it would lead to progres.
IN higher ideas, and be so good fol
them? Have one dress and wear it, nC
matter what others did. How they'd be
respected, and how happy they'd be.
I'll try it. | haven't any thing else to
wear, and it's pretty, and I'll do it up
myself and make it look nicely. III
put blue ribbon in my hat, and CO.
Her fathers farm adjoined Mr.. Liv,
lngton's country-seat, and John and
Carrie had been summer friends fol-
years. Julia liked Carries hearty, un.
affected manner, and it was pleasant tc
have a friend to whom every thing was
fresh and delightful, and in a measure
Julia leaned on the strong, healthy
spirit which stepped into the world will
such honest and discerning eyes. Car
rie admired Julia's delicate beauty, anC
felt protecting love for the girl whC
could decide no:hing but the pattern o.
a dress, and was unfamiliar with The
thousand delights which Nature lavish
ed about her. But, while Julia's girl
hood had been spent at schools, so thai
now she could execute difficult music
on her grand piano, paint water-colol
sketch, converse or read in French anC
italian, dance any thing, bow in the
divinest manner, and ride her chestnut
or drive her ponies like a Diana, Car
rie's had been spent at home Sh,
could roll out delicious pats of butter
Il
and make the perfectly fitting dresse.
which adorned her busy little person
could demonstrate and proposition il
geometry, or calculate interestas fast a
she could talk; had read all the En-
glish books she could find ,and could tall
intelligently to you by the hour on an,
topic of present interest. She had he
own ideas, and thought about ever1
thing which seemed to affect the world
and never knew an idle, unhappy mo
ment.
Yes, one-wben Frank Warden bade
her good-by last summer, and said ht
expected TO 60 to California to remair
years, and probably should not be in
Preston again in some time. But thai
did not last long. She had no accom-.
phshment, so-called. She could play
hymns on her old piano, could EN-
broider, make delicious pies, cake ant
preserves, and harness old Jenny to tn,
buggy; but these are not accomplish
ments. She was just rosy, active cir
with bright eyes and 4 tender heart
that made the old farmhouse pleasan
place TO be in. These were the tw,
girls, whose preparations were as diff
ferent as their lives for the comm;
Fourth of July.
Carries mind being once made up
she did not hesitate or grieve over th