The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-09-14
A WOMAN'S LIFE.

When Julie Mortimer accepted Lee
Cameron as her liege lover and future
husband, she had every reason TO be-
lieve her life-happiness was secured
permanently. She was barely eighteen,
and life hitherto had been so cloudless
and happy for her-untouched by any
remembrance of sorrow or pain. The
idol of a happy, unbroken family circle,
with every wish gratiied, she seemed
now 10 have reached the summit of ali
earthly bliss.
Cameron was as handsome as the
rarest ideal hero of her brightest day
dreams, with a face almost womanish
fair, but whose etieminacy was redeem
ed by the large, dark, lustrous brown
eyes, and hair of the same colorwaving
back from the pure white forehead.
He added TO the charm of his personal
appearance the grace aud ease of man
ners found in thoroughbred gentle
man, for he came OF noble blood, and
prided himself not little on his family
pedigree. Julie had known him all her
life, his father having been formerly
associated with her own in business.
At the decease of Mr.. Cameron, Sr.,
Lee had succeeded him in the firm, and
so il seemed "a very natural thing that
he and Julie should learn to love each
other so well, and, no objections being
offered TO the engagement, should look
forward to a welded future as the con-
summation of their highest hopes.
They were both young enOsgh, and
Julie would not listen to any entreaties
for a speedy marriage. 1t was so de-
lightful TO be aflianced, to have bouquets
and Jewels showered upon her by her
generous lover, opera invitations and
amusements without number, 10 realize
the envy of all the giUls in her set, who
could not understand why Lee Cameron
was so wild about julie, whom every
body knows was an outrageous CO.
quette.
And though Julie in her heart cared
very much for her handsome dtJoBaire
lover, and hadno thought of disioyalty
TO hIm, vet il was sweet, very sweet, to
feel her power over him.
To stand leaning on his arm at a re-
ception or party, and talk pretty non
sense to the men who crowded around
her, or to use her opera-glasSes cOnUin-
ually, and flirt desperately with her
numerous admirers between the acts of
Trovatore or Mignou; and, as she fur
lively watched him, to see the sensitive,
mobile mouth twitch nervOusly, and the
fair forehead knit with an ominOus
frown.
At such times, say, it made her,
after all, true woman's heart throb with
fierce delight. to see how greatly he
cared for her, bow entirely she seemed
to hold his happiness in her hands.
In such a moment she would languid'
ly ask him if he felt uuwell, or if his
head ached, and receiving for an an
swer only a long look of intense sadness
and reproqch from the luminous eyes
her own would Suddenly fill with won
drous love-light, and she would whisper
softly, as she leant intOXicatinglv near
er: "Oh, churl, to grudge smile whel
all is thine"
Aud so the rapid months fled on ros,
wings; ever and anon Lee would plea'
TO limit the engagement, and she, Wi
a gay, careless confidence in the future
put by his prayer. Meanwhile clou'
commenced to gather on the horizon o
these two young lives.
Julie noticed that her betrothed grew
more distracted and thoughtful thai
was his wont, but rallying him light.
on the cause of his melancholy, he dis
claimed any reason save his anXiet.
about their marriage. This caused be
to blush vividly aud change tie subject
The cloud grew larger, and finall
broke. One evening she missed lie
from her side; the next day she felt i
a dim way that something was wrong
all the members of the dear home cir
Gle were quiet, and she could not l,
herself of the idea that they regard
her with plying eyes.
In the evening, as she was dressin
10 attend party with Lee, she receiI
ed a note, which ran briefly thus:
Ny DARLING-Maybe it is the last time
shall call you so. 1 can not 90 with you &c
night: I am leaving town for few days
Your father will tell you all. Should yo
want to see me when l return you can Il
me know: but how dare ] hope that
course they viii not let you; it Is all Ovel
All, my own, nay own, farewell. LEE.
She let the note fall from her hands
a long shiver shook her frame, an
sitting back the sobs that the pathOs {
the note threatened to wiring from he
she leant her head on her arms, Resin
them on the dainty toilet table, an
began to wonder wearily what it 8
meant.
| think | have not yet described N
heroine. Let us row look at her fe
moments under this the frat shade
that has ever crossed her bright patl
For her figure she is tall and exqui
itely formed; the face is of the rich'
brunette type, and the whole head r
minded one, as Lee Cameron was wol
to saw, of the Southern loneliness
Murillo's dark-haired Madonna. II
chief charm of the face lay in the eye
-almond-shaped eyes-f' inged wit
long black lashes-eyes of deepest blu
changeful and sparkling terder; aud
shade thoughtful at times, full of tea
full sadness or brilliant with miSchi,
at others, even as her mood change,
but always beautiful.
The head is nobly set on the Gle:
olive-tinted neck and shoulders an
crowned with an abundant suit of r
ven-black, glossy, wavy hair. To ga
on LOI III lh0 StuCSluA dOduOOH VI Ia
present attitude, with no knowledge
the sadness that has fallen on b
bright pleasure-loving existence, ol
unconsciously murmurs, "a thing
beauty and joy forever"
Suddenly she rouses herself, as &
STAG who feels his wound is not fat;
and feels at the same time the spe
strength stealing back into his paki
limbs. She reached down and lifts {
note from where it has caught in {
lace draperies of her party costun
and slowly reads it again. At I
words "your father will tell you all