The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-12-14
eyes. yes. III take all that for grant

friendship, and speedily into love. We
became betrothed. I asked her father,
who is retired army officer, for her
hand. He put on his Buena Vista man
ner, asked me if / supposed his daugh-
ter was going TO marry miserable
bank-clerk on $1,000 year, and then
showed me the door"
"Ahl" exclaimed Grsyson, with an
appearance of great interest.
"After left him." continued Jack,
"there was a scene, as l subsequently
learned, between him and my dear girl,
who bravely declared that she never
would marry any one else, and besougbt
him on her knees, with tears, to consent
TO our union. But the old fellow was
obstinate, and said he had other views
for her. Pretty soon these views came
along in the person of the mushy-faced
patriarch whom you saw just now in
the carriage. He, too, is a retired hero
of the Mexican war, and very rich. My
darling shut herself in her room and
refused to see him. She grew thin and
pale, and nearly cried her eyes out.
bribed one of the servants, who car
ried daily notes between US, but her I'M
natural parent detected our correspond
ence, and it was intercepted"
"My poor boy!" said Grayson, with
sympathy.
4" For weeks | could obtain no com
munication from her. At last l learned
from friend of the family that they
were all coming to Newport to visit at
the villa of her proposed husband, who
is a widower. l obtained leave Of alb
sence from the bank on the ground of
il-health, and followed them. Yester-
day saw my darling for the first time,
and to-day | received this letter, in
which," continued Jack, kissing it rap
turously, " she assures me of her indy
ing devotion, declares that 30 force can
compel her to marry the old General,
whom she detests, and that is mine,
mine only, and mine forever! Dear,
true, faithful girl! She deserves all 1
can give her of the best, most earnest,
and most faithful love"
AYES, no doubt" said Grayson, re-
fectively. well, l should think, Jack
Turner, that you had got yourself into
a very interesting situation. 1t would
do for the plot of a novel"
"I've not told you ALL" replied his
friend.
"Good gracious! what next?"
"During the period of our clandes-
tine correspondent we arranged an
elopement. l had all my plans perfect
ed; my dear girl consented to accom-
pany me, and in another day she would
have been my bride, when"
"When paterfamilias stepped in and
spoiled the plot" interrupted Grayson.
"Why can't you elope now, if you are
bound to have her? You have found
means of communicating, see."
Impossible" replied Jack. "The
villa is situated way out of town, on
Bateman's Point, and is surrounded by
brick wall twelve feet high. Ever
since the discovery of our plan Of es-
cape, Clara has been under the super
vision of a maiden aunt-a perfect
sleepless Cerberus--who occupies the
same room, and always accompanies
her when she goes out to walk or battle.
There's a savage old butler, with orders
to shoot all suspicious characters seen
lowering around the place after dark.
/ There's a ferocious bulldog"
"Hold-enough!" said GraySon.
"This is worse than the Princess in the
enchanted tower"
ooh, that's not all either" said Jack.
"The old curmudgeOn is bound to mar
ry bis daughter to old Red-nose, wheth-
er she viii or no, and has actually is
sued cards for the wedding without her
consent. Now, Tom," exclaimed Jack,
iercely, "that girl must be mine.
There's no time to lose. She must be
my bride before tomorrow night, and
you must help me-"
"All right" said Grayson. You
must take care of the military parent,
and maiden aunt, and the bloodthirsty
butler, and the ferocious bulldog, and
I'll carry off the girl. Then you can
follow at your leisure"
"Don't make light of it" said Jack,
gloomily. ats too serious a matter.
Can't you suggest some plan for me?"
"Let me put on my thinking cap, "
said the other, sand ruminate for a
moment"
He went to the bureau, and took
therefrom a small black-velvet skull-
cap, which he put on. Then, lighting
a fresh cigar, he resumed his seat by
the window, and sat for long time
silently smoking, with his head thrown
back and his eyes fixed upon the cell
ing. Jack watched him with impa-
thence.
"Did you tell me that the young lady
battles on the beach," asked Grayson,
after a silence that seemed to his com.
panion interminable.
''Yes, daily, replied Jack; ''but the
maiden aunt is always with heron
shore at least, aud sometimes her ia.
Their. She cautions me in this letter not
to meet her there, for, if were seen
there once, she might be forbidden ever
that innocent pleasure"
al have it." exclaimed the young
clergyman, jumping up. "You mus
meet her there to-morrow-in the water
mind you, not on the beach. Leave
the rest to me-"
s'You mean to carry her of by force, ;
said Jack, ''that wouldn't do. W.
would be caught before we could leave
the island"
tGYo1, haven't al, inElinp of what