The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-10-12


both sides; they do sometimes. 10
The first time he saw her he though
TO himself:
"And it was for this quiet, little
brown, nOndescript girl that | gave n
my trip TO the Adirondacks, and hurrie
down here at Rob Sherwood's eHtreat
to 'come and be fascinated Thos
were the words Of his letter-and h
knows | affect blondes. Pshaw, T.
as lieye make myself agreeable to
squawi"
Aud Phil Farnham puffed out hi
chagrin and cigar smoke together, a!
he paced the piazza TO and fro.
She looked all over him at glance
when introduced, and thought to her
self:
"And this is the man have idealized
in my imagination as Launcelot among
men! Rob said he was elegant Why,
he's old, and ugly, and unmannerly
UGH" ... r-Er
And a little shudder of disgust ran
through the slender figure as she turn
ed away after the few words following
the Introduction. 1t looked promis-
ing beginning, certainly, TO the parties
who felt an interest in the affair.
"0ld, and ugly, and unmannerly, -
was the verdict, given decidedly, by
Rhoda TO her aunt and counsin Maud,
who a little curiously awaited her opin-
ion. She was taking down her hair for
the night, and stood in Maud's room
before the glass as she spoke; and TO
see her fling the great, heavy braids
back, one would think they had in some
way conspired toward DESTROYING her
illusion of the Knight Launcelot.
"Why, Rhoda! He isn't 80 yet :.
and although he is not handsome, to
be sure, he is not as hideouS as you
make out; and as for unmannerly,' ;
Phil Farnham is a gentleman. And
Maud, who thought Phil, next to her
lover and brother, the most elegant of
men, was a trifle indignant at Rhoda's
criticism. ..Ir.#
"He must be a sort of wizard, fam
cy; he appears to have charmed you
all. For my part, can see neither
youth, beauty nor grace in the red
whiskered gentleman But, peace to
his ashesl He may continue to smoke
all his cigars unmolested by me during
his stay here. Don't ask me to talk to
him, for ] shan't be civil, know. I've
taken intense dislike TO the maG."
And with these words RhOda fitted
through the door leading to her room,
with an affected shudder that would
have done justice TO frst-class actress.
"What on earth does she mean,
mamma, and what shall we do about
it? She must not be rude to Rob's
friend!" cried Maud.
"Let her go; it is only another of
her freaks" replied Mrs. Sherwood,
Struggling her shoulders.
Rhoda Brent had some very peculiar
traits. Her aunt said she was " all
oddities, and very like the Brents," by
which, of course, she meant she was
not bit ike her mothers people, or
her. Rhoda was Mr.. Sherwood's ward
and Mrs. Sherwood's niece, and as her
aunt was desirous of seeing her well
married and off her hands, now that she
was well educated and out of school,
she had maneuvered skillfully to get
Phil Farnham down to the beach that
summer, in order to throw the two to-
gether. The first move in her little
game, however, promises any thing but
q victorious close. ~
Rhoda had been a trial to her aunt
ever since she had had her in her
charge. Maud, now, was so totally
different. She did just what was ex-
pected of her, and had therefore very
properly fallen in love at once with the
man her mother had selected, and now,
duly engaged, was only awaiting the
coming autumn in which to marry and
take her to~r abroad, according to the
usual manner of girls in her set. Rhoda,
on the contrary, did nothing any one
expected Of her. She had refused,
point blank, two splendid offers, both
of which her aunt approved and urged
and as matters looked now, she was
in fair way TO avert, at least, third
Mrs. Sherwood consulted her son on
the matter not long after, and the two
concluded they would try new tactics.
''She is Just like all the Brents-cOn-
trary and wilful, - said Mrs. Sherwood,
with a sigh. .ts II
s'Very well, mother-we can be the
same. Now propose a new method.
If you are determined to marry Rhoda
off TO somebody, Phil Farnham is Just
the fellow-only he doesn't admire
brUmettes, you-see; but you have talked
too much about Phil to her-in his favor,
Imean. Try the rule of cOntraries.
Instead of praising him talk him down.
Make her fall in love out of sheer con-
trariety. Arouse her pique, enlist her
sympathy, and she will be dead in love
with the object before the summeris
over. He isn't far behind her in OBJ
stinaey, either-but you manage her,
and leave him 10 me-" s..t .aa1HlsE .
There was very little said about Mr..
Farnham to Rhoda after that, and as
he was very rarely in the house, being
ohtin his Yacht or Off fishing most of
she time, she was not annoyed by his
presence or his attentions. 1t puzzled
her after awhile, and she wondered how
Phil Farnham came 70 be called ''fas-
cinating, and a winner of women's
hearts," when she had not seen any
attempt on his part to make himself
agreeable to one She asked Rob about
it one day as they were coming up from
the bath.
"I thought you told me Mr.. Farnham
was ladies' man" said she. "Why,
he hasn't spoken to one since he's been
here.r .TfN 1El-L LLlIfltlUlii
"Oh, that's because he's so dreadful
" fastidious, carelessly replied Rob.
she says there isn't pretty girl at the
house. You know he affects the blonde
style of beauty. He declares he feels
as though he was in wigwam when
he looks down the table and sees all
those dark faces. Why, he calls all
brunettes 'squaws.' Ha, ha!" and Rob
laughed heartily.
Rhods did not enjoy the joke. She
walked on little quicker, vivid flush
flaming up into her dark cheeks, and
answered her cousin sharply:
"Fhe cool insolence of these red
whiskered pale faces is refreshing-a
little dash of the Indian would improve
Mr.. Farnham's manners, as well as APP
pearance. 'Squaws,' indeed"
stYes, think so too, RhOdy. / was
provoked at him, for l wanted him to
ike YOU, and he doesn't" .sar r.tl
"He Doesn't Pray, how can he
iudce? am sure he hasn't spoken a