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

inevitable. Her mood was only mock
heroic, for she did not hope or intend
to reform the world, only have pleas
ant day.
"If worry or feel at all vexed, " she
reasoned, "my fun will be al spoiled,
and I'm really going to try and be in
dependent"
The next morning early found her at
the washtub. 1t was very far from a
homely picture that she made at the
door of the shed, the sunlight playing
over her ripping hair tucked out of the
way, and her round white arms dash
ing the snowy suds about. At times a
pucker in the absorbed mouth, and then
a smile and a few notes of song, as
the way seemed clear. There was an
unseen spectator of this new singing of
a declaration of independence gen
tlemen who was coming across the
fields. He must have admired it, for
he stopped to look, and then ensconcing
himself on a top rail amidst we'll dis
! posed brspches, he watched until the
/ little dra 3a~was over. Saw the clear
rinsiBg water supersede the suds, saw
the dress hung to dry in a shady place,
smiled at the little pats it received be-
fore Carrie leftit and disappeared into
| the house. He waited for some time,
but she did not come out again, and
only the dress hung there Tapping in
was lovely, with the old farmhouse
nestled in elms, the orchard rambling
down hill at the back, field of
tasseled corn stretching away to the
flashing brook which sang through the
meadow. But this was nothing without
the active little declarer, and the gen.
tleman picked switch and trimmed it
as he said, half aloud,
81 wonder how long it takes those
things to dry? She'll come out for it,
| suppose. | might make a whistle" :"
So round about he wandered, not
losing sight o, the tapping dress, which
slowly stiffened into an awkward, thin,
shapeless object, and swung back and
forth on the line When this result was
attained, he was repaid for waiting by
seeing Carrie run out with an apron
over her head, throw the dress over her
arm, and back to the shed. No use
waiting any longer: evidently the iron
ing could not be seen; and the restless
figure disappeared from the fence and
field, much to the qualification of a
squirrel, who had viewed him with dis
favor for some time.
But it was pity any one who felt in
terested could not have seen the conclu-
sion. The shower of water from the
twinkling finger-tips, the firm rolling
with compressed lips, and the artistic
ironing which followed. Hair back
close enough then to be entirely away
from the flushed cheeks, critical views
at little distance with the head on one
side, rufiles re-ironed, and at last all
complete, and a satisfied rest on the
bed, with the dress laid on two chairs
opposite: rest with interruptions,
which referred to the manifold altera-
tions and final adjustment, broken at
last by the adorning of the plebeian sun
down with blue ribbon.
The next day was the Fourth, and
dawned fair and beautiful. A little
warmer than its predecessors, it was
still just the temperature for Out-Of-
door enjoyment in the shade. Carrie
gave no thought to Dolly Warden or
Valenciennes, as she Strengthened the
sash of the blue cambric and tied the
sundOwn over her sunny brown hair.
He who wanted any thing prettier than
the fresh brightness of the toilet and
the piquant young face under the shad-
of the straw hat must have been hard
to please And though perhaps we ought
not to hear the secret that was known
only between Carrie and her glass, she
was perfectly satisfied as she gave last
look and ran down stairs. So was Julia,
as she greeted the spotless little figure
which ran into her room as the Organdy
was being assumed.
care YOU not dressed yet?n
"NO, dear; Anna did not finish the
dress until last night, and the lace had
to be sewed in to-day" said Julia, with
a slight frcwn.
"Let me help you"
"Frank asked if you would come"
said Julia, from fleecy maze of white
muslin.
''Did hep" and an innocent flush suf-
fused Carries face a moment, but it re-
turned to natural color as she cried,
"Are you going to wear this lovely
braeeletP You look like bride"
"Do IP" Julia smiled into her mir
ror, well satisfied with the. image re-
iiected. "Perhaps may be-"
Carrie opened two gray eyes pretty
wide, and, following Julia down stairs,
Joined a gay troop of ladies and gen
tlemen on the lawn. The spot chosen
for the picnic was bit of meadow
l., "A NJ I sr-sv 'p
grounds, but far enough from the house
to be quite rural. Carrie found her
self in the midst of a group of elegant
ly dressed ladies, and gentlemen in the
immaculate toilet of white duck; but
having once made up her mind, she
she was not to be disturbed, and en-
tered into the enjoyment of the day
without so much as a backward glance
at Dame Fashion. Mr.. Frank Warden
was not slow in excusing himself from
beauty in a gauzy muslin and walk
ing by her side.
al supposed you were in California,
studying seals and Chinese" said Car
rie, smelling appreciatively the rose he
offered her.
"Didn't Julia tell you was hereP''
Yes; mean I'LL then.
"I have been, but found my mind
was too fully occupied to study the in
teresting subjects you name"
"Been and come back" and Carrie
gave him a good look of mingled in
terest and surprise.
"Yes; l could not help it," said
Frank, returning the gaze.
"Why netP l should so like to 60;
I'm sure I'd stay" said Carrie.
"Why notP" echoed Frank, with a
tone and look that caused Carrie to
flush and want to run away.
"Oh, is this the place, Mr.. Warden?"
asked his former companion, adding in
lower voice, % You find that rural
child very attractive -
"Yes, do. Allow me: Miss Budd,
Miss Carrie Robbins"
The ladies bowed, and both exclaimed
at the beauty of the grove, while Carrie
paused in admiration of the smoothly
cut, firmly rolled croquet ground. All
the pleasure which she had anticipated