The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-05-25

visit had been to .ssee OeciLflY HFG
g- s'Well, she is Ia the parlor, all by
herself" said the Squire, good-humor.
edly, motioning me in. "Walk in
walk ~. RafonTfT .rRs4 .SV
Cecilia Vernon was sitting IN the par
ler alone, as her father had said, The
bright center of "a cheerful. circle, OF
flamphght.f A bit of eroehet-work was
flying in her lap, and an open volume oi
poems-poems / had sent her-was on
fthe table. - -ir ..----A -
Cecilia Vernon was always fair to
lookup in myssight; te.night, how
ever, she seemed more than ordinarily
beautiful.
sat down, and began hesitatingly
uponazthe neEer-failingEtopic of the
,weather.s A proposal had seemed the
easiest thing in the world as j walked
along The dewy edges of the peaceful
starlighted road, contemplating it from
afar off; but now that was face to face
with ID, Alps upon Alps of difficulty and
perpiexity seemed to surround its ac-
complishment. / would have given all
that / was worth to postpone the evil
day but twenty-fOur hours-all but my
self-respect, and that was imperiled
now. .a.Hr. .lr
Cecilia tried her best to keep the ball
of conversation in motion; she intro
duced new subjects, asked leading ques-
tiorls, and feigned deep interest in the
most obtuse of topics. But even. Ceci-
liza couldn't talk on forever, and pres
entity, with little sigh of despair, she
subsidized into silence. s .l
Now was the eventfuf moment of my
destiny.
"Ceciliai" / said softly.
She raised the liquid brown eyes to
mine. ~.
80 1 want to eOnfide in YOU Tonight
have your permission to speak?"
Certainly, Mr. Markham!"
assI am very much in love, CeciliaS in
fact, my heart has long ago gone out
of my possession info that Of"
1 stopped, with the. fatal husky feel
ing in my throat. Cecilia was blush
ing divinely! L drew my chair close
TO hers, with the sensation of a man
who has Just pulled the String of cold
.shower-bath. 49,
seWho is the ladyP'' Filtered Cecilia,
as if she didn't know perfectly well al
ready.
:" Shall l show you her picture, Ce-
cilia?"
Miss Vernon inclined her head almost
to the elevel of my shoulder to look at
the little carte dc. Uisite drew from my
pocket. Iskillfully stole one arm round
her waist.
"See, dearest!'
But, to my horror and dismay, she
snatched her hand from my clasp,
sprang up, and started away, like some
fair avenging goddess!
r"How dare you insult me thus, Mr..
Markham?n
"Cecilia! how--what-"
"Don,t presume to call me Cecilia,
sir!' sobbed the indignant girl, burst
ing into tears and sweeping from the
roOmi
satlike one palsied. What had !
done? Why was the gracious mood OF
my enchantress thus suddenly trans
formed to gall and bitterness? Surely
she would presently return and apollo
tgize for her capricious exit? But she
did not return, and, after waiting long
I in vain, sneakeda out of a. side-door
and crept dejectedly home, my heart
burning with wonder and resentment
had no mind to meet the assembled
family group; so admittedmyself with
] the latch-key and stole noiselessly up
stairs, where my lamp still burned-tht
lamp / had lighted with such high and
bounding hopes! e. .--Ee
1 threw off my coat viciously; as l die
so, the forgotten carte de Uistte dropped
from my pocket. ] stopped to pick i
up. It was the portrait of Bessie Armi
tagel And there on the mantel, where
1 in my needless haste | had left it, wa:
the divine eOuntenance of my queen
Cecilia. A- f- ~
| had shown her the wrong photo
1 graphiF g q
\ All was clear now! Her indignation
and resentment-the whole tangled
web of mystery was unraveled now
4 L caught MP NV hat to rush back TO her
but at that moment the clock struci
eleveni
Twas too late now. All apology ant
explanation must be deferred until th'
morrow. And with diseontented spiri
sought my couch. r-neu
Early the nextmorning walked owe
to the old Vernon mansion; but, eX
peditious as l was, Trefoil had beel
there before me. | met him coming
lwhistling down the walk as self-pOs
lsessed as ever.
GOOD morning." said briefly, en-
deavoring to pass him; but he detained
fme.
I Congratulate me, my dear fellow
I am the happiest man in the world
Cecilia Vernon has just promised to b
my wifel''
/ stared blankly at him, and with on
or two unintelligible murmurs, turne'
short around and walked home again
Nv rival had improved the propitiou
opportunity, and caught Cecilia's hear
in the rebound.
Well-so goes the world, and L am
bachelor yet. There is but one Cecilia
and she, alasl is married to Fitzhugl
Trefoill
MoRAL.-When you 60 courting, b
certain whose picture you are carrying
next your heart.
rr.1.< - N EoTeo n;ounonH