The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-09-21

u Il CAANhAbA NOOs
He glanced carelessly up from hi.
book
defended me, May? Why, what
ridiculous idea. OF course you haven
offended me-"
"I-I thought your manner wal
somewhat different of late," faltereC
I the young wife, bending her head closer
over her embroidery.
"One can't keep up the honeymoon
gloss forever" said the banker, indif
I ferently. -r ~a E
Life is full of antitheses; and love il
the strangest complexity in life. For
as May Harriott grew strengthened il
the idea that her husband was ceasiBa
TO adore her after the old idolatrou'
fashion, she began to fall in love with
the one she had married for money.
Frederick Harriott was not young,
but he was in the prime of middle age
He was not bOyishly handsome like the
wax heads May had seen in the bar
ber's show-windows, but he had the
port and mien of a prince. All women
are prone to hero-wOrship, and our lit
tie May was no exception to the ordina-
ry rule. For the first time in her life
she was falling in love-and with her
own husband. .........
A few weeks only had elapsed when a
crisis in the banking business rendered
it imperatively necessary that Mr.. Har-
riott should 60 TO Vienna for two or
three months Poor May looked aghast
as her husband mentioned his intentions
to her, in the same cool, matter -of-fact
way in which he might have criticised
the weather.
"Going to Yienna?" she gasped.
On, Frederickln
"My dear child, it is mere bagatelle
of journey! One doesn't mind travel
nowadays. | shall not be later than
November in returning"
But may 90 with youP''
You'll My dear, don't think of it.
My travel will necessarily be too rapid
to think of encumbering myself with a
lady companion. | must 90 and come
with the greatest speedi"
May said nothing more, but there
was blur before her eyes, a sickening
sensation of despair at her heart. He
cared no more for the society which had
been dear to him once. OH what had
she done to forfeit the love that had
once been poured out SO fondly on her
life? S
1t was a rainy June twilight when the
banker, wrapped in a dreadnaught
coat, and with his traveling-cap pulled
down over his eyes, paced up and down
the deck of the steamer Galatea, heed
less of all the tumult of weighing
anchor. Through the misty dusk he
tried vainly to catch the ghostly out
lines of the city spires-the city that
held his young wife. I
She Will be happy enough without
me-" he tod himself, bitterly. "She
has her mother and sister with her.
She bade me adieu without tear, and
it may be that my continued absence
will teach her to think less cOldly ofme.
Dear little May-sweet spring blossom
my prayers may reach you, if my love
can nOt!"
And, as the steamer plowed her way
onward, and the darkness deepened,
Frederick Harriott went below.
TO his infinite surprise, the state
room he had engaged for his own be-
half and use was not empty. A lady
sat there, with vailed face and dropping
head. Frederick Harriott paused in
surprise-the figure rose up, and throw
ing aside its vail, revealed the blue,
starry eyes and pale cheeks of May her
telfi
r "Oh, Frederick, pardon mel" she
sobbed, throwing herself into his arms,
"but | could not let you 60 alone! /
love you, Frederick. | can not live
without you! When l thought of your
being alone, perhaps i'll, in a strange
land, thought should lose my senses
Dear husband, tell me that you are not
angry with me?" I'll. e.a
And she burst into a flood of tears.
"My own May-my wife-my love
Close, close to my heart for ever
morei"
And that was all he said!
May Haven had married for money
May Harriott had-iearned the secret OF
lOYei ..- .....-.---. ..