The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-02-17

When the stranger caught sight OF
this display his eye frightened and he
arose to his feet.
Flowers, Tint" he cried. awe
must goi"
The boat was headed for the bank,
and the old man, putting two gold pieces
on the bench upon which he had been
sitting, stepped ashore and walked rap
idly away.
After walking until turn in the river
hid the boat from view, the old man
threw himself down and began to pluck
the blossoms about him.
"Ahi It's beautiful nosegay, Tim, -
he said to the dog. "And they can't
drive us from this, can they, Tim?"
Then rising he YEARLY took up his
march towards the hills on the east, his
footballs making no sound on the springy
path of velvet moss. The sun beat down
fierce and hot, and deeper grew the
flush on the old mans cheek. At times
he muttered wildly to himself, and his
pace grew more unsteady. When he
faltered the dog went on ahead, and
facing about, seemed to urge him on.
Mile after mile was left behind, until at
length a mining camp came in view.
Then the old man stopped.
"Shall we 90 there, Tim? What if
he should be there! Oh! Bandini, you
are cruel, you are cruel!" he cried,
clasping his hands conyulsively.
The dog came back and taking him
by the skirt of his coat tried to pull him
along. The old man staggered forward
until they came in sight of the workers
by the rivers edge. Again he stopped
while the dog tugged at his coat, but in
vain. The sickness upon him and the
heat had sapped his strength. He reel
ed and fell, and as he fell he crushed the
dog to the earth, who, crawling from
beneath the weight that held him down,
turned about and licked his masters
face.
He might have lain there until he
died, but a ministering angel in the form
of woman was the means of keeping
the flame of life in his body for time.
She did not possess the beauty of a
Veronese Madonna nor the tender grace
of an Ophelia. She was middle-aged
and homely; she was dressed in coarse
garments, and she held heavy bucket
in her sun-burned hand. But she had
the heart of a woman, for, going to the
PROSTATE figure of the poor sufferer, she
lifted him in her strong arms and car
ried him to house that was set apart
as a refuge for victims of pulmonary
complaints and acute rheumatism.
The doctor of the camp had just
struck "pay dirt" but he cheerfully
responded to the call for his services,
and through his and the kind-hearted
woman's efforts the sufferer was once
more brought to consciousness.
On the bunk next the old man lay a
man who was down with rheumatism
of the worst kind. This individual was
possessed of fine social qualities, and
no sooner had the physician left the
room than he began to talk.
Welcome to Donovan's Patch,
stranger" said he. 81 would give ye
my hand eff 1 wasn't fixed yer so. |
can't move, so consider yerself shook" ="
He waited a moment for a reply, but
the old man did not answer.
al reckon ye never was tux this yer
way" he went on. "These rheumatic
takes a right powerful hold of man, l
kin tell ye." Still no ,reply from his
neighbOr.
"My names Jim Corkery, at yer
service, an eff yen oblige me with yer
handle, ye'n Oblige me-"
"Tim!'' muttered the old man, and
the dog, who had been crouching in a
corner, jumped upon the rude bed and
laid by his side.
"' Tim'?" said the rheumatic pa
tient. "Well, it hain't bad ter spell
nor easy ter ferget. Wot's ther balance
of it?'' No sound came to his ear but
the heavy breathing of his neighbOr, for
he had fallen asleep.
He amt very sociable," growled
Mr.. Corkery. Cuss these yer sani-
tary regulations! DANCED eff | amt sick
of 'em!"
Darkness came swiftly on, and with il
came the fresh night breeze. As the
gloom grew deeper the wind grew
stronger, until, finally, the rude blast
made the rickety building tremble to its
spine.
"Oh, dang all this!" said Mr.. Cork
cry, as each vibration caused his joints
to ache. "It's enough ter kill man.
Eff | wasn't so tough s'pect I'd gone
to the Venerable Henry long ago"
"Leaves have their time to fall and
flowers to wither at the north winds
BREATH" said the old man in a low
voice.
I'm glad to hear it, said Mr.. Cork
cry, thinking the words were addressed
to himself "But, stranger, how's thet
agoin' ter alter my case?"
You forged the notes, Bandini, and
fastened suspicion upon me. But Ifor'
give you," muttered the old man.
Through the dim light of the flickering
fire upon the hearth the listener could
see him fold dark object to his breast
and lay motionless. The silence grew
oppressive and filled with an indefna.
bic dread; the man forgot hs infirmity
and sprang to the door. "Hey, Bill!''
he cried, "come quick! there's some
thin wrong here!"
There was nothing wrong; for wher
the doctor came in he simply found thai
a summons had been sent from above
and there was one less of the popula
ton of Donovan Patch.-HeGrth G1aC
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