The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-05-25
Washingtsn's LOFe-Letters.

/ =
man about tF9-snd-forty, a patriot,
and a worshiper Of The man who be-
came the father, of this part of the con-
tinent. He early became infused with
the Centennial spirit, aud organized
Centennial Club in his village. m
The other day q sleek-loOking man
stepped into Blackstock's store, and ask
ed for the proprietor 5aUG eQ't
slam he, said George Washington.
"The President of the Centennial
ClubPn
" Yes, sir"
60 Can | speak to you privatelypn
"CertainIy, sir; this way to my desk. "
When the two had reached the desk
the man unlocked small valise, and
drew forth a pack of dingy-looking
documents.
"Sir," said he, a"my name is Gusts.
You know that Washington married in
to the Custis family. Well, before he
married Martha Custis he wrote her a
good many letters, which are here"
Blackstock opened his eyes and
started
"What, sirP''
"These are the identical letters"
''You don't mean to say that these
are George Washington's love-lettersF F
cried Blackstock.
81 don't mean to say ant thing else" "
replied the man, blandly. ''Look here,
and he opened one of the letters. "See
the well-known letters-the initials, |
mean-of the immortal Washington.
Listen to this postscript: dearest Mar
tha, when we are married yoa shall not
forget the brave Custis, whom you have
loved There, that is Washington's s
soul speaking - &
'But-but-"
''No butts, my dear Blackstock; the
sight of those old letters is enough to
make a patriot fill up, and l hate to
part with them"
"Are they for sale?"
eyes. never expected to part with
them; but the fact is that am obliged
to-. | have clung to them through thick
and thin; but man must have money
when he has no friends, and circum-
stances force me to part with the let
ters have carried for twenty years.
"What are they worth?" asked Black
stock, eagerly.
"What are they worth" exclaimed
the man. "Why, sir, the Centennial
Commissioners would give me $4,000
for them; they are worth their weight
in gold, but must sell them nOy. Give
me two hundred dollars, and take the
valuable relics"
Blackstock thought two hundred dol
lars for Washington's love-letters, in
these Centennial times, was not much,
and so he sought his safe and drew out
the amount. -.
"Good-bye, old letters" said the
man, mournfully. "May the world
never know that Jehosaphat Gusts was
forced to do this deed. BlackstOck,
never, never breathe aloud my base
ness.n f H isNi.
Blackstock. said {" never" and went
home with the letters. He wanted to
show Mrs B. the prizes, but she was
absent, therefore he tucked the letters
away in drawer, and returned to the
store.
By-and-by the hour of tea saw him
leave his desk and hurry down the
street.
!. Mrs. B. was still absent, and the
kitchen was cold. What could it all
mean? She had never failed before.
and he was resolving to look over the
new purchase until Mary's return, when
his eye caught sight of a piece of paper
/ living on the table. The next moment
he had read it, and his face was white
J as ashes: ..f F|-f
BidckstOck: My dream is broken. 1Ot
{ NAV 90 to the ''dearest Martha OF thost
letters in your bureau drawer, and 1 VII
go-I don't know where. o, ungratetu
man. [ have never shared your love; bu
that mink whose name is CustiS has won u.
= Go to her, and be her dear &c. W. tht
rest of your deceiying life. Never cross lny
path again, and let your dearest Martha
keep her distance.
YOUR UNtOvED WIFE.
Thus read the terrible letter, anC
Blackstock tainted.
When he came to read the letters, he
discovered that they were forgeries, no
r worth a cent, and then he said some
) words that might be spelled with dashes
: The swindler was out of his reach
r and his wife has not returned. Black
: stock has resigned the Presidency O
: the Centennial Club and is looking for
: the scoundrel who peddles Washing
+ toms love-letters. l