The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-08-09


"0yesl and it's amusing when they
come upon me suddenly. '0hi-it's-
really!-is this Miss StanleyP' And
sometimes up go the eyeglasses! Then
feel-well, as if / should like to freeze
somebody, if | could, for a minute.
Others see me and make believe they
are examining goods; so absorbed are
they that they go clear by me without
looking up, and pass out in the same
way. But such Sights don't trouble
me. find out how much true friend
ship is worth, and who, out of all the
seeming ladies have been in the habit
of meeting, are true and who are false -
"Then you meet some who are true ?''
(" Yes, indeed! Judge Agate's wife,
who always seemed TO me so proud and
distant, came up to me with glowing
face and fairly congratulated me. She
did it like lady, too, and like friend.
There was nothing patronizing about
her. And there were several others to
whom | know my position makes no
difference. They prize me for what |
am. Yet what a price to pay for learn
ing the value of true friendship added
Laura, with deep sigh.
81 met Aggie Doyle to-day, and she
wouldn't speak to me-" said Alice,
Laura's sister, who had come into the
room and overheard the last remark.
"Why shouldn't she speak to me, [
wonderin
"Because your sister is a clerk in her
fathers store" said Laura, somewhat
bitterly. r-
"That's no reason why she should
treat me so, the child replied. ~
"Of course it is not; nor is it any
reason why Lizzie, her eldest sister,
should utterly ignore me. 1 always
liked her so much, too. But to-day she
came into the store and passed me with
such sweeping glance, after had pre-
pared smile and welcome for her.
Mr.. Doyle has been so kind since papa's
death that looked for better treatment
from Lizzie. That, | confess, has
wounded me; and / shall have to meet
her so often!
"But never mind, must remember
my place." she added, rather. bitterly.
al have to work for my living now
but l UiU be proud of it, Goodbye,
old life of lazy easel Goodbye, old
worthless friends! Your GOODNESS can
not hurt the real me; it is only the
worthless young lady of fashion who
feels it, and she is slowly departing this
life.r
So saying, she sat down gaily to the
tea-table, and soon forgot all about the
toll and the Sights of the day,
"Have you filled out all your invita-
tions?" asked Lizzie's eldest brother,
one of the firm of Doyle & Co., some
days after the preceding conversation
took place.
Lizzie was arranging hundred or
more tiny, cream-colored envelopes,
which she tied together with some pref
ty, bright-hued ribbon.
al believe So" she replied, with a
smile. 81 have asked every young
lady of my acquaintance, and l think
our party will be the finest of the season
If papa viii only have the carpets
taken up in the west rooms and the
floors chalked. Rutger will do them for
fifty dollars, and you have no idea how
beautifully he works!n .s,.4
:" think father will not refuse you
that" her brother replied. "I'll speak
to him about it." .
sob, thank you, Al Then I'm sure
he will have it done | have asked him
for so many things that was almost
afraid to ask for more"
By-the-by, have you invited Miss
Laura Stanley?" her brother asked, as
he was going out. '..,
"Of course mott" said Lizzie, with
assured emphasis.
"Ot course not? And pray, why ndP"
he asked, standing still. -.- u.i
"Why, Al, what an ideal She
wouldn't expect it. Our shop-girl-
fathers clerk! l wouldn't have her
for the world"
Then, if you are sure she wouldn't
come, you might have sent her an invi-
tation out of compliment" her brother
replied --
al don't consider her an acquaint-
ance," said Lizzie, ioftily and AIwalk-
ed out of the room with an abrupt shrug
of the shoulders. -...t
Presently her father came in.
Lizzie" he said, 81 particularly
wish you to send anote of invitation to
Miss Laura Stanley"
Papa, you don't mean it," exclaim-
ed Lizzie, chagrined. ..e~-g a..
"Indeed, l do meanit What, slight
the daughter of one of my most cher
ished friends, because she has come
down in the world in money point of
view? I should despise myself for it."
"But, papa, she won't come,n said
Lizzie.
''Never mind whether she will come
or not. Write an invitation. | will
take it to her.
Lizzie sat down, pale and angry, to
write the note After all her Boosting
of having "cut the StanleYs, y il was
very hard to be obliged to invite Laura.
Her cheeks grew hot, as she indited the
polite little missive, while she remem-
bere@ the many times she had openly
ignored herto whom it was addressed.
She would have disobeyed had she
dared-would even have withheld the
note after IL was writtan bad ba,. fo+b "A.