The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-07-05

My solitary life had made me rather
scornful of the outside life surrounding
me- and | felt that / had become very
distant and reserved to all, save Laura
She was now making me visit, and il
was on a rainy afternoon, while auntit
was taking her daily nap, that l almost
startled her by that =" Never!"
" But, Katherine, DEAR" she replied
al know how all your life you have
longed for something to love. Would
not a noble husband supply that place
in your heart?''-
Z" Laura, what mean is simply this
insist that a woman's life can be per-
fectly happy without marriage, and
mean to prove it. l should wish for
nothing more, if could have little
gem of a home, and all the pets l could
care for. Auntie has plenty of money,
but she is afraid of horse, dislikes dogs
and cats of every color and kind, and is
distracted by canary birds thrilling
notes. All these thingsI love. have
always wanted them. should be so
happy if / possessed them. u ~
II don't think so, Kate. know you
very well, and | am sure that there is a
large place in your heart that will be
lonely and aching sometimes, and need
the 'old, old story that you are so tired
of reading about. Have you forgotten
Harry?"
There was a spice of mischief in the
question, but, somewhere in that queer
heart of mine, fine string vibrated
just enough to send flush to my cheeks,
as l thought of the picture and faded
flowers in the tiny box upstairs. But 1
answered, laughingly:
Nonsense! That was only silly
affair of three years ago: Then he went
to Germany to study, the family taking
up their abode in Paris. We had a
slight disagreement the week before he
sailed, and / would not say goodbye
He wrote once, but did not reply He
is nothing TO me-" declared, bravely.
Laura looked askance at me out of
those truthful eyes. walked across the
room to her chair, and, leaning over
her shoulder, said, with a kiss:
"You charming unbeliever. Wait
until you visit me in the delightful para
disc you are so skeptical about. There
you shall see me, the personiication of
earthly bliss, surrounded by flowers,
books, and an array of pets, from a
pony to a canary bird. How you will
sigh over your domestic tribulations. ="
ave will watt answered Laura.
1t is two years later. am sitting
alone in the old reception room. All
alone in the house with the ex-
ception of the waiting woman. l
hear her slow step in the kitchen.
Aunt Harriet is dead Only
yesterday we followed her remains to
the family vault. L am glad did what
1 could to make her last years pleasant.
I sit here alone, the same strange crea-
ture that | always have been, with the
same strange heart. The house is very
lonely. Do | think of the picture in the
tiny box? What is that to me? l am
proud, self-reliant as ever, bold to all
but Laura, who still gives me a corner
of her heart. Still do l build my air.
castle that ere many months will be full
filled.
Still a month later, and l have drop
ped letter in the Office for Laura,
among whose closely written pages are
these lines:
am about to sell this place, and buy the
old Cameron property. Such a magnificent
stretch Of land, with its giant trees. 1t has
been for sale for a great while, and the old
house itself is fast yielding to times decay
ing influences. l. shall have it torn down,
and my ideal home erected. Ere long, you
will be called upon to observe the practical
veriication Of my pet theory.
A year rolls around, and finds me sit
ting in my phaeton at the village rail-
way station, waiting for the train which
will bring me Laura and her baby.
Womanly Laura! wife and mother. VIII
she envy ny happiness? For of course
am happy. Ought not any woman to
be happy, who is proving that she can
live without the old, old story of low
ing and being loved? A woman who
has never a thought of tiny box, con-
tanning picture and a few faded
flowers.
The train is coming. My beautiful
snow-white pony pricks up his ears at
the whistle. The bright-eyed Esqui-
maux dog, with long, silky hair sits up
on the seat beside me, in proud display
of his pink satin collar; while my noble
Newfoundland, Bruno, comes now and
then, with joyous bark, to receive a ca
reSs.
The train has arrived and gone, and /
drive away from the confusion of the
station, with Laura and Laura's baby
at my side.
"Aren't they beautiful" L said af-
ter while, glancing at my pony and
the two frisking dogs.
Laura's great blue eyes looked into
mine, and she said:
"Oh, Katharine! If these things sat
isfy, and make you happy, | pity you.
| would not give my baby for all the
dogs and ponies in the world"
And the mother-eyes gazed at the
small, precious bundle in her lap.
There was a brief pause between US,
and then we turned into the grounds
about my home. While Laura was lost
in admiration we arrived at the house,
which was an odd arrangement of We
randas, sbay-windows, balconies, and
vine-covered porticos. We alighted on
the terrace, and as the man led away the
pony, we entered my abode.
a. NXr,1...,,~ J.,I;,,Sr - so;I sg+, 4I,o