The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-12-13

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the bosom which had grown more soft
and womanly since the baby had nestled
I there.
"The tramp-woman'' stood behind
Miss Grey's chair. As the tall figure in
the doorway stepped into the light,
there came a cry of surprise and terror
from the strange woman, and a smoth-
cred gasping sound from Miss Grey.
And then, for the first time in her life,
Joanna thought her mistress was going
to faint, she looked so white and strick-
en-, all at once.
Miss Grey" said the stranger, in a
voice that trembled pereeptibly, 'per-
haps you recall my name? l was told
that you needed a doctor, and as DIR.
Vincent was absent, came to offer my
services. But / was not aware at the
time that | was about to intrude upon
yo1t, madam"
Miss Grey lifted her head. 81 thank
you," she said-trying to speak in the
regal tone that was her own-"I be-
lieve the danger is past, and can hap
PLY dispense with your services"
She did not ask him to be seated and
he still stood with hat in hand, looking
upon her with an expression half proud,
half pleading. She drew the child to
her breast with a gesture that said, as
plainly as though her lips had spoken
it" You shall not touch her."
The ltramp-woman came forward a
step or two, looking from one to the
other, and spoke, as though the words
90 mo NF-it hnt,f r-oEYia,, II
1.-The child is his, lady"
The stranger looked at her in kind
of stupor of surprise, that gave way in
a moment to eager excitement.
"Martha Elson!" he calculated
quickly; but before he could utter any
thing more, Miss Grey had risen to her
feet, and stood before them with flash
ing eyes.
"What did you say, woman?" she
cried fiercely.
"This is MS baby, ma'am," answer
ed Martha, VINO had grown call,ec; and,
turning to him, she added, " l can prove
it to you, DR.. Westmore. This is the
child that my young mistress gave to me
when she died"
"Tell me the whole story, Martha"
he said brokenly. "God knows l have
sought you far and wide, but never
thought to find you here tonight"
She told him then. Miss Grey had
sunk into her seat again, and Joanna,
across the room, stood at the
back of her mistress's chair. DIR. West
more stood with folded arms to listen,
his face growing paler, and indescriba-
bly, tender and mounful as she proceed
ed The little Emily lay still like fair
carved cherub, her golden hair falling
in shining silken mesh over Miss
Grey's somber dress. Her foster-mother
gazed steadfastly upon the beautiful
face, and her lip trembled.
When the woman had ended her sto- !
ry, Dr. Westmore came nearer and
looked down upon the bowed head
"Theodora," he said, evil you let
me look at my child?"
She lifted her face, and the proud !
eyes fell before his mournful gaze.
care you going to take her from
me?" she faltered.
mo-
"Sit down"
He took the chair on the opposite side
If the hearth. She rose, crossed the floor, |
and laid the childin his arms then turned |
20 Joanna with a feeble, uncertain mo-
ion, and let the strong, faithful creature
cad her from the room.
They left the father alone with his |
'hild for awhile; and when he left the |
house, to return to the village, it was
that he should return in the |
morning.
When he was gone, Miss Grey laid
he still sleeping child in her bed; then
soing to a chest of drawers in one cor
Ter of the room, she took out garment
lfter garment of dainty size and work
letting the long-locked tears
all upon them as she unfolded them.
They were her baby's clothes.
At last she came to the long, fine,
French slip, of spotless white, which .
lad clothed its dainty limbs when first
he looked upon it; the robe which its
-oung, broken-hearted mother had
wrought upon with such loving care and
patience. This, with a few other things
ound in the basket with it, she laid
lside to give to the baby's father.
He came in the morning, when the
.oses were bright on little Emily's
.heeks, and looked for the
irst time into her blue eyes
hat were to him perfect copy of the
oft violet eyes of his innocent "child-
,ride." And almost unconsciously he
ound himself speaking to Theodore
enderly and reverently of that gentle
hid, who, though she never won the
,est love of his manhood, had found in
lin a tender and faithful protector and
riend.
And somehow, in speaking to her of
lis past, he uncovered from the rubbish
# by-gone memories the key to missr-
bile labyrinth of misunderstanding
which had swallowed up their early love
nd hopes; and the veil fell from their
yes, and they saw each others hearts
$ they had been in the first glow of
heir youthful affection.
And 50 the quarrel that had been for
, long was no more, but had vanished
ike a troubled dream. After this Miss
Trey melted and softened into a real
vOman; such woman as Philip West
more and his little Lily-or Emily, as
e still called her-had cause to thank
rod for, ever after. And Joanna and
he tramp-woman lived together in har-
nony, happy in serving the mistress and
title Emily. And Nicodemus watched
he little one grow, and summed himself
n her regard, until he too began to
row young, and actually developed in
o something like plumpness. And all
he household were blessed because of
hat Christmas Gift, which came to them
even as our blessed Christ came to the
world ages ago-in the form of little
hild.-D6morcSt'S Monthly.
HydrOphObia i'm London.
Hydrophobia has of late been extraor-