The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-09-27


al am an old fisherman myself, and
believe we of the craft are somewha
Freemasons in our way. The May-H,
are wei on, and you viii have goot
sport towards evening-not before"
he moved towards the rustic gate a,
he spoke, and held it open.
" But really" stammered.
my dear sir" said the old gentle
man, 81 lead such quiet life here tina
a visitor from the great city is most wei.
come. You will be favoring me by
coming in and partaking of our humble
fare, and, besides, you viii get scarcely
any thing at the little public-house be
I low
This to me seemed quite idyllic, but
felt bound to refuse, till a glance at my
host decided me, and almost before ]
had recovered from my establishment ]
was in a coy little room, looking out
upon rustic veranda, clustered with
roses just budding, and being introduced
to "my wife," pleasant, comedy old
lady, with hair like frosted silver.
The breakfast table was spread; there
was the snowy cloth, the glistening cot
fee-pot; at the other end a bright cover
that was sure would reveal ham and
eggs; there was the golden butter, the
Misunderstanding crusty loaf, and a
neat-handed maiden, without any fuss,
placed an extra knife, fork, plate and
chair for me.
1" Tell Miss Laura breakfast is ready
said the old rector "She is in the gar
dem" Then turning to me-''A word
TO put you at your ease" he said, sad
ly. "My poor daughter suffers from a
terrible mental affection. Don't speak
to her. She would not answer; she
rarely even speaks to us"
was quite prepared to see the lady
had encountered in the wood glide into
the room and take her place opposite,
and this she did without noticing me
and though l had been ravenously hun
gry Just before, somehow her presence
so affected me that l made but a poor
breakfast. As we finished the poor girl
rose and glided away again, shortly
afterwards followed by her mother.
"Poor girl" l said involuntarily,
and then started, vexed at my indis-
erection, for the rector laid his hand up
on my arm, saying softly
"Thank you!"
He looked at me, as | Interpreted it,
as if he would like to be questioned, and
ventured to say. ..-
elias she been always sO?'
"No, no." said the old man sadly
"the flower was bright and vigorous
once, but a blight came upon it, and
since then it has faded slowly till i:
dropped as you see it now. Thy king
dom come, thy will be done.'"
He said those last words in an almost
inaudible tone, but l caught two OF
three, and was able mentally to fill the
rest.
81 can hardly think it was that, =" said
the old rector sadly, but she has faded
away ever since this time three years
ago, when a gentleman of about YOU
age was down here fishing"
+" The old story" said bitterly.
"No, my friend, no; he was staying
at a little farm close by, and asked leave
to fish, just as you have, and l showed
him a trifle of hospitality. believe
him to have been a gentleman in every
sense of the word, and at times think
he must have made strange impression
on my poor child. He was only here
for three days, and we have never seer
him since. Perhaps it is only fancy,
and my poor girls ailment may proceed
from other causes. But come. L vii
show you the water"
Leading the way the old gentleman
tooG me across the sloping meadows
and left me at last by as beautiful ;
trout stream as l ever saw.
There he said, 81 won't stop, but
if there is no sign of rise, come anC
have a bit of lunch. We shall dine at 2
so as to leave you free for the evening
when the trout are sure to come on"
Before | could utter a word of protes
he was gone; and then, with that deli
cious trout-strcam before me, my tackle
in my hand, and the May-llies darling
up and down, l, an ardent fisherman
forgot all, and sat down upon an ole
stump, trying to bring up old memories
"a half-forgOtten story told me by
quaint Ralph barley, my old friend anC
companion, who had told me to 90 anC
/ try this water; old Ralph, the misogy
mist, the dry, grumpy old fellow, whC
had told me one night in his chamber
in the Temple, in one of his rare bursts
of confidence, as we sat at the oper
window smoking, how he had once seer
a girl whom he could have loved witt
all his heart, but poverty, dread of re
fusal and moral cowardice had KEEP
/ him back.
al have got it," 1 said suddenly
after sitting there for quite an hour
and jumping up looked at my watcl
and the leaf of a timetable. Yes,
could just do it-catch the train up
But could get by the rectory unseen
/ tried and found another way acros
to the lane by which l came; and max
ing all the haste 1 could, just pantet
up to the little station rs the up-trail
crawled in. Two hours later l was il
Ralph's room, where he was porin!
over a dry brief.
"Hullo!' he said, looking up.
thought you were off fishing"
eyes" said, putting on the gros
deceiver; al did run down to the, plac
you told me Of"