The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-02-15

"DoP" said Max, repeating the word
after his sister Milly. "You must con-
fess, of course" ......
"Do you think nanny IL feel very
badly about ftp" Milly asked, in painful
concern.
Mammyi" Max said, caricaturing
her tone in ludicrous way. 81 should
say that after the announcement you've
just made, you'd better stop your baby
ishness and be a woman, or make
b'lieve you're one"
"DOn't laugh at me, Max. If you
only did know how unhappy ami"
Unhappy! Why, L always thought
a body in your fix was happier than a
clam"
"Of course I'm happier; only man.
nay and papa, you know. I'm so afraid
about them"
"Well, the quicker you own up the
better, in my opinion. There's father
now, coming up the walk. III go out
and send him in here to you"
"Oh, don't, Maxi" gasped the sister,
"till can think of what to saw
But Max didn't hear, or didn't heed
her appeal.
The brother and sister were twins,
just turned fifteen. Considering this
last named fact, the disclosure Milly
had just made to him was startling.
"Oh, how shall beginP" Milly ask
ed, in agony, as she heard her fathers
step approaching the library, where
she sat, white and nervous. elbow can
ever tell him?" she continued, as the
fathers face, care-lined to the point OF
severity, appeared at one door, while
at the other, as she felt conscious,
Max's great wicked eyes were watching
her through a crack.
She sat on one side of the study
table; the father seated himself at the
other side, and looked straight in her
face. She was expected to open the
think of for beginning. So she Just
sat there twirling ring on her finger,
until suddenly remembering what ring
it was, and how she had come by it,
she hid it under the other hand.
"WellPn said the father, after 9
lengthy waiting, "Max said you had
something to say to me-"
"Yes." She distinctly heard hel
tongue rattle as she said this; it was SC
dry. Sire fumbled in her apron pocket
for a handkerchief. She wiped hel
mouth. Then ensued another dead 81
lence, during which the handkerchie
was pulled at by teeth and nails in {
way to make rags of one not new and
strong.
"I'm-" What was the matter? Sht
looked guilty as thief. 1t seemed t.
the father that he could feel the hea
from her glowing face.
"What is ftp" he asked again, in /;
voice not authoritative, not encourag
ing, not plying, not any thing tina
limited his minds attitude.
Milly strung out four books that haC
been piled on the tablets end, and i'm
mediately replied them. She smoothet
out her apron; she pinched down tn
corners of her linen collar, and reknot
ted her blue tie; she felt of her BROW
braids, pushed in some out-creepirj
hairpins, adjusted her tuek-comb, man
ipulated numberless buttons and hook
and eyes, re-pinned her belt, fidgete,
ard tidgeted, glanced to where Ma
was, then looked AZ her fingers, men
tally remarking that they were YER
long fingers, and wishing from tn
bottom Of her heart that she needn
tell papa what the matter was.
"Please, my dear, state why you hav
sent for me-"
"Iwant to tell you that am" Sh
stopped to clear her throat for that fins
terrible word. Max snickered; she wa
sure she heard hun.
The whole house was again Silent 3
death.
Gam whatP" asked the father, no,
with some impotence, and some res
anxiety. al can't believe you've don
any thing TO be ashamed of. You'y
always been q good womanly girl, deal
and if you're in trouble, I'm sure it's n
fault of yours. Say frankly what 70
have to say"
Grateful for these kind words, Mil
would have rushed to her fathers arm
and made her confession at once, hs
. she not seen Max, with handkerchief
his eyes, shaking with mock sobs. 81
began to feel outraged. Whatever 81
might say, Max shouldn't hear it. 81
hitched her chair closer to the tabl
and thus closer TO her father, and sal
in half whisper
81 don't know how to tell. fe
you'll think it's dreadful"
Then with sudden brilliant inspir
ton, she called, "Max, you come
and tell.n
mus exposed, Max stopped his so
bing, stuffed his handkerchief in b
pocket, entered the room, and beg,
the explanation: rLl
"Wel, yoa- know, it's this wa
Milly, she's always been soft on Ca
Spinwell."
MAX, that isn't truei" Milly erie
in angry remonstrance.