The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-03-01

burst forth:
1t lie the Rector's daughter
And she has grown 80 dear, SO dear,
That would be the jewel
That trembles in her ear.
"DOn't be absurd, Tom," interrupt
ed the lady. "You are a gallant gen.
tleman, truly, to see a female in dis
tress and not aid her."
"Have / not offered six times at least,
May, and been refused?"
"And viii again, sir. This is the
most lovely piece of holly have seen
this season, and l am determined that
no other fingers than mine shall touch
it until give it to my dear Jack when
he comes this evening. They don't
grow holly in India, do they, Tom?"
"No, think not"
Then It viii be welcome offering
to an English heart. Oh! how glad,
how very glad, l shall be to see the
dear old fellow"
ali you speak so enthusiastically,
May, pom my word l shall be jealous"
remarked the gentleman.
"Jealous-you! And Jack? Nom
sense. Why, Tom, l love him like
brother. We were brought up, you
know, as children together"
$50 he told me, May, when we met
in India, and he gave me the letter of
introdution to the Rector. Indeed"
proceeded Thos. Mildmay, stin inspect
ing the gathering of the holly, which
persistently chung to its parent stem,
"he spoke so necessarily about you
that [ fancied -"
"Pray what, sir?"
"That there existed q deeper affec-
ton than a brothers. and sisters,
May"
(which shows how you were deceived.
Talk Of women jumping at hasty con-
clusionsl Men are a thousand times
worse. There, after all, you must lend
me your knife, Tom; the branch will
not break, it is so tough"
Thomas Midway produced it again,
offering his services, which, notwith-
standing the obstinacy of the holly,
were again rejected.
"Cut upward, not downward, May"
he cried, suddenly stepping forward;
as the knife is sharp"
The warning came too late; the keen
blade had flashed through the tough
flores, and penetrated Mays white,
slender finger.
1t was not very serious cut, but
sufficiently so TO cause the blood to leap
forth. The cry she uttered was echoed
by her companion, whose arm quickly
encircled her dainty waist as he caught
her hand in his.
go dearesti" he exclaimed in con-
Germ, "why Gid you not permit mel"
Because" answered May, little
pale, 81 said no one should touch this
branch but myself, Tom, and no one
shall. But scotland she held the holly
towards him-s'there is blood upon it,
and it is bad omen"
lie glanced at the bough, and truly,
fallen on it, as bright as the berries
themselves, were the crimson drops.
bad omen, May!" he laughed,
wrapping her wounded finger in his
handkerchief. "What childishness!
Why, You are absolutely pale. 'Pon
my word, your concern for Jack is al
ready making me iealous.n
Don't let it do that, Tom," she said
bravely.
why not?" he smiled.
Because, Tom, you are, l believe,
the best tempered man ever knew,
but"
"ButP" he questioned, fondly regard
ing her.
Il am sure you loveme so truly that
were you jealous of any one, I imagin,
that you would not be answerable fol
your actions" s.-
lie caught her in his arms and press
ed kiss on her smooth cheek.
= My darling, you are right" he re
piled gravely, in his turn. elf
thought l should lose you, or anothel
was seeking to win you from me,
think should either kill him or my
self"
Now, you are talking pure non
sense Tom, dear. Let us go in" sh,
laughed, and, taking his arm, they
moved over the crisp, frosty lawn t
the quaint Old rectory, very Jack il
the green of IVY which encircled If,
highest gables. But, even during tn,
embrace, May had keptthe holly-branel
from coming in contact with Thoma
Mildmay, and did SO still. Was this Al
omen toop