The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-02-22

J once / threatened to send them both
} away, and warned Janet that another
: offense would entail instant dismissal
J on herself at any rate. 1t had no effect.
She only waited till dark instead, and
then slipped out, keeping us waiting for
tea or preventing Felice from shutting
up for the night while she was rambling
about the farm quarters philandering
with Tom.
Even Emily said that for the girls
own sake she feared it would be better
to send her away and wait for the chance
of another turning up.
Fate or Providence, however, ar
ranged otherwise. The winter was set
ting in with an amount of cold unusual
even in Canada, and as strong as Janet
was, she was not strong enough to
brave with IMMUNITY constant rushes
out of the hot kitchen into the bitter
evening frost, to stand about, often with
arms and head uncovered, talking to
her lover in the yard. One evening she
came in looking flushed and speaking
hoarsely. Before morning she was dam
gerously i'll.
1t was an attack of bronchitis, COM
bined with Inflammation of the lungs,
and so bad that for nearly five weeks
she never left her room. For the first
two DAYS of her illness Tom Carter
lounged about in rather an aimless
way, and came once or twice into the
kitchen to inquire for her. On the
third he turned his attentions to Felice,
and before the end of fortnight Felice
came to my wife and told her very
prettily and modestly that she and Car
ter were engaged to be married, and
would only wait till he had had time to
get his cabin finished and furnished.
"And JanetP" Emily asked, rather
shocked.
"Jeanettep )" and Felice smiled supe-
riorily. "Tom was only amusing him
self with Jeanette. She also amuses
herself, and with all men, voyez-Uous,
Madame?" ..
Who told her don't know. 1t was
the day after she had first come down
stairs, and l was in the hall giving
some directions to one of the laborers,
half-silly creature, and one of Janet's
most slavish and i'll used admirers, when
the girl came to US. Her face, which
seemed shrunk to half its usual size,
was white as paper, and her voice, still
husky and weak from illness, sounded
hardly intelligisle.
"Lend me your clasp-knife, will
you?" she said, her breath coming in
heavy pants between each word, and
her lips shaking like leaves in hot
wind. Sam, at whom she looked, only
stared foolishly, and asked her what
she wanted it for. Her answer made
me start.
"To kill Liz. Look here, MASTER"
coming nearer to me and gazing up
wildly into my face, her black eyes big
and hollow enough now; "did you
know she'd been an took Tom from
me? They said so an didn't believe
it. l couldn't believe it, even on her
her who knew all along. But it's
true. i heard him myself tell her now
this minute in the yard; as he'd only
been playing with me to take me down
a bit. Playing with me! Good God,
master, do lend me knife an I'll take
her down. Aye, that will. Do, master,
pleased"
The girl seemed out of her mind.
Her thin hands were burning hot and
clenched; her big, wasted limbs trem-
bling from head to foot. Emily came
out and tried to soothe and take her
away. All her persuasions, however,
could not damp Janet's rage for ven
geance, and Felice, really frightened,
kept out of her way with care, and slept
with the dairyman's wife at night to be
out of the house.
The following day happened to be
Sunday and Felice, who had kept the
kitchen door locked all the morning,
obtained leave to 60 out for walk as
soon as the early dinner was over.
Naturally, Carter, was going with her
but, not approving of his volatility,
had forbidden him the house for the
present.
Two hours later, "Silly Sam," as
they called the softly, came into the
kitchen where Janet was sitting,
crouched over the fire, and coughing
dismally.
"Felice is out VII Tom," he said
shortly.
Janet made no answer, only sunk bel
head lower over the blaze and clenched
her hands viciously.
i, "She amt a-coming back no more
either" he went on.
"Don't lie," retorted Janet hoarse
ly; ''she's only, sleepin' out for fear o
me; but I'll be>even with her yet. See
: just!" and she clenched her hand:
, tighter.
"Never you trouble" said Sam
grinning, sam give us your hand. ia
net, for I've been even wi her for you. >
She lifted her head and stared won.
deringly at him, while the triumphant
grin deepened on his unmeaning face
= "Aye, she won't vex you again, the
IN
sly polecat! Ye know that stream
atween here an Bill Dairyman's hut
Janet? Now the ice is thick, us cross
es straight over that instead o. going
round by the bridge. There's quite
u path worn it the snow across it."
!. cam what's that to me, mooncalfP'
u "Don't zee now, Janet! don't e,
+ furry 'un, an I'll tell ye. They wen
: over that way going out, an well tn
e ice bore them; but it amt so thick bu