The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-11-22
LAUREL SPRING.

| was having my fill of fashionable
life. A hand 's-breadth from me there
were diamonds flashing, there were price
less silks cleaning and trailing along a
polished floor, there were lights and
perfume and music, and a splendid
company, smiling and graceful and gra-
cious, were going through the figures
of quadrille. Others were promenad-
ing; others were chatting in gay groups
Just past the window where | stood, a
pair of these radiant creatures swept at
this moment, the lady coquetting with
her jeweled fan. | could have put forth
my hand and touched her as she passed
so near and yet so far apart from me.
A stately picture, set in costly frame,
having nothing in common with such
everyday, toil-worn folks as the rustics
who stood looking on from without, and
among whom Jacob and l, lured by the
lights and music, had stolen up.
1t was the piazza of the grand hotel
at Laurel Spring, and grand ball was in
progress. All, how beautiful it all was !
1t seemed like kaleidoscope of Jewels,
flashing, changing, alluring, as | stood
there at the window looking through.
How should look in just such silk?
how would Jacob appear in just such a
white vest and elegant dress suit! l
looked up at Jacob. He was a tall,
brawny follow, was Jacob, and he was
my husband, and | had got so used to
seeing him in that blue shirt working "a
field that could not fit him in the fash
iOnable rig to my satisfaction.
But | said, ecstatically, "Don't they
look beautiful, Jacob?''
But Jacob answered never a word.
He stood there at my side, looking on
absorbed.
Again the music sounded, and the
splendid movement on the floor kept
time to it. 1t so wrought upon me that
in spite of my Quaker bringing up, |
felt my heart beating quick, and my feet
putting themselves in motion.
"Oh, isn't it beautiful u said again,
clasping my hands by way of steadying
myself.
Its a grand play" said Jacob,
gruflly, land | suppose we've got a
right to applaud it if we like"
"Ah, but Jake, jealous old Jake,
why don't you own up that it's beauti-
ful?"
"Pshaw! " said Jacob, impatiently;
3" see nothing beautiful about it. It's
all a commercial affair-the whole
thing bought and paid for These
shoddy shop-keepers, and office-hold-
ers, and Oil-diggers, and Heaven knows
what all, send their women-folks here to
keep trade going-for nothing else I'M
der the sun but to bargain and haggle
and ogle for places and power and
money"
"Then it's business! - said I, admir-
ingly; for l was determined to lure
Jacob out of his moodiness. "Well, |
never have seen business look so fair
and desirable, Jake-unless, - | added,
"when I've caught a glimpse
of you working aield in your old straw
hat"
"Ah, that's different story-a diff
ferent story indeed, was the grave re-
ply. That's business of another sort,
Matte; grinding hard work, and too
much of it. And this summer, con-
found it! failure at the end of it all. All,
Matte, you don't know what load I've
carried under that old straw hatln
All, but l did. Many a time had I
looked from the quiet doorway and seen
Jacob working afield with a shadow on
his face that was not made by the brim
of that cid straw hat.
He was revolving bitter things now, l
knew, as he stood there a spectator of
the revelry.
Little Matte" said he, presently,
you've as good a right to be there as
the best OF them, my wee woman"
| laughed. / did not want to be there.
and l had no desire to represent COM
mercial interests. But Jacob was grasp
ing my arm with an almost painful orip.
"By heavens!" he said, his gray eve
lighting mp with strange fire, 81
thought so. There's Stephen Risdale
yonderi the villain that robbed me-the
villain that got my land in his grip, with
his mortgages and his truSt-deeds, and
the devil knows what. He's there with
the best of 'em-the man that got fore
closure on me, and left me 10 scrape and
screw with the fag end of all my acres,
and to grind a living out of the roeksl
A gentleman is he, with 4 diamond
stud and a gold chain bought with the
money for which I've been bond-slave