The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-08-23

only tne Sequei 20 another, ~ was lun-
cheon-time long before Mr., Surrey had
finished the recital. On shipboard one
naturally grows into closer acquaintance
ship in a briefer season than would hap
pen elsewhere A handful of people
drifting about together, cut off from
communication with the rest of Christ
endom, contract the habit of relying on
each other for comfort and entertain
ment, and become more intimate with
each others resources than would hap
pen in years of social interceurse on
terra trina. Thus Mr.. Surrey came to
know a great deal about Miss Selden's
thoughts and habits of mind, the senti-
ments she expressed, the opinions she
formed of men and things, and he took
a great deal for granted. In the mean
time they spent their leisure hours talk
ing about every thing, from Utopian
plans for the amelioration of the present
condition of the poor, to theories con-
corning a future existence and the in
habitants of the farthest planet. They
playedromping games with the children,
cards with Mr.. and Mrs, Bruce, and
chess by thenlsels es; they even compos-
ed a little farce, and acted il in the sa-
loon, with the captain and mate and the
Bruce family for audience. Mr.. Surrey
read aloud during long afternoons, and
ehatted in UNDERTAKES during long twi-
lights, or sang her little love songs full
of tender sentiment and regret, while
they watched the shining wake of the
ship. Sometimes they sighted another
craft, which, like a ghost, trembled an
instant upon the s'far horizons RIM"
and vanished; sometimes they spoke a
homeward-bound ship, and felt as if the
strange ships crew and passengers were
dear friends whom they would like to
hug; sometimes storm crept upon
them like a painted Pawnee, and
shook every stout cable like a ribbon,
and again they swung in ATTITUDES of
calm, and watched strange fish dart like
sunbeams through the sea; and during
these seasons Mr.. Surrey and Miss Sell
den must have grown either desperately
weary or desperately interested una
wares-seasons during which the flight
of sea-bird, the plunging of some rest
less sea-monster, the floating fragment
of some wreck, was an episode and an
excitement.
"Dear met" yawned Mrs. Bruce;
seven water-spout or tornado would
be a welcome change. This is utter
stagnation, isn't it, Mr.. Surrey?"
ado you find it so, Miss Selden?" he
asked, RELOCATING his reply to that young
lady. "Would you welcome the sea-
serpent, or a piratical crew swooping
down upon us from no matter where?"
Ill shall be very glad when we
reach Calcutta said Serena. In the
meanwhile 1 am not unhappy.
al don't believe we shall ever reach
Calcutta" groaned Mrs. Bruce. 81
think we are Just like that phantom
ship which sails on and on for ever and
ever"
81, for one, shouldn't obiect,r said
Surrey, lightly.
Certainly not. You are going round
the world pour passer le temps merely.
Heavens! l can't understand any one
choosing this everlasting voyage Of his
own will for pleasure. It's a perfect
marvel to me that Serena consented to
Gomez ~ ,..ra1 ----.H ---.r
"And a perfect godsend to me,' in
terpolated Surrey. .s-a...
$50 some other people ought to
think. But wonder you're not more
impatient to reach Calcutta, Serena; l
do indeed" ..r.
"All the impotence in the world
wouldn't carry me there a day earlier. "
"Well, / wasn't so philosophic at
your age" as if that were feather in
her cap of peculiar luster; and taking
up her novel, d" Here's a goose of he
roine who doesn't know which of her
two lovers she prefers. | would like to
set her adrift with them on avoyage like
this ~
And the consequence would be that
she would hate both, you think?" ask
ed Mr.. Surrey. q
The following twilight Miss Selden
and Mr.. Surrey were pacing the deck
together, and he was opening his heart
to her-a sanctuary always pretty Sc
curely closed to most people-telling
her of his boyhood and his travels, his
first Irritation, and his first hobbledehoy
love-making. r. .l
"And where will you 60 after you
have done up Japan?'' she asked; ''and
after you have made the worlds tour,
will you not long for more worlds, like
Alexander?"
"After all, may not 60 to Japan
he began, drawing a camp-stool beside
the deck chair she had just taken, 81
it depends-it depends a great deal
upon-yoursef, Miss Serena" he said
boldly, and; leaning forward to look in
to her eyes.
"Upon me, Mr.. Surrey?" repeated
Serena. Chow can possibly have any
thing to do with ftp"
alt all depends upon-upon-wheth
er you could consent to love me, Mis-
Serena, as have learned to love you.
g Love you, Mr.. Surrey2n rising anC
Withdrawing the hand he had taken il
his own, while the light that broke il
upon the proceedings OF the last few
months showed her no fiattering pictur
of herself in the attitude of a flirt, ''Lov
youP Oh, Mr.. Surrey, don't you know
Has Mr.: Bruce never told you2 Dom
you know chat 1 am going out to Cal
cutta to be married?"
"To be married." repeated Mr.. Sur
rev, in a stifed voice" to be married
I orive Won nv word Miss Selden, that