The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-03-22
PRIDE AND ITS FALL.

ats fine prospect in life for Mary
Moreau," said Patty Dexter, with a
sigh.
"Ohl i dare say" said Mrs. Pendas-
set, brusquely. "But I've no patience
with girl who allows herself to be SC
foolishly elated by a mere piece of good
luck"
Mrs. Pendasset was white-locked
old lady with black eyebrows, suspi.
cion Of beard and a deep bass voice,
and when she said any thing, it sounded
very much in earnest indeed.
81 think Mary is little conceited, -
saio Patty.
"Think!" echoed Mrs. Pendasset.
"There's no sort of doubt about it. A
good deal conceited, you had better say.
Never mind, Patty, she's engaged to a
fine gentleman, with white hands and
broad-cloth clothes, and your young
man works in carpenters shop ~
patty WINGED little at this, for she
was in the habit of calling Mark Rob-
inson, her aflianced lover, ga builder y f;
"but give deal more for your chance
of happiness in married life than for
Mary Moreau's. And to think how reck-
lessly she flung James Bennett over for
this fine new lover of hers. Well, y
with long breath, and a slight eleva-
ton Of the Roman nose, " she'll live to
be sorry forit yet, or l am no prophet. "
Patty Dexter went on with her sew
ing in silence.
She was making up a pretty dove
colored cashmere dress to be married
in, for Patty was not one of the gilded
daughters of luxury who can afford a
different toilet for every occasion.
In her case the bridal dress would
have to ofiiciate as traveling-dress also
and best dress for year afterwards.
There was only a black silk and a
blue alpaca besides in her simple trous-
seau, and she could not help remem-
bering, with a transitory pang of envy,
the exquisite white silk, thick and soft
as a magnolia leaf, which Mary Mo-
reau had shown her, as the dress she
was to be married in.
Mark Robinson was very nice; until
within a month Patty had imagined
him perfection. But why couldn't
Marx have been a grand gentleman,
like Mary's loverP
Mrs. Moreau kept boarders, and Mary
earned her own living in Nine. Poll
Ions millinery.
At least she had done so until heI
blue eyes and dimples attracted the at
tention of Mr.. Guy st. Clair, who had
temporarily engaged her mothers best
rooms-and now the pretty milliner's
girl was lifted out of her sphere al
once.
"Mary, you'd never give me up?'
said poor James Bennett, who was una
bic to believe his own ears when he
heard of Mary's engagement.
Don't be silly, Mr.. Bennett" SAID
Mary, with dignity.
4" But you promised me, Mary. AND
you've been wearing nay ring for s
year." pleaded the young man.
"Oh, that was all nonsense" saiC
Mary, tossing her pretty little head
There's your trumpery ring bach
again if you want it! And of course
no one attaches any Importance to 4
boy -and-girl Irritation" -...
"I meant it, Nary"
"The more fool you," retorted saucl
Mary.
Aud that was all the consolation
James Bennett could obtain from hi
tickle lady-love.
Mrs. Moreau was hardly less delight
ed than her daughter with this unex
pected dawn of good luck.
She was a silly, soft-hearted matron
who had read good many novels an,
acquired, in spite of her so years O
poverty and struggling privation, YER
little actual knowledge of the world tina
was around her.
81 always knew that you was mad
for lacy, Mary" said Mrs. Moreau
"And you shall have that hundre,
pounds Uncle John left US, for you
outfit. 1 intended it to refurnish n
house, but it amt likely shall go o.
having boarders after you're Marie,
TO rich gentleman like Mr.. St. Clair.
And Mary, unconsciously selfish i
heI great happiness, took the famil
fortune without once thinking of tn
three younger girls rho were badly O
for shoes, and wore decidedly shabb,
shawls to and from school.
"0f course, when am rich, 1 ca
give them plenty of things, T" said Mar
10 herself. "And mamma shall com
and live with me, and the girls sha
go to a regular boarding-school."
And Mr.. St. Clair was certainly, s
Mrs. Moreau delightedly declared, &c
real gentleman, as thought nothing
fresh pair of kid gloves every weel
and used Cologne water!"
He talked vaguely about taking Mar
on the Continent for the winter, an
alluded to his villa at Brighton and tn
house he meant to buy in Belgravi:
asked Mary whether she would pref,
basket-phaeton, with cream-colore
ponies, or a landau, and expressed b
opinion that no lady should ever /
without two India shswls at the yer
least.
And, to cap the climax, he cam
home one day with velvet case in h
hand and tossed it, debonnairlv. INF
his fateee's lap.
"For you, Mary" said he.
She opened it with varying color ar
lips all wreathed with smiles.