The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-05-10

4
sparkling eyes, when a turn in the path
suddenly brought them face TO face with
Mrs. Marks and Fanny Kennaway
Even then things might have turned
out well, If William had only been true
) TO himself. But there was Fanny in her
shabby everyday gown, and the bonnet
that had gone completely out Of fashion
and there was the superb Julia, hanging
on PARIS arm, and quizzing his be-
trothed with naughty eyes. The worst
part of the. young mans nature came
uppermost at that moment. He gave
one quick glance at Fanny and then
swept on, without bestoMing even bow
of recognition on the little dressmaker.
Well,n said Mrs. Marks, drawing a
long breath, g only wonder that the
earth don't open and swallow him upa''
Fanny took her lovers desertion in a
very quiet way. She knew that the end
had come, and did not try to get any
comfort out of dead hope. When the
fire has gone out, she is a wise woman
who sets herself torake away the ashes,
and clean out the CRATE, even when she
knows her kearth-stone will be cold for
many a year afterwards. Our little
dress-maker went on sewing and snip
ping as usual, saying never word about
her trouble.
Meanwhile the household burdens
were frightened. Mr.. Fenwick wrote
kind reply to his sisters letter, and en-
closed a sum large enough to supply her
with all that she required "You can
get yourself a new gown now, Fanny"
said her mother cheerfully. ." 1t has
made my heart ache to see you wearing
that old gray thing, | like my girl to
be well dressed
Brave Fanny! If sick heart wills
pered that it didn't matter what she
wore nowadays, she never needed the
voice. She chose the material with as
much care as if it had been the stuff for
her wedding dress, and set about MAX
ing it up in her best style. When it was
finished, Mrs Marks came in, and reso-
lutely cleared away the signs of work,
and then sent Fanny up stairs to put on
the new gown and go out walking in it.
1t was getting late in the afternoon
when Fanny returned from her stroll.
1t seemed to her, as she entered the little
parlor, that it was full of people; her
mother sat by the window, looking nerv-
Gus and fearful, yet happy withal; and
by her side was an elderly gentleman,
talking earnestly. A little apart from
these two was young man, sitting at
the table and turning over the pages of
a little volume of poems which had been
a gift from William Parrto his affianced
wife.
Both gentlemen rose quickly as Fanny
came in, and the elder introduced HIM
self at once.
81 am your uncle, Stephen Fenwick,
Fanny" he said, taking her hands.
give me kiss, my dear. You are like
the daughter have lost. This is my
son, your cousin Walter"
The young man came forward, and
asked if Fanny were willing to make
friends with an unknown relative His
manner was natural, his voice very gen
tie, and Fanny felt at once that he treat
ed her with as much Difference as if she
had been a peeress instead of a poor lit
tie dressmaker. What he thought of her
she did not learn till long afterward; but
certain it is that the image of 4 sweet,
pale girl, in a brown dress, haunted
Walter Fenwick's mind for many a day.
Your uncle wants us to 90 and live
with him, Fanny" said Mrs. Kennaway,
TREMENDOUSLY. :" He is widower, and
has only housekeeper to take care Of
him. Shall we go?'
"Will you come and be my child,
Fanny?" asked Mr. Fenwick. She
turned and looked steadfastly at him
for moment with her eyes full of tears
And then, slowly, and gratefully, she
answered yes. az
Only fortnight after Mr.. Fenwick's
visit, the inhabitants of George Street
ran to their doors to catch a last glimpse
of the Kennaways. The two women
came very quietly out of the little house,
and entered the fly that waited for them
and their luggage Mrs. Marks waved
a fearful farewell; her husband stood on
the pavement, smiling broadly to hide
his real feelings, and then the vehicle
ratified away, and the folks went indoors
again, saying that they supposed the
rich uncle was going to make lady of
little Fanny.
And how was it ; meanwhile, with
William PART? His intimacy with those
gay friends, the Derrys, had come to an
end with the summer. Julia got tired
of his attentions and snubbed him; her
elders said to each other that young
PARIS frequent visits were becoming
quite nuisance; even Tom at last gave
him the cold shoulder. They were a
heartless set, he said to himself, feeling
abominably ill-used. And then it sud
denly occurred to him that he was only
getting the very same measure that he
had melted to another.
1t serves me right for treating Fan
ny badly, he unused. "She was worth
hundred Julias And she is such. a
good, forgiving little thing, that / al
most think she'd make it up with me if
went back to her again.
1t was a chilly evening" in late autumn
when William Parr once more took his.
way to George Street. A host of old
recollections came crowding around him
as he.drew near Fanny's home; he be
gan to wonder how he could have stayed
away from her SO long, and to be eager
for the first glimpse of her sweet face.
He knew just how she would look his
fancy ,liofllrnd tho srlov and brtohtnaSs