The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-08-02
Wrecked in Port.
It was the wild midnight.

1t was the wild midnight.
The tame midnight was off watch and
had gone TO bed three hours before.
A storm brooded over the eastern
heavens. 1t was thoroughbred brood
storm. Hop brewed, for it was coming
from the yeast.
Hawk-eye Greek was rolling tumultu-
ously in its sandy bed. Bugs, probably.
Or it might have been nervousness.
A 1.-THE form covered at the garden
gate. Many a manly form has been
coward at just such gates, ever since
summer nights and gnats and beauty
and love and June bugs were invented.
"He does not COME" she murmured
softly, as she peered into the darkness.
81 can not see him. l will call him.
She was wrong. If she couldn't see
him, she certainly couldn't call him
with the same hand. A manly step
came scraping down the sidewalk. 1t
was Desmond.
She threw open the gate and the next
instant he clasped in his great, strong
arms twenty-seven yards of foulard,
three yards of rouching. seven dozen
Breton buttons, and pompadour
panier as big as a dog-house. 1t was all
his own.
IAN is lost" he exclaimed; econ
stance de Belvidere, the Russians have
crossed the Balkans. We must fly"
Constance was noble girl. She only
said, Whittier shall we fy?"
He wanted to fly to some desert isle,
but she submitted an amendment pro-
viding that they should fly to the ice
cream saloon.
They flew.
In the crowded saloon, where the soft
light fell upon fair women and brave
men, and the insects of a summer night
fell in the ice-cream freezer. They spoke
no word.
When two sentient human beings are
engulphing spOonfuls of corn-starch
and eggs and skim-milk, language is q
mockery.
At length Desmond broke the tender
silence. He said:
"More, dearest?'
She smiled, and bowed her lovely
head, but did not speak. She was toe
| full for utterance.
Desmond gloomily ordered more. AnC
more when that was gone. And a sup
plement to that. And an addendum t.
that. And an exhibit to that.
Gloom safe enthroned upon his brow
Constance saw it. She said;
"What is it, dearest?"
He spake not, but sighed.
A dreadful suspicion stabbed her hear
like knife.
Desmond" she said, ''you are no
tired of me, darlingP"
"By heaven, no." he said, and the
he looked (and thoughD unutterabl
things.
Her brow lightened up with ray O
celestial intelligence.
81 Sec" she said, tapping the empt
plate with her spoon. "Too cold. Sign
ed, G. Morbus.''
He denied it bitterly, and babe her II
main where she was while he settle
with the man.
She, guided by the unerring instinct
her sex, peeped through the curtains
the saloon. She saw her Desmond hole
inc earnest discussion with the mar
She saw the man shake his head rest
lutely in answer to Desmond's pleadin
looks and appealing gestures. she sa
him lock the door, take out the key, pI
it in his pocket, and lean up against ii
door. She saw her own Desmond dra
from his own pockets and pile upon II
counter a pearl handle pocket-knife, 81
nickels, four green postage stamps,
watch key, two lead pencils, mem
randum book, theater ticket (of ii
Variety denomination pocket com
an ivory tOothpick, shirt stud, OF
sleeve button, a photograph OF hersel
package of trix, two street-car check
a card with a funny (wicked) story
, it, a silk handkerchief and a pair
> gloves. And then she knew that De
+ mond was a bankrupt, and when Il
I man swept the assets of the concern in
. a drawer and opened the door, 81
, sobbed convulsively, "And it was mil
extravaganza which hath did this thing
, They did not talk much on their wi
home. Once she asked him if he w
a rich, and he only said,
Enormously"
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