The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-09-13

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school.
The street was long and winding,
grimy and decaying; but people swarm
ed in it as if life was not undesirable.
They throve in the scents and sounds
and sitting air; they laughed, they chat
ted, they congregated in the tumble
down doorways; and, looking their pow
erty square in the face, shook hands
with il as it were. But the street had
its pleasures, too, once in while, and
its pictures. As at this instant, when
madame, looking down from the high
window, saw a wagon-load of apples
come jolting along, ruddy, shining and
mellow. A boy in brimless hat and a
blue shirt sat in the midst of the heap,
and a tail, sunburned young fellow, with
trousers tucked in his boots, walked
alongside, hand-in-hand with a child,
who danced about him, with her golden
hair flying and her pretty feet twinkling,
as she pointed up laughing to the far
window where madame sat.
In one sudden moment she saw the
little one caught up, deposited in a half
full basket, and both, lifted on the young
mans shoulder, disappeared in the
house. Up starts they came, tramping,
laughing, and Fifine, eager, joyful and
breathless, was deposited at the door.
"Oh, maman!" she cried, clapping
her hands, as see what we have brought
you, And here is Monsieur Jack"
Outside, abashcd, blushing, stood the
young man with his basket. Madame
appearing on the threshold put him to
utter confusion. She had the bearing
of a duchess.
"What will you?" queried she
haughtily.
Excuse me, ma'am," was the stam-
mering reply, as the intruder DOTTED his
great straw hat; 81 meant did not
mean-that is, promised the little one
a ride
&" And?' said madame, sternly.
"And," answered the youth, gather
ing up courage, his honest, kindly eye
looking straight into hers, " she needs
little change; ride would not harm
her, madame"
cit is a liberty objectionable. In
my country it is not known that ven
dora street vendor-wil intrude him.
self on a lady'S apartment. People
know their place, and"
81 beg your pardon, madame. You
are right, - interrupted the stranger, his
check flushing hotly. "But this is
America, not Paris. Good-day."
He was gone. The place was blank
and desolate. The apples lay on the
floor. The sunlight had faded from the
window. Fifne set up a frightful cry
of disappointment. All! no ride, no
pleasure, no delights in prospect. She
did not 60 dancing off to school next
day, singing as she went. She came
back with "a headache, carrying it
gloomily up to the top floor and the
waiting mother. Two days, three,
passed. Fifne was really i'll. She chat
ted necessarily of the ride and the beau
tiful country. She cried to see Monsieur
Jack, as she had named her friend.
One day madame slipped downstairs
to buy some apples. 1t was the day for
Monsieur Jacks appearance. The
young man bowed when he caught sight
of this princess from the top floor.
Should he carry the apples upstairs for
her? Little Fifine, sitting flushed and
feverish among a heap of pillows, lit up
radantly at sight of the sunburned face
and the great straw hat.
"Ah! maman," she cried, clapping
her hands, "now we shall go to the
country!''
But Fifne was ILL., Not for a day mol
a week, but for a long, weary month the
little creature pinned and sickened in the
upper story of the tenement-house. And
it fell out that nearly every day the
young mans step sounded on the s:air
andMonsieurJack's face became familiar
to all the neighbors as he made his way
to the topmost floor. He petted Fifine
he chatted to her, and charmed madame
by stepping softly in spite of his biz
boots. Fifine watched hungrily for hi.
coming, and thus it was, doubtless, tina
madame also found herself sometime.
listening for his footsteps on the stairs
One sunny afternoon she stood
smoothing her glossy hair in the crack
ed looking-glass. The day was hope
full one. The air was clear, the SUI
/ shone. Fiiine was better. Madame
eyes frightened rs she stood at tn,
glass. She adjusted her knot of ribbon
she touched up the white ruflle aDou
her shapely throat. Without, Their
was a creaking of the rickety stair. Th
ewes shone brighter in the dim It'll
mirror. Madame stopped in her toile
suddenly, seeing their eXpectant glitter
"Can il be possible?" she said t
herself. " Have | come to this-to sew
ing in a garnet, to starving, to begging
almost, for Filine, and to looking fol-
ward every day to the visit Of a youn
man who is an apple vendor? I5it tina
must at heart belong to the canaiIc
, Paul-Professor Paul, was / ever worth
of thee?n
= But when she opened the door, an
! Monsieur Jack stood modestly on tn
threshold, madame's eyes did not los
5 their sparkle. lie brought a bunch {
pinks for Fiine.
= "Ah!'' cried Fifne, clapping he
) hands, " they came from the country
, ma cherc nqnqH! When shall Ce go
2 Oh, ,chcn shall we go, maman?"
2 The mother looked at her tenderl.
: pitifully. The child had grown so thi
r. with long illness.
S "My little one" she said, 81 wish
. ,,.,, l,,ol- Will, tbpp in my bpautiful Pari