The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-07-18

you alto myself. w bat is hefs y
A settler-abroad, ~ faltered.
"HoI That's better; and perhap.
he'll settle there altogether withou
you"
Hooked at her Indignantly, and sh.
laughed.
Ahi | know, my good girl. haven
| lived 10 eight and forty for. nothing
How old are you?''
Twenty" / said, shivering, for bel
rough way repealed me, and Llonged IL
bring the interview to an end.
Why, the girls cold, she said
roughly "H'm, twenty Here,
I go up 10 the fire, and have
a good warm; it's dreadful wealth
er. Therel pull off your bonnet and
jacket Put them on that chair, and GO
closer to the fire; I've a deal to say to
you yet, for I'm not going to engage
directly. -
/ obeyed her, trembling the while,
for was very weak and she went on
asking me questions and making COM
ments.
Is don't like your appearance at all /;
you look pale and unhealthy. Not bit
like girl from the country"
|" / am very sorry l said; I" but, in
deed, ma'am, have excellent health -
Then your face tells stories about
you. You play, of course?'', ~
.. Yes, ma am" ft8y tts
You're warm now. Go and play
something. Can you sing?"
" Yes, ma'am."
"Then sing, too; and look here, Miss
--Miss-Miss-''
/ was about to tell her my name, but
remembering the last rebuff was silent.
" Now look here, my good young
lady, how am l to remember your
dreadful nameP What is itP''
+" Laurie, ma'am," | replied.
"Of course it is; remember it quite
well. Now go and play and sing some
thing, and mind, 1 don Z want my ears
deafened with fireworks, and the drums
split with parrot shrek bravuras. Sing
something sweet and simple and old
fashioned, if you cam" she added I'M
graciously.
crossed the room and sat down to
the magnificent piano, and for the next
five minutes l seemed to be far away,
down in the cid home, as forgot where
| was, in singing my poor dead fathers
favorite ballad, IS Robin Adair;" while,
as finished, had hard work to keep
back the tears. = g. fi4-t!tCE
robin A-dair,' she sang, as l
rose, in not unpleasing voice. "NOw
let me hear you read. / always make
my companion read to me great deal;
and mind this, hate to hear any drone
like a schoolgirl. Go over there into
the corner of the window and stand
there. Take that book; You'll find the
mark left in where Miss Belleville bah
| believe her name was Stubs and her
father a green-grocer-left off. Now
then, begin"
She pushed lounge-chair close up to
the window and sat down with her
hands in her muff, while L stood there,
feeling like schoolgirl and ready to
drone, as began to read with faltering
voice what happened TO be Thackeray
most beautiful chapter-The death of
poor old Colonel Newcombe. know
my voice trembled at times, and a
strange sense of choking CAME upon me
as | went on battling, oh, so hard to
read those piteous hear t-stirriug lines
but | was weak and suffering, was
faint with hunger and exertion, sick
with that despair of hope deferred, and
at last the room, with its costly turni- !
ture, seemed to swim round before me,
a cold perspiration bathed my face, and
with a weary sight l caught feebly at
the curtains and then fell heavily upon
the polished floor.
have some faint memory of being
lifted and wheeled in chair whose cas-
tors heard chirrup to the front of the
fire, and then, as my senses began to
return, seemed to feel arms around
me and pleasant voice saying, half
aloud:
''And she just lost her poor father,
too-to set her to read such a thing as
that | declare I'm about the wicked
est, most thoughtless and unfeeling
woman under the SUM-
Then there was the refreshing odor of
a vinaigrette, and the sick feeling be-
gan to pass away.
ell beg pardon" | faltered, try
ing to rise.
81 beg yours, my DEAR" she said,
tenderly. "Sit still, sit still. Now,
then, try and drink that"
Some sherry was held to my lips, and
then I, was almost forced to ear a bis
cult. They, however, rapidly revived
me, and found Mrs. Porter had torn
off her bonnet and mantle and was kneel-
ing by my side. 20 - .4
= "That's better, my DEAR" she said,
smiling-at me, SIS she passed, her arm
round me and drew me nearer to her
and kissed me in gentle, motherly
way =. And now this was too much, for
I was weak and hysterical., j could
fight against harshness, but her tender
words and ways unlocked the flood
gates of my grief, and / laid my head
down and sobbed as if my heart would
break
An hour later, after she had literally
forced me to partake of the breakfast
that was ordered up; she sat beside me,
holding my hand, and more than once
| saw the tears steal down her pleasant
face as she won from me, bit by bit, the
story of my troubles and my bitter strug-
giles here in town.
At last rose to go, trembling andex-
pectant. Would she engage mep 1t
was more than dared to hope.
'Sit still, my child" she said tender
Iy. "It has pleased God to make me-
a childless, widowed woman-His
steward over much wealth, and if L did
not make this home for one of His
tempest-smitten lambs l should be
worse woman than think | am. Stay
with me; we shall be the best of friends"
l stayed-stayed to know her real
worth and to win her motherly love
stayed to find, when John Murray re-
turned, that his love was greater for my
sister than for me, and patiently resign
ed my love to her, and then battled with
a long illness when they had gone to-
gether to the far-off home. But every
day gave me a new lesson on not judg-
ing too hastily. That is ten years since;
and l am still in my peaceful happy
home, though only as companion to a
lady" -CdSseUs Magaz inc.
-Friar Giovanni is a wonderful