The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-08-01
THE SOMNAMBULIST.

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education in a French pension, where
there was three other English girls most
ly qualifying themselves for teaching
French. | was the oldest of the set, and
was then about II, and was beginning
to think with joy of getting home and
away from French fare and fashions.
One day, TO my surprise, there came a
summons from Madame, and it was with
some trepidation that obeyed it; but
need not have feared.
MY DEAR she said, looking at a let
ter in her hand, 81 hear to-day that
am to expect a young lady named Lillian
Church, one of your cOuntrywomen,
not actually as a scholar, but as board
er, though she will join in some of your
studies. She is Is, and is betrothed !;
but her doctor judges well that in the
mean time she should have a-perfect
change of scene. To you, as the eldest,
/ must look TO show her what kindness
you can, for must tell you there are
peculiarities about her, and you must
prevent your companions from noticing
them-at least to herself"
Here was piece of excitement for US
in the midst of the usual school-life mo-
notony. 1t may be imagined how we
four girls discussed the matter, and won
dered what there was peculiar in our
new school fellow. We shared a COM
mon bedroom, where we expected to
have another bed introduced, as there
was ample space. What, on the contra
ry, was our surprise to find that Miss
Church was to have a small separate
bedroom opposite ours; and, to our
greater surprise, workman made his
appearance, who put strong iron bars
on the windows and paddock on the
door. Here was romance, indeed. Ev-
identity Miss Church must have made an
attempt to elope; nothing else could ac-
count for such strict surveillance.
We could scarcely settle down to any
thing the day she was expected, and
awaited her appearance with the great
est eagerness. One of the girls, Frances
Grey, had just reported to us that the
gentleman who had come with Miss
Church had driven away, when a mes
sage came to say Madame wanted us all.
As we entered the room all our eight
eyes turned to the newcomer before
Madame had time to introduce us and
hand her over to our care.
She was perfectly different from what
we had expected, bearing not a trace of
English birth about her. She was very
fully developed, and of medium height,
with face rather broad, but with hand
some features. Her hair, of which she
had great masses, was jet black, and she
had large dark eyes, with most pecu-
liar and weird expression. In short, it
was thoroughly Italian face; and we
found out afterward that Mr.. Church,
her so-called uncle and guardian, had
picked her up in Italy. He was struck
with the picturesque beauty of the child
who was playing on doorstep; and as
pertaining that she was founding, and
that her foster parents could ll-afford
to support her, had adopted her himself.
After few commonplace sentences
had passed, Madame asked me if would
60 and assist Miss Church to arrange
her things; which accordingly did, she
in the meantime sitting by and looking
on. We were thus occupied, when look
ing at her, saw her face suddenly as
sumo the most curious expression; all
light seemed to have died out of her
ewes; her form became somewhat rigid,
and she began speaking in low tone,
but rapidly and fluently, in French. l
was much alarmed; but at that moment
Madame entered to see how we were
getting on. On catching sight of
Lilianis face, she murmured to me:
Hushl Don't notice it. She's a
sornnambulist, and falls into these
frances at times. Isuppose she has the
dread of us foreigners on her mind.
Whatever you do, do not rouse her; il
might be fatal.p
"But, Madame, her eyes are open"
Yes, my dear; they always are in
such case"
And then Madame, thinking it best to
let me know the real state of the case,
though warning me not 10 let Lillian
know about il, told me the circumstances
under which the young girl was sent to
school.
For many months the peace q Mr.