The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-04-04

a miserable smile.
"'Can't do that, my hoy. You wer,
in for
"'Murderl'
6EYesi'
al was innocent, muttered Seventy
seven. And then, suddenly, as if tn,
free air and sun accused him afresh O
his crime, he rose and stretched out hi.
arms.
"'Before God, 1 was innocent!' he
cried.
eyes, of course, of course, saiC
Jackson. you all say so. But be.
| lieve you, Seventy-seven. Got no kin !?
"My mother died eight years ago
I NV brother lives in the old homestead
| don't know whether to go to him, OIL
what would you do?' turning in his
bitter solitude to Jackson as a friend.
SO Got the money to go?"
90 Yes, the prison society gave me
these clothes, and money to pay my
way home. But
/ - How's yer brother treated ye? Has
I he gin you the cold shoulder?'
't'No. After he married, ten years
/ ago, never would see him when he
came to the prison. l wanted him to
! feel clear of me; was cursed black
spot in his life. He does not know I'm
out. thought I'd keep clear of him /;
but-oh, | can't, can'ti'
He covered his face with his hands.
He was 80 utterly alone! Only to see
him once moTe-to 90 through the old
house-to lay his head on his mothers
grave!
"'I don't know what to advise said
Jackson. Kinsfolk don't generally kill
the fatted calf for returned jail-birds
Bat you might try it. l don't see what
else you kin do, in fact
About noon the prisoner got off the
train at the station next his old home
He walked down the road Old Aunty
Stannix was smoking in the door of her
cabin.
"'John Pardee lives in the old placer
ne said, inquiringly, stopping in front
of her.
"'Yeh. Denis his boys a-fshin' in
de branch yunder. Stranger in dis
country, ssh?'
"The man shook his head and walk
ed on. A stranger! Why, there was
not stone or a tree which he did not
remember and lovel
"He came to his brothers. gate and
opened it, and then, CHASTITY as death,
turned away He could not risk it.
"'If John should speak harshly to
me, it would kill mel he said. where
are his boys? I'll go to them. What
ever they say to me, I'll take it for a
sign ~
q He climbed down the bank If the
boys spoke harshly to him, he would
turn his back on his old home-forever.
"He stood irresolute on the bank
above them. Bill saw him, and made
up his mind to fling stone at him.
The man caught the boys scowling
glance, and stopped. What was the
uso? His life was wretched wreck
why should he intrude it into his broth
er's happy home?
There seemed no place for him in
all the world-but the prison-cell which
he had just left He looked at the dark
deep water rushing by, and made step
towards it. Then he looked again at the
boys. His heart was very sore. They
were Johns sons-dear, dear brother
John! One of them had look of his
mother in his eyes.
/" He would try once more, and he
went towards them-with a prayer to
God in his heart.
40 Been fishing, boys?' trying to
speak in an off-hand way. 'Can l come
down?'
80 Jail-bird = muttered Bill.
"Charley gripped his leg like vice,
and whispered, Hold your tongue!
Yes, sir, he said aloud, touching his cap,
we're after perch. VIII you take a seat?'
moving the basket aside.
Seventy-seven sat down. He could not
speak The boys dropped their lines in
the water.
" Presently he laid his hand on Char
ley's arm. 1t seemed as if he must caress
the boy, if but by a touch.
90 What is you name?'
Go Charley, sir; Charley Pardee'
/" 1t was his own name! The blood
rushed violently to his heart.
I" Who-who were you named for,
Charley?'
80 My uncle, sir. You've heard of
him, maybe?' coloring hotly. & never
saw him, but my father says he was the
best man he ever knew, and the most
ill-used. Oh, here comes papa!'
90 The man staggered to his feet and
stood trembling, not looking up.
lowell, boys, what luck?' came in
Jacks old hearty voice. Then there
was terrible silence.
" Charley!"
LII la L
Charley, is it you? Thank God, thank
God!' and he sobbed like a child.
"The winter passed quietly. Charles
Pardee found his brothers house a hap
ply home, but he feared to go outside of
it. Public opinion held him as a muir
derer. A few old friends came to him,
but he shrank from every strange face.
% Now little Charley had habit of
taking some trifling gift to old Aunty
Stannix on his way to school. The old
woman was Grabbed and sour beyond
her wont, being i'll that winter, but the
boy persevered.
zone night he was reused out of bed
by his father.
"''Stannix is dying, and has sent for
you, my boy
cts showing, muttered Bill. She'll
live till morning. It's one of her impish
tricks, any how. wouldn't 90 step,
Charley
"Charley thrust out one foot into the
nipping air and hesitated.
"'I'd better co. he said.
"When he reached the cabin with his
father, the old woman was very low.
al want Charley Pardee, she NUT
tered, fumbling with her hands.
"'Here | am, aunty." r.r
"'Yoh've bin good to me, sonny
better dan any body in dis wohld. I've
got somefin fob you. Whah's squire?
[ must say it fohr a squire
81 am a magistrate, aunty,' said the
doctor.
Il wants to say, fohr de squire, dat
dis boys uncle, Charles Pardee, was as
innocent rs a baby of George Tygart's
murder. twas my son, Oaf, as done it
-Oaf, de barber in Dover.
" Il KEEP it quiet eos | didn't want