The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-03-14

for shelter. Old Ware, sitting motion
less in his upper chamber, hears tn,
rafters shake overhead. He listens
perhaps he is afraid the old house will
come down over his head. The wine
raves and shrieks about window anC
doorway. He gets up by-and-by, ant
lifting the dripping sash, looks out intC
the road. He sees nothing; no boy
will rob his melon patch tonight, anC
no beggar come whining to his gate
Afar off, where the road circles toward
the south land, old Betsey has crawleC
into the shelter of a way-side barn. No
there is nothing to be seen anywhere
about. Timothy shuts the window will
Il shudder, and crawls to bed.
A week after this, Rebecca, sweet anC
tintless as a snow-drop, stops at the
gate once more.
"Old Betsey, my poor old vagrant
left us last night, neighbour" she says
"The blankets and pillows thee sent
were a very great charity, but she need
eth our charity no more"
g No more?" repeated old Ware, va
cantly.
"She died last night" answers Re
becca, and her lip trembles little.
There is no reply. Rebecca does moi
break the long, long pause. She is useC
to the old mans moods. Finally, she
sets her face to the road again; it is get
ting late.
Rebecca," says the old man, abrupt
/ ly, placing his bOny hand upon hers
Rebecca, yOu-you needn't put her in
Potter's Field. She mightn't rest easy,
you know"
81 have no such superstitions,
FRIEND" said Rebecca, smiling sweetly
at can make very little difference to
her now where she rests, poor nameless
wanderer."
"She had name once" said Tim
othy, standing erect, with strange
flush on his face "A bright and beau
tiful woman once was my wife, Eliza
zeth Ware"
a long and weary winter has passed ;
summer has frightened and faded :
the autumn twilight is settling softly on
bloom and barrenness, as old Ware
stands at his gate once more, looking
down the road In his hand is some
thing wrapped in white, which he sets
upon the gate-pOst as gray-clad grace
full figure comes walking up the road.
Rebecca," he says, Il return your
Napkin
''Nay," says Rebecca, recognizing her
own initials-"nay, friend, [ have an
abundance"
"Open it," interrupts the old man,
abruptly. The gentle Quakeress is used
to humOring his moods, and as she I'M
ties the linen, diamond ring rolls gilt
tering out upon its edge. There is a box
of shining trlnkets within and small
gold watch.
They were all hers once, in the old
times,'' says old Ware, huskily, "before
she left me. You may keep 'em for her
sake, an We will" He pauses: there is
no answering movement from Rebecca.
''Or," he adds, with irritation and sud
den energy, "I'll just heave 'em over
board when quit here for good and all
Yes, III quit here for good and all. |
never had no home nor no friends-she
spoiled all that-and | may as well fin
ish it out that away"
Rebecca clears her throat. cit has
long been borne in upon me, Friend
Timothy" she says, in a high, con
strained voice, as one who delivers Il
difficult message" it has long been
borne in upon my mind that thee is liv-
ing too much alone. There is none to
look after thee, or fix thee up a bit COM
Portable for the winter; and | have had
a clear leading from the Lord which |
have suffered hitherto to be hidden in
my heart-iti is that | should offer thee a
home with me, NeighbOr Timothy, if SO
be it seems good in thy sight"
GA home?" said Timothy, looking up
queryingly at his weather-beaten old
mansion.
As how, Rebecca? There was
a group of small boys hidden just
below the hedge, in the opening where
the great apple-tree dropped its fruitage
on either side of the rails. Tom and
Jim and Dick were there, bare-legged,
and sly as weasels. OF course the APP
pies belonged to them on that side of
the fence; but then night was the safest
time for getting them. There was no
withstanding the logic of old Wares
dog by any argument of justice and fair
play. The twilight had quite faded
now, pale moon shone in the heavens,
and there at the gate stood Rebecca,
with her hand in Timothy's.
"Whist, fellows! whist! We needn't
to rum" cries Tom. " She's goin' to
have him for her ole man. Bully for
her! iSheU never set the dawg onto a
Teller"
And with full pockets and beating
hearts the youngsters file off past old
Wares very gate. Tom gives a loud
whistle when the feat i. achieved, and
stands a moment looking back with an
eye of approval. 81 knew it all along
back" says Tom, oracularly-" course
| did; didn't l see ole Tinware looking
down that ere road time an agin arter
her? Why, she could sweeten a crab
apple, she could"
And l think that she did, for the boys
of the village had grand dinner one
day, at which Mr.. Ware and his Quaker
bride walked down among them, smil-
ing right and left, and Tom and Dick
nodded knowingly to each other and
At IL I'D.