The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-06-27

Dlack Cesar, the Supefannuateu garne
er, who ornsmented his profession in
red cap and slippers. His gray o.
monkey face, with its scant fringe
grizzly hair, was never an unwelcon
sight to me before. However, old Cess
knew all our troubles he had been n
childish confidant, as wei as Dicks,
far back as / could remember. Isteppe
on boldly.
berry early, MISS said the oil
man, doubtless thinking | had come, 9
often before, to help or hinder him i
the garden. But his eye caught sight {
my sachel; his countenance fell. "Gc
ing away, miss?" he cried.
"Yes, Caesar, I'm off,
"Far, missP''
"DOn't know, Cesar, how far. /
seems' I don't belong here, anyway"
"Sho, miss, don't ee mind things
fOld Cesar IL stan up for you. Don't e
mind EN-
I" can't help 1t, Cesar -
a. Bless yer soul, nlissi Why, miss
we HAYES a heap o. trouble al en- US
an dar's no telling whar idey come,
from, big an little. Why, miss-'scust
me, missAI's had dat trouble fore now
wild my little toe, long o. squeezing or
pair o. Sunday shoes, seemed zif
, couldn't STAN it nohow. Feared like
dat little toe didn't belong dar, nohow
was clar in de way oh de odder mem
bers, an had orter be Topped right off
But, Tor, miss, when ! takes off dem
Sunday shoes arter meetin', ! find done
sure dat little toe did belong dar-just
dar an nowhar else-an' all it wanted
was little more room. See, miss?''
81 see, Cesar. But good-by, now,
or l sha'n't catch the train;'' and with
an alfectation of carelessness hurried
on.
The garden smells and the sweet new
morning all about me seemed Turing me
to stay; but on l walked steadily, till,
looking back at the turning of the road,
saw old Cesar standing under the
poplars- waving his red cap to me. He
too, it seemed, acquiesced in the destiny
that was sending me adrift / felt a
sort of sinking at the heart not quite in
accordance with my enterprise as the
winding road shut him from view. But
the hustle about the depot, and all the
sights and sounds of travel, speedily
dispelled my grief, and once in the cars,
my spirits rose to the occasion. Oh, |
would do something, be something,
yeti and 1 nibbltd a bit Of cake, by
way of breakfast, care-free and happy
and confident
The city was quite inspiring as l en-
tered it-so delightfully."- active and bust
ling that it took my breath like a
drauGht of effervescing Champagne.
People were coming and going purpose
ful and businessful; every body seemed
TO have his eye on some goal ahead TO
be reached in given time. 1 only
walked leisurely along, enjoying the
scene, and wondering TO myself if !
should know Dick should | meet him in
this whirlpool, or would he know me.
All these faces were strangers faces
Of all these people not one had any in
terest for me. The gay scene dimmed
tor a moment, and for a moment felt
the chill of isolation, as the crowd swept
by | wondered was Dick as lonely, as
wistful, as I. The question was an
swered by asudden heart thrill for there,
lusty and ruddy, stood Dick before me-
| fear / clasped bis hand with unnec-
essary fervor as l said, "Oh, Dick,
where did you come fromP"
Where did you come from?" re-
sponded Dick, sharply.
q Well, Richard, | can't stand
Aunt Margery any longer-I can'G no,
and I've left, Richard.'
"Lefti" echoed Dick, thrusting his
hat back from his forehead, and plung-
ng his two hands deep down into his
trousers pockets. There was none of
hat CHEEKY jingle of small change in
hem with which Dick was wont to
olayfully salute my ears This silence
was ominous. ".Where to go?" added
Dick, after long, portentous pause.
"Going to look for business.
"Ahi"
"Dick, how you talk! Put your hat
IN straight, and walk along. Every
1ody's looking at as.
g My dear, y says Dick, facetiously,
md laughing now and showing his
White teeth, /" that remark of mine to
which you take exception was prompt |
Wy itfC 1dCt buttt 4 'Jlb VI u lOU
elf. Suppose | was in quarrelsome
mood after leaving the old lady's, for
when Lawyer Gddge set upon me about
the correspondence, copying,
md the like slaYish business, turned
lpon the old brute, and we had q blow
lp. I'm out on the world, dear, with a
:apital of twenty-five cents to begin ON
For two homeless waits that sum was
lot extensive. / took my purse out of
ny pocket, never a heavy one at any
ime; but now-O fate o evil, careless
ate!-a hole revealed itself in the
ilken tissue, through which had slip
led noiselessly a nursing of gold piece !
ghich l had cherished there, wrapped |
n a bit of paper, for a whole twelve
aonth. 'st' i-srt Pro-
| looked in my friends face blankly. |
was no princess, it. seemed, coming. to
is rescue with golden gifts, but an add
d weight about his neck.
"Dick, )" l faltered, meekly, "I'm in
ending to work for living"
"0f course" was the answer. |
Might inquire what at2"
. You knowI can do most any thing, |
Dick" FAEAA < 49,
Jenny, child" said my companion.
boxing down upon me benignantly, and
topping short in his walk (Dick always
wed me when he assumed this elder
rother aspecD -"Jenny, child, it's a
ard-driyen sort of world you've put
our tiny self into-a place where it's a
cry hard matter to get footing, and |
rhere, if your foot sli ps, you're sure to
e carried out into deep water" Dicks
ace ldarkened as he looked al, the tide
f people. " Whatever's a fellow to
10 pa Winding up his discourse thus
bruptly, my friend pulled his felt hat
own over his eyes, and glowered from
nder it like highwayman.
.Islistenedto this talk of Dicks. hu-
Inflated and Ill at ease. Was I, then. a
mere aimless waif-a mere bit of drift
yood .afoat in this human torrentpI
wen Aunt Margery's chatting and chid-
NJ were better than this hothingness.
began to feel very weary. A remem-
rance of my qaiet room and of the
lossoming apple-bough that hung over
be windoY came to me vision like.
We stood before the window of a pic