The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-09-04


mother was breaking up very fast in
deed, and you will feel sorry for you
obstinacy when you see Luke Hartwel
in possession Of this place.
"Oh, my lawyer will come along be
fore that evil day comes said Kate
. 1t is of no use to croak yourself hoars,
Julia. The daisy has spoken, and
have faith in its prophecy. felt sure
was not doomed to be the wife of Lux,
Hartwell, or the second Mrs. Day."
The sisters had now crossed tn,
I meadow, where the little daisy had beer
found by Kate, and were within the
sweet old garden of Bower Farm. julia
went at once into the house, but Kate
stood under an old, gnarled apple-tree
and looked around her. Was this deal
old place with its wealth of fruit and
flowers to pass away from them, and be-
come the property of Luke Hartwell
1t seemed hard that at the mothers
death it should not become the property
of her daughters. The cottage was half
smothered in creeping roses, white and
red, sweet hOneySuckle, and passion
flowers. Three old oak trees mounted
guard in front, and at the back stretched
out the old orchard, in which Julia and
Kate had played in childhood. The
commodious barn, the airy stable, and
the graSs-grown farm-yard were all dear
to Kate's heart from long association
with her life. The farm had belonged
to Mr.. Andrew Hartwell, an uncle of
Luke's. lie had loved Mary PenroSe,
lint sba baI sri,-o, bo,. l,no,+ Oh I,,,I g.,
Arthur Morrison who had led her sad
life for twelve Years, and dying,
left her penniless. Andrew Hart
well had not married; he had
remained an old bachelor for
sake Of his early love. and when he
found that she had been left forlorn and
poor, with two little daughters, the
younger only a year old, he installed her
at once on Bower Farm, and at his
death left it to her for life; then it was
to revert to Luke, Andrews brothers
child. This decree was only just; yet it
seemed hard to Kate who had lived here
twenty-five years, and loved every stick
and stone on the place. She it was who
managed the dairy and poultry yard /;
who hired men to farm the land, and
made money enough to support herself
and mother comfortably. Mrs. Nor
rison's days of activity were long past
She had managed the farm with great
executive ability until rheumatism Grip
Piled and confined her to an easy chair,
and the farm had gone into Rates will
ing hands. Julia, who was Rates elder
by nine years, had grown up and mar
ried; but every summer saw her at Bow
er Farm with her two children. She
found it both convenient and econom-
zeal to pay her mother and sister long
visit during the hot weather.
Hates happy disposition made her Il
general favOrite in the neighbOrhood,
but in spite of much attention from the
sterner sex she was still single, which
Julia seemed to think disgrace to her.
self and family. But Kate only laughed
at her arguments and snubbed Luke
Rartwell on every occasion, and was
deaf to the compliments of Squire Dav,
who had singled her out as the one best
fitted to minister to the wants, and I'M
dertake the education, of his six auburn
headed olive branches.
The month of June was fast passing
away. aud the roses were blooming more
luXuriantly than ever, and sending their
fragrance into the kitchen where Kate
was kncadin% bread, when Luke Hart
well came over the meadow with sham
bling gait, determined to try his fate,
and Twin or lose it all
Hates sleeves were rolled up to her
shoulders, and her arms We're white with
flour, but she was not at ali embarrass-
ed by Luke's appearance.
Good afternoon" she said, shaking
back the curlS which were dropping over
her face, evil YOU stay out here, Luke?
or shall | call Julia TO take you into the
parlor? It's none too cool ont here
81 came to see you, Kate, and | don't
mind the heat.
"Well, sit down, and make yourself
as comfortable as YOU can. am too
busy to talk, but L can listen well
But now Luke did not know how to
begin his tale of love. He had prepared
a neat speech in his mind as he walked
over the meadow, but every vestige of it
had flown from his memory at the first
sight of Kate. He therefore twisted his
fingers backward and forward in an
awkward manner, moved his chair half
Il dozen times, and coughed repeatedly
before he could summon courage to
speak.
"Kate, " he said at length, with kind
of choked gasp, i've been intending to
come over here for some time back
Il believe YOU were here only yester-
day." replied Kate, coldly.
"Oh, was I?' stammered Luke, A" but
I've come for Il different purpose to-
day"
You came to ask the address of that
man | had to cut wheat for last wear,
believe.''
"Ies, | wrote to him yesterday But,
Kate, don't bluff me off so; I've come to
lSk You to accept Bower Farm as your
)wn,n and he blushed crimson a. he
made what he thought neat speech.
Very kind of you, Luke, I'm sure;
out it isn't yours yet, so don't see how
can accept it from you"
- see you won't understand me,
Kate; and I'd better be plain in my
speech. have had liking for You for
4 good many years, and l believe I'd
make You as good a husband rs YOU
would find in the county"
Kate made no reply, and the dropping
urls concealed her laughing face. En-
outraged by her silence, Luke pro-
:eeded:
- You shall dress equal to any woman
'ound here, and I'll make you a present |
If that colt I'm breaking. You know /
amt poor, and you shall live as well /
Is any body in these parts.
I'm sorry to disappoint YOU, Luke;
,ut don't care to marry YOU. Please
lon't begin to argue, for it would an