The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-01-23

OF snly accused his friend with having
purposely deceived him with regard 10
her fOrtune-huntiug propensities and Of
making up the story to further his own
ends.
Meanwhile Mrs. Csrlyon regarded
with dismay the evident failure of her
darling project; and moreover, feelirg.
very sore at Maud's victim being Ter
fsvOrite cousin, determined to take the
girl to task so one night, on retdruing
to their several rooms, she followed
Maud into hers, and shutting the door,
placed her hand on the girls shoulder
aud looked earnestly into her face
MAUD, what is the reason OF your
behavior to Percy? Why are you so
changed'towar him? / did hope that
you were learning to love each other,
hut since Harry Liston came you have
scarcely noticed him"
Perhaps prefer Mr.. ListOn to your
cousin; suppose there's no harm in lny
doing so !" said Maud, in halt defiant
tone, and longing to escape from the
searching eyes bent on her.
harm? No, certainly 40 harm in
your doing so but 1 must confess don t
understand your choice Tor although
Percy Is my own cousin, ! must say he
IS infinitely superior in every respect to
Mr. LttOn, Besides, Percy mss hand
some fortune, while the other has not a
penny 70 bless himself With"
And 50 you, with all the rest of the
world, think am incapable OF disinter-
es'ed al ;tion 7 thank you for your
good opinion of me, MARY :" and with
flashing eyes and burning cheeks she
/ turned away.
" l don't understand you, Maud" said
her friend, with sigh; "but it IL very
evident that my interference only anger4
you, so | VIII say Goodnight; but I
sincerely wish Hsrry Liston was at the
bottom of the sea"
| When quite certain she was alone
Maud's overweight feelings gave way
Very braveJy had she acted her part,
bat if she had succeeded 10 making
Percy miserable, ten Thousand times
more wreJChed was she herself. Only
one little bit of consolation was there
for her throughout it all, and that Was
that all her flirting with Harry Liston
was doing him no harm, for, though
meeting her more than half way, she
saw that beyond the Irritation there wss
no deeper feeling in the natter. Still, |
how was it all to end ? Her visit was
fast drawing TO a close, and the farewell |
ball Mrs. CarlyOn was giving in ner honor !
was to come OFF that night.
Maud and her hostess were lingering !
over their five o'clock tea, after supeEin- !
tending the last finishing touches to the /.
ball room, when Percy Herbert entered /
the room, looking very pale, and with |
an open letter in his h&nd.
Good gracious, Percy what is the /
NATTER" exclaimed his cousin. - You .
are white as a sheet"
For answer be threw the letter on to
her knee.
EAGERLY she took it up, but before she
had read more than lev lines she let it
drop from her hands, and turning u her
cousin with face almost 81 white rs his
own she said in an agitated voice:
"Oh Percy, 1t cannot surely be true
the s. bank gone? Why, that Is
the one nearly all your money is in"
1t is, he replied $50, according to
that letter, am ruined mani"
"Oh no, no; it can not be as bad as
that; there may be something saved.
Oh Percy, if not, it would be too drcad~
full! and the good hearted little woman's
eyes filed with tears. But you will not
leave US tonight it is too late for you
to do anything this evening ?"
Ono; IS you say, 1t is too late to DO
ANYTHING now but [ must leave by the
FIRST train tomorrow morDiDg. But,
Mary dear, keep all this quiet for to-
night, you know" he said with poor
attempt t. laugh. Knight not get any
partners if it became known | was pen
niless ;" aud turning from his cousin he
looked toward Maud, but her chair was
had flown.
Maud had escaped TO her room, feeling
utterly bewildered at the news she had
Just heard and, though deeply grieyed
at Percy's misfortune, still she individ>
ually felt happier than she had felt Tor
weeks.
Harry ListOn, your reign is over "
cried the girl, .ioyously {; " and all | now
want is an opportunity of proving posi- ;
lively to Percy that Maud Hesketh is
not ire little tertune~hunter his friend
described her TO oe.
As she stood in her ball dress a few I
hours later a pleasant smile passed over {
her face as she loOsed at herself in the |
glass. Her dress was pretCy--a present I
from Mrs. CarlyOn-- very lovely did {
Maud look in it.
al wonder if he will like it. she MUIR
INJURED and if she only could have seen
5he expression on his face as she entered
,he room she would not have had many
doubts on the subject. Maud had no ;
ack of partners, for she was quite the ,
belle o. the bail but the only one she 9
cared for had not even spoken to her, ~,
aud she was beginning TO feel utterly :
weary and sick OF the whole thing when :
A familiar voice at her elbow asked her :
FOR the next dance.
" You shall have it with pleasure, J
MIR. Herbert, she said, turning to him !
With bright smile; but before she had
lime for another word her partner ,
ghirled her away. The first few bars of q
the next dance had hardly begun before .
Percy Herbert claimed her.
Il thought you did not intend asking /
me to dance to night, she said, as they !
walked through the bali room into the !
I
al did uot think you cared to dance :
with me; you certainly have not shown :
sny preference for my society for some
time past. i
Perhaps | have had reason for not
Ioipg 10; but, " she aided quickly, ~ Z
must tell you how very sorry [ am for :
what have heard this afternoon. It is
indeed a sad loss. '
q ~ ~, nov nIoouapt 7 p,ust con.