The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-02-13

tsken Of her cloak snd hat, dropped
into s chair and produced Obadiah
Corners letters.
There" she said, tread that, Ara
bells
Arsbella read it, changing color az be
did 50.
4" Dear me-" she said, chow romantic
he must be. He never used to be re-
mantle. l suppose he's changed very
much in these five and-twenty years.
he must be ffty-seven now. And to
think OF his having made fortune and
wanting to prove his friends sincere.
Martha, do you think you ought to
betrsy him ,"
" Ne, I do not, said Martha, and |
shall tell no one but you. had mo
tive in telling you, and, as he says in a
postscript he'll be here on Thursday, |
want you to dine with Us on Thursday
and meet him"
Poor Arsbella looked ia the glass
| sadly.
" He'll find me dreadfully changed, "
said she; but I'll come, Martha
Bless you, we sill change! We can't
help that" said Mrs. Noskes. 50 never
worry about it," and they Tell to talk
| ing abou. Obadiah and what ne used to
| do, ard what he had done, and found the
subject 50 interesting that they kept 1t
up over the cold chicken, sponge-cske,
etc. that composed their lunch.
When Thur-dsy evening arrived it
found little Miss Mufit in Mrs, Noskss'
/ gsr'or, sitting opposite buriy-!ookinz
man, whose nose was rather red and
whose eyes were not honest, candid eye
by any means. He was dressed very
snab5ily, TO say the least, and had wbis
pered to Mrs. Noakes in the ball " Take
notice of his coat; it carries out the
character, doesn't it? I lOoE like &
seedy old fellow who has hsd ill-iUcz,
don't II" And he Hudged Mr.. Eoakes
with one elbow and Mrs. Noakes with
the other, while they mentally agreed
that he certainly did LOOK the character
most thoroughly.
On the whole, it was rather pleasant
evening, and Arabells and Obsdish got
on finely. He promised to take tea at
her house in few days and SAW her
home At ten O'Clock.
The rest OF the connections, not hav-
ing Tesd Cbadiah's letter, were not de
lighted at his return. They ssw him
shsbhier than ever, and they wers very
careful to keep him at distance.
Mrs. Noskes often smiled to herself to
think what difference that letter would
have made in their conduct had they
known of it; but she wisely held her
tongue and left fair field to Arabella.
In little while, to her joy and the great
surprise of Mr.. Noakes, Obadiah Corner
actually proposed to little Miss Mufit,
and was accepted by her.
"Such a splendid thingl" said Mrs.
Noakes. "Such wonderful thing for
Arabella, and it shall come out now 4"
Thereupon Mrs. Noakes went calling
among the relatives, showing 0hsdiah's
letter everywhere, and creating great
excitement.
And what can he see IN little Miss
Mufit?" said one mother of many
daughters. "And, though [ say it
VINO, perhaps, should not-there's my
Marguerite--s such beauty"
"But Marguerite was very rude to
Cousin Obadiah" said Mrs. Noakes.
The idea of an cid man like that
marrying-with relatives he could leave
everything to "
But men don't leave ryshing to
relatives who insult ihem," said Mrs
Noakes. "Besides, Obadiah is not very
old-not old at all It's just splendid
for Arabella; and she WAS tue only one
who was civil to him, you know"
Then she went away, leaving the con-
nections generally envieus of Miss
lIufit, and angry with her also, as one
WAC hsd been wiser in her generation
than they.
And Miss Mufit, so happy that she
began to gov plump, was making up a
pearl-c ,lo.ed silk dress, and had sent
some pearls that had been left to her ny
uer grandfather to the jewelers. to be
reset. and sst one evening building some
riddje-gged castles in the air, with he
feet On the fender of the grste, when
the hell rang and her elderly lover was
shown in.
There wss no light in the room but
that Of the fire. and, as she would have
lit the drop-ismp. he STOPPED her.
CT wsnt 10 talk little" he said.
'aud l ike talking in a hali-light.
Arsbella, I've question to ask. and I
want yuu to snswer me truly. want
you to promise solemnly that you'll tel
me the truth"
d will,' said little Miss 3Lufit, faint
". "Whateyer the question is, I'll tel
the truth, Obadiah"
Well, then, said Obadiah, "did you
see the letter ! wrote to Cousin
Noskes >"
The blood rushed to Miss AIufits face
in the dsl kn =.
OLIVES. saw it." she said.