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

aft anyone but yourself had told ms
this. I would not have believed a word
of it." So said Percy Herbert to bis
friend Harry Listen, as they smoked
their cigars outside the library window
o. the house they were STAYING at. 4" II
seems perfectly incredible that girl
ike Maud Hesketh could be what you
describe her."
at is q tact, nevertheless, Percy; she
is a complete fOrtune-bunter, and, far
from Disgusting the fact, rather boasts of
il than otherwise it is not much more
than 2 month since | saw her, and then
she did not hesitate to speak her sentir
ments on the subject. ] am glad | have
arrived in time, old fellow, as ] verify
/ believe you are on the eve Of falling in
love with her."
81 do love her" said bis friend slowly.
I'D with q sigh; ''aud was vain ana
| foolish enough to think aha cared some
thing for me. However, the chafQ is
now broken: for if there IS one thing |
have 6 contempt for more than another
it is & mercenarv woman. The woman |
marry must love me for myself alone,
spd not for Whist | possess"
The above conversa' iJT was overheard
hy Maud Hesketh herself, who had res
tired to the library for an hour or two's
quiet readinc; and hearing her name
uttered by Percy Herbert, curiosity to
hear what he had TO say about ner made
her creep to the open window, where,
screened from observation by the heavy
curtains she listened to all that was
said. Never was the old sdage, List
eners hear no good of themselves" 80
thoroughly verified as in this instance;
and, overwhelmed with shame and dis.
NAV. she fed to her own room, where,
locking her door, she gave way to pss
si0nate burst of tears, none the less bit
ter for knowing that the accusation
brought against her was true one, for
in thouehtless moment she had uttered
the words which were now to part her
from the man she loved better than life.
Maud Hesketh was the eldest OF
large family, az poor as they were proud;
for until the last two or three years their
father hsd been man Of large landed
nroperty. but owing to the loss of &
chancery suit was completely ruined
nothing remsining OF his great wealth
hut a few thousands. The crash had
been sudden and most unexpected, for
not only themselves but all their friends
had regarded the winning Of the suit as
certain and great indeed had been the
CONSERVATION when their loss became
known. The old home was given up,
and they retired to a secluded country
town, where, unknown aud unsought,
except bv few, they could live quietly
and cheaplv. It was great and a sad
change for all, but for Maud especially,
who. not having been long introduced,
and ALWAYS being made much of, not only
for her beauty and brightness, but also
for her supposed wealth, the sudden
reverse nf fortune was almost more than
she could besr--and she was often beard
to saw that never could she Larry any
msn who could not restore to her all the
Injuries and pleasures she had lost. But
unfortunately she had made that remark
10 Mr.. Liston, an utter STRANGER to her
who. ataving with a lady friend in the
naichhorhood. had cOme with her 20 call
upOn the Heske tbs; and who, hearing a
Young girl make such remark, and not
knowing the circumstances of the case,
had very naturally drawn his own con-
illusions,
One of Maud's greatest friends was an
old school companion, who was now mar
ried. and il was at her house that she
met Percy Herbert, tavOrite cousin of
Mrs. Carlyon's, who was very anxious
to bring about match between the two.
Mr.. Herbert was possessed of consider
able wealth. and was considered a great
catch, so that when Maud first arrived
she congratulated herself upon her good
lnc&, and laid herself OFT to he as tssci
mating As possible. But before many
weeks had passed over her head, she made
txo rst, that her heart was
ir,etrievablv gone; and, secondly, that
money had nothing to do with il; for II
was the maa himself she was in low
with, so that Il was douhly calling to her
10 haqr her former mercanary views
brought to Fight. and to feel that not only |
had she lost Percy Herbert's love, bat
also his respect.
ENhl what must he think Of me ?
Hw he must despise me said the |
wretched girl; and burylng her ace In
her hands she thought long and earnest
lv as TO the best way of proving the
falsity of Harry Listens opinion.
know what | will do" she exclaimed II
"G will play Mr.. Liston off against him,
and let him see that | can flirt with q
poor man as well as q rich one"
So removing all traces OF tears, she
dressed herself for dinner with unusual
care. Never were tables so completely
turned on eny one as they were on poor
Percy Herbert that evening; for ever
since his friend had opened his eyes to
Maud's apparent deceit, he had been
wondering how he could best give her to
understand that she need not for the |
uture shower any of her destinations
upon him; and now without giving him
one opportunity of snubbing her she !
entirely ignored his presence and de-
voted herself to his friend, who was as