The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-01-30
IRENE'S LOVER.

found among the.rubbish Of mankind in
general" said irene Elder, laughing.
"There, that quotation is not quite
correct. But the difference between the
elegant Clarence Neville, with his ire
sistible smile and manner, neckties and
whole get-up in the latest fashion, and
Mr.. Clayton, plain and unassnming, with
gsrments more for use than elegance
"Nellie," and Irene faced quickly
round upon the speaker, "don't you dare
to make any comparison between those
two men to the dispsrsgement of Ernest
Clayton. You cannot judge him, for you
have only seen him once, under the most
unfavorable circumstances. He is as far
above Clarence, morally, Intellectually
and physically, as Clarence is above the
meauest beggar that walks the streets of
london"
"Well, ofall things, Irene, who'd have
nought this2 You, the belle of three
seasons, refined, fsstidious to nicely,
aristocrstic-to think of you preferring
that Flooding lawyer to gentleman of
leisure, taste and fortune, like Mr.. Me-
vile p
Nellie" spoke Irene, l never knew
The capabilities of my nature until l
made the acquaintance of Mr.. Clayton.
l sometimes vaguely wondered, when in
the society Of Clarence, if / was not ca
psble of nobler thoughts than his con-
versstion ever aroused within me;
whether there was not something higher
TO discuss than the senseless twaddle of
fashionable society. Ernest Clayton
touched a secret spring, and disclosed
recesses in my nature before unknown
to myself. | found in him vigorous,
highlyscultivated mind, too elevated to
be interested in mere frivolity heart
capable of priceless affection for the OBJ
ject OF his love, morality unquestiOnsble,
q man to lean on, to respect and love
with ever>incressing attachmeut-in
short, true hearted, manly man."
Chow enthusiastic you grow" ex~
claimed Nellie, looking sdmiringly at
the fair face of her friend, whose eyes
lighted with a proud, tender CLEAN as
she thus dilated on the character OF the
man she loved.
Nellie, though trifing and vain, yet
respected Irene now more than formerly,
and saw that she had passed into a
higher, purer atmosphere than that in
which she herself now existed. For a
moment she almost wished for some in
Huence like this to come into her own
life; then, in tie next, she was again
Tallying her friend.
Won't Mr.. Neville break his heart
over your desertien of him ? 1 thought
he looked rather disc1nsOlate last eve
ming"
1.-The butterfly had, fancy, got tired
of futtering around me. Don't fear for
him he will soon console himself with
q new love. ] know he sdmires Miss
Warner, and she sdmires him; perhaps
she will receive his attentions" looking
mischievOusly at Nellie.
al shall not receive them" said Nell
lie, though with heightened color. But
gu reuoir, Irene. must leave you with
your pleasant thoughts OF Mr.. Clayton
for company. You are expecting him
this evening, are you not ?" And Nellie
fitted out the room and down stairs.
Left to herself, Irene drew up her easy
chair to the glowing CRATE, and, rest ng
her head on her white jeweled hand,
gave herself up to pleasant thoughts, if
one might Judge from her countenance.
Very fair she looked, woman whom
any man might love, almost reverence;
for the cssket wss not more fair than the
Jewel it enshrined. Her form and fea-
lures were very beautiful, but her face
was expressive of sll sweet womanly
sympathies; true and tender heart was
choice. What man most prizes in woman
is her affection, not her intellect.
"a gentleman in the drswing-rOom
wishes to see you,' said her maid. enter
ing the drawing-roOm at the moment.
With a heart pulssting more rapidly
and heightened color, she descended
TO meet HIM, and was soon clasped in the
arms of her lover.
He was all that Irene had described
him-a man whom his fellow men in
stinctively respected and trusted, and
one to whose firm and tender sway
true woman would gladly, happily bow
her head, and find it her greatest happi-
ness to honor and obey.
al have something to tell you, dearest,
to show you why l prize your love 50
much, " he said, s.they sat side by side
with clssped hands. "Shall it be
now"
she timidly raised her eyes to his with
asserting glance.
"When / lived in my country home
wss younger, and trusted your sex more