The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-02-06

be attempted 10 speak TO her; she re-
piled mildly, but in few words. II wss
easy to sse that she preferred her Ailence
and her solitude to the little bunch
backs good viii he perceived it, and
said no more.
But T0iuette's needle was hardly suf'
fc.cnt for her support. and presently
work failed her Maurice learned that
| the poor girl was in want OF everything
and thar the trsdesmen refused to give
her credit. He Immediately went tc
them and privately engaged TO pay them
tor what they supplied Toinette with.
Things went on in this way for several
months The young dress-maker con.
tinued out OF work, until she was at last
righteHeda at the bills she had contracted
with the shopkeepers. When she came
to al explanation with them everything
was discovered. Her first impulse Wa;
to ruu TO Uncle Maurice and thank him
on her knees. Her habitual reserve had
given way to s burst Of deepest feeling
j seemed a. i gratitude had melted all
the ics OF t5at nUmbed hesEt.
Being now no longer embarrassed with
q secret, lhe little hunchback could give
greater efficacy to mig good offices
Duinete became TO MIN a sister. tol
whose wants he had a right to provide
It wss the first time since the death OF
his mother that be had been able to
share his life with another. The young
woma0 received his attentions with feel
ing. but with reserve. All Maurice's
efforts we're insufficient to dispel her
gloom. She seemed touched by bis
kindness, and sometimes expressed her
sense OF il with warmth but there she
STOPPED. Her heart w2s a closed book,
which the little huncbback might bend
over but could not read. In truth, he
cared little 70 DO 80 he gave himself up
to the happiness of being no longer alone,
and took Toinette as her bong trials h,
made her; he loved her az she was, and
wished fer nothing else but still to enjoy
her company.
This thought insensibly took posses
SIGN of his mind, to the exclusion of
every thing else. The poor girl was as
forloTn as himself; she had become
accustomed to the deformity of the
hunchback, snd she seemed to look upon
him with sn afectionate sympathy.
What more could he wish for? Until
then. the hopes Of making himself accept
able to helpmate had been repelled by
Maurice as q dream but chance seemed
willing to make it q reality.
After much hesitation he took courage,
and decided to speak to her
1t was evening; the little hunchback,
In much sgitslion, directed his steps
toward the worBran's garrett. Just as
re was about to enter, he thought he
heard a strange voice pronOuncing the
maiden's name. He quickly pushed
open the door, >sud perceived Toinette
weeping and leaning ON the shoulder OF
q young man in the dress of sailor.
At the sight OF my uncle she olsen
gagged herself quickly, and ran to him,
crying out, "Ah, come in come in 1t
is ne that l thought was dead; it is
Julien; it is my betrorhedP'
Maurice tottered and drew back. A
single word had told lin all.
II seemed 10 him as if the ground
shook and his heart WAS going to break
but the same voice that he had heard by
his mothers death bed again sounded in
his ears, and he soon recovered himself
God was still his friend.
he himself accompanied the newly
married pair on the road when they went
away, and after having wished them all
the happiness which was denied to him
he returned with resignation to the old
house in the suburb.
II was there that he ended his life,
torsaken by men, but not, as he said, by
the Father which is in heaven. He ielt
his presence everywhere; it was to him
in the place Of sll else. When he died,
it was with 3 smile, aud like an exile
setting out Tor his own country. {
who bsd consoled MIN in poverty J
ili-aeaI.h, when he WAS suffering ron
injustice sld torsaEen by ell had made
death gain and blessing TO him.