The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-05-15

him again," said one; 81 would stop
mourning, and let him CO."
81 would get divorce, and marry
sgsin," said another.
i" He wss a scamp, azy way, and she
| has plenty of money and that dear little
| boy left, "ehimed q third.
But to her they spoke gently always,
of her loss reveIently, as of the dead, for
she was beloved by all.
She stayed in the hoDs where he had
left her. The roses -bloomed by the
doorway, almost annoticed; the vines
struggled uztrsined over the porch; the
garden lay neglected the house vas
quiet always, and tee oUly happy thing
about it was baby Leu, who ate and slept
and laughed and grew cheerily enough,
yet seemed to wonder sometimes why
mamma, weps whena hah-forgotten face
crossing his iEtantile mind, he called Tor
"PapGr
So the summer passed, and autumn,
with itG softened sunshine, dying beauty
and weird melodies cane, rounding TIE
year since Louis Aston left his home.
A ye&rl The pale woman, standing
where he had kissed his pretty vile
good-by, looking so sadly unlike her
former self, asked her sching heart how
many long, long years like this ere hfe's
hold must be loossd from earth, and the
years to ceme looked dreary indeed.
Once dVring the winter that followed
| came too officioug friend, who babe her
be comforted.
have been where Louis was" said
| he, "&nd learned all about the girl he
went away with. She is silly, heartless
creature, and people said there was no
doubt she would leave Mr.. Aston if his
health or money should tail. It will be
strange If he isn't q poor man before
many years go by, for he has become
very reckless with his property, and t en-
ne will see how much his new love cares
for him. He will receive his due re-
ward, and you will be revenged, never
fear"
"I do not crave revenge" was the
only reply of the trueshearted wife, and
in the night watches she sobbed on her
wakeful pillow, "God have pity for
him, wherever he is p
BY and by the child sickened, and for
time the mother forgot all else.
cts only cold," the good neighbors
said; "he'l be well in day or two"
But the little one grew no better. There
was a brief, sharp struggle with the
Destroyer, then the baby hands fell help
less down, and the sunny lie was
yielded.
She was alone-poor ROsalie Aston
with only that sweet dead face and
tiny, cold form, and that beautiful pic
tured face of the absent oue-Only these
left of her treasures. Yet not alone, for
nearer to the torn heart came the pres
enee Of the infinite sympathy and love !;
over the weary, impatient spirit fell
something of the peace Of that land
wherein her babe was safe.
"It's wonderful how she bears her |
trouble" said the doctors wife across
the way; "such frail little creature,
too"
Yes; I'm afraid sometimes she'll not |
be long with US, though" replied the |
next~dOer neighbor. "She does not say
any thing about Mr.. Aston, but doubt |
if there's ever q moment when he's cut |
of her mind"
You don't think she would forgive
him if he should come back? She has
too much spirit for that
"She has spirit enough, to be sure,
but hers is the true spirit. She has the
nobility that f0rgives the deepest wrongs.
She's worth 8 dozen like Lou Aston,
any day."
YES, he wrote the truth, surely, when
he said he was not worthy of her"
"But believe his desertion will grieve
her life away. She is no more like the
pretty rosy girl he brought here than
white violet is like rose" and the ten
der-hearted woman wiped her spectacles
to take look over at the tasteful dwell
ing of the lonely sister-woman, for whom
her kind heart ached daily.
"Poor, lonesome childl' she sighed.
!" If Lou Aston thinks he has found
better love than hers, he is mistaken"
There was never an hour of wakeful-
ness in which she did not remember him.
Her soul never lost its longing for him.
And the springtime coming again with
its beauty and music, dropped none OF
the old-time life and joy for her from its
perfumed wings as it passed, for the
snow of chill despair still lay over that
year~old grave, where her hearts fondest
trust had been laid, and on the turf over
that little mound in the village cemetery,
so precious to her, the grass had never
been green.
81 must go away from here" she
thought, IS the summer deepened. 4
must find work to do. l am wasting
time and losing energies that might be
of use to others. l must go away AMI
see if the world has any place for me-"
But one day there came to her door
weird old creature, who called.herself
of those strange ,
women who gain livelihood by going
about the country begging the privilege
of telling fortunes" for a quarter.
Plying the old woman, Mrs. Aston
gave her a seat inside the door. The
wandering eyes fell on the handsome
painted likeness of Louis Aston that
hung on the wall opposite them. l.
els that your husbands pictureW
she asked, with sudden interest.
eyes," was the low reply.
"Poor child poor child ~ muttered
the woman; and she glanced again
sharply at the portrait. Then she
turned to the pale wife.
"He isn't happy, now," she said
che isn't happy now. I've seen that
man, and 1 know ne isn't happy now.
Maybe he will come back to you ;" and
to say more, the cid woman
went her WY.