The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-04-10
AN OPEN VERDICT.

1t Is q very pleasant ieellDg, that
liberty from all business cares of what
soever kind, if only for few weeks
when ones avocations for the remainde
of the year confne one to the busy brsi
devouring city like this mighty Londol
of ours; and therefore it was with n
slight degree of anticipated enjoymen
that year or two ago l accepted an oft
repeated invitation to visit an old schoo
chum, DR.. Henry GLADDEN., at the villsg
of Claystone, in one of our northern
counties.
] arrived. however, at an unfortunate
period, and found that what l had pic
tured to myself as being a happy, jolly
country house, was st that time house
of mourning. Gladden's uncle and pre-
decessor, old Mr.. Williams, had died
only few hours before my arrival. ]
would have willingly gone on my way,
but this my old friend with his wife
would not hear Of, and everything was
done to render my visit as cheerful as
circumstances would permit. l attended
the funeral, and, as we turned to leave
the churchysrd, was struck with an
expression of Glsdden's which appeared
to be uttered without any knowledge of
it on his part. 1t was The grave has
closed over the last" 1 felt greatly
tempted to ask for an explanation, but
for obvious reasons checked my curl.
osity.
A few mornings afterwards, while
accompanying my friend on his round Of
visits, we came before an old, large, red
brick-house that stood close beside the
road, being separated merely by hedge
and small lawn.
"Why, what is this ?" exclaimed
GLADDEN., as he saw a number of work
men engaged in erecting scafoIding,
d;o.-inr o., the lawn, and otherwise
J S.gsc, Aha ,lace. what are all
these men about -R,." (calling to one
of the people, " What is 1t ~" are oolng
heref"
"PuTing down thouse for railway"
was the laconic response,
Then the final link is being broken"
unused my companion, as we drove on.
My curiosity was again aroused, and
this time l resolved to satisfy it, so /
game to the point at once by thus ad-
dressing ny friend; Hal, you are not
generally given to ambiguous or unsatis-
factory sentences, and therefore-it l am
not presuming too much-would you
mind telling me what you alluded to in
your last remark, and the equally strange
one uttered at your uncle's funeral?
"Well, Dick" he replied, ait is
strange story, and one, perhaps, that
does not reflect much credit upon my
moor uncle; bat, as the acters in this
little drama have passed away, and even
the very scene OF action will in few
days be plowed up, may and will set
your mind at rest on the subject. You
remember that after / had walked the
hospitals in town, came here partly on
q visit, and partly to study under my
late uncle. But l found a greater at
traction than any | had anticipated In
the person of my cousin Lucy, with
whom soon fell over head and ears in
love. Her father was not sverse to it,
and things were shortly in good trsin for
our marriage. ! was to be taken into
partnership by my uncle when that
event took place, and the day before the
deeds were signed the old gentleman
called me into the room and narrated the
story, which will explain my late ex-
pressions, and which | will tell in his
own words:
Harry" said my uncle, ''ss you are
now to be my son-in-law snd partner. /
think it but right you should become
acquainted with sn adventure that befel
me in my younger days, and for my
share in which--justiHable as it then APP
peared to mel have never ceased to
reproach myself. At the time l am
speaking of, was studying medicine at
Manchester, but while on a visit TO 8
distant relative, DR.. Seyton, who occu-
pied this very house, You see, Dick,
this is quite family practice paren,
thesized Gladden." was one night
awakened by shske of the shoulder,
and looking up saw, by the light of the
moon, which stresmed up at my win-
dow, DR.. Seyton standing at my bed
side. Come, get up, said he, have
been sent for, and IS Poor This assistant)
was ont last night. Pll get you to accom-
psDy me now While he descende tod
the surgery snd stables, speedily doI>
ned my habiliments, and by the time l