The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-10-16
THE TWO PATHS.

Ard the two paths stretched before them
In one the flowers seemed each a separate
glory. There was the rapture of bird-sOngs
and permeating all, such glow Of light anC
color that the ewes were GaZZled. The othel
was darkened by shade, and barren of al
beauty, vet in the remote distance there wa
bright line of light, not visible on the flow
er-lined path. In fact its own radiance wa
quite sufficient, and no one cared to look be-
yond.
Evelyn Seaton, who had read the above
paragraph aloud, laid down the book
with a laugh. "Oh, the old-fashioned
parable. mamma! | wonder if those
old writers really thought they were
mystifying people. OF course any child
can understand that the bright path is
pleasure, and the dark one duty, or vir-
tue. That's the usual meaning of all
these old moral tales, isn't it?"
"And yet it is wrong" Mrs. Seaton
answered. "The path of duty may
sometimes be 9ark, but frequently the
sweetest flowers bloom by its side. How
was it with you, last week? You re-
member the weather was cold and disa-
greeable, and you didn't wish to go to
school. Duty was dark to you then
but when at the end of the week you re-
,eeived such fiattering testimonial from
Prof. Adams, YOU were delighted at hav'
ing conquered your reluctance"
- Then | presume the old Professor
was the bright line al the end of my
path, laughed Evelyn. "Oh, you art
Jul mammal You coaXed me to reaC
the allegory just to point it ike pisto
at nv pleaSure-loving self. Surely I'm
not such a pleasure-seeker, such an eX
,citement-lover, as you say am"
- have never seen a girl of 10 year,
of age more So" WAS Mrs. Seatonf
grave answer. - For an hours excite
ment. / sometimes think you would sac
rifice any thing. Laugh as you will a
the allegory, but.you have two paths, a
well a. every other girl, and / fear
will only be a mere chance if you ge
into the right one.
. SuppoSS that TO please me you tr.
al experiment. 1t will be something
new and YOU like novelty. Take up on,
or two duties at once, to-day, and try t,
be cheerful. though your young friend
have left VOu.n clio.
Several Of Eyelyn's young relative
had been spending the lass two week
with her. They had left that morning
and she had wandered about the houS
gloomy and disconnected, until the epi
sode Of - The Two Paths > had rouSei
her a little.
The Young people had had what the.
called q iolv time at Mrs. SeatOn'S
Tn. weather had been fine, and the.
had ridden, walked, and played CIRQUE
70 their hearts content. Evelyn ha,
thrown herself into the enjoyment O
each hour with 'her usual impctuosity
Now that she was alone, the dizziness o
She old life was almost undesirable, an,
she was actually turning over in he
mind several plans, perhaps objection
able in themselves, but which nigh
give her little amusement. She wa
not a Girl who ever paused to ask her
self. = Is this right?" but, " VIII thi
amuSe me?" As if an answer to he
thoughts. Molly, one of the servants
who was sweeping out the hall, gave he
a significant look as she was going u
stairs.
90 dear. if I amt had time tIyiu
30 give YOU this note so no one woul
see Somehow your mar seemed to b
suspicioning something, and kept yo
close all the morning. Here it is. II
saws TO me. SAYS he, Molly, you put
IN her own hands, mind, and tell he
III be at the gate, at the end Of tn
Acacia Walk. I'm bound to see he
Shis very evening" Them was his yer
words
EVELYN. with the note in her HAND
fed to her room with crimson cheeks
She hardly knew whether to be shocke
or pleased, for though she had often rt
cei1ed notes from Captain Campbell
through the housemaid, she had neye
met him in the manner now proposed.
He was a handsome, worthless youn
man. who had been visiting relativ
fn the neighborhood, and she and he
cousins had met him first at an i'm
promptu party, given by this very rela
i've. ~
81 don't like to have you visit at Mrs
yEosrer's,' - her mother had said g Sh
IS a careless, frivolous woman, who re
ceiyes all kinds of Objectionable peopl
Al her house. Captain Campbell, VIII,
Is Saving there; is the last man witt
rhom your father and | would wish yol
TO have even a passing acquaintance