The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-11-06

was strange ana uiSuofleu. MS eyes nan
closed. 4 confused, unintelligent muir
muir flowed. from his lips, his hands
clenched and unclenched; at times
groan seemed wrung from his vitals.
Miss Turpin's features were pale and
haorar1l. her ewes streaming with tears.
Yet, in the midst of an anguish that par
took of despair, with throes OF pain and
terror unspeakable, there was born to
her solemn and almost sinister Joy, the
first ever given to that sterile soul.
When the Doctor came in the evening
he thought he had never seen so patient
and noble face; there was something
in it that went to his heart.
:" Be comforted," he said, let us rely
upon the youth and strong physique OF
your husband"
The incoherent muttering of his patient
attracted the Doctors attention. Sharp
and strong sentences fell upon his ear,
that excited his professional curiosity
When he heard from Miss Turpin of the
enthusiasm and zeal of the young student,
as much as she dared tell him of his de-
feated aspirations and hopes, the good
Doctors eyes kindled with sympathy.
"Let him only get WELL" he said,
and we will sweep these lions out Of
his path"
Miss Turpin smiled through her
tears.
"He will get well, thanks to you,"
! she said.
"And to you," he added looking
around the room with appreciation. 1t
had been suddenly metamOrphosed into
the model of chamber for the sick.
The open fire, with its cheerful blaze
and ventilating draught; the subdued
lipht: the white and warm drapery of
the bed; her own little couch near by !;
pretty, shadowy pictures upon the walls
tinted by her own hands-an eloquent
silence reigning over all.
sit is lucky for yonder lad," thought
the Doctor, "that in all this big
wretched barrack the one little snug
gerry is his own"
And so the days went by, each one
freighted with hope and fear. There
came one at last upon which rested the
life or death of the young student.
"Some time this evening"" said the
Doctor to Miss Turpin, 90 he viii regain
consciousness; be sure that you do not
leave his bedside. | would not for the
world, at that critical moment, that a
| strange face should meet his own
Miss Turpin turned pale, and stretched
out her hands with a gesture of entreaty.
Then she slipped from her chair to her
knees, and from thence to the floor.
Now had come the supreme moment OF
torture. Now her labor, her JOY, her
life, was done.
A strange face! What face could be
stranger than her own?
Tut, child!'' said the Doctor; 81
thought you had more courage. There
is every hope for him. Can't you bear
ioy as YOU have sorrow? l only want
that he shall first see the face of his
wife, the dearest to him in the world. y
He put down his hands to her, but
still she hid her face from his. Her
whole frame trembled. She wished that
she could die there and then.
"Oh, Doctor said she, lifting at last
her eyes to his, show can L tell you!
how can make you know? l am not
his wife!''
The Doctor drew back coldly; but as
her frank, earnest eyes caught his own,
he could not resist the innocent plead
ing there. She might be a poor Mag
dalen even, but he had never seen SO
childlike and yet womanly creature.
"We must think of nothing now but
our patient he said gently; "youl
face is at least familiar and dear tC
him.
"Alas! no., she said; ''it is strange
almost unknown. 1t is far better
should go away"
Then she told the Doctor all. And as
she went on to confess how she haC
dared shelter this poor neighbor of hers
without friends, sick unto death, help
less and alOne-how she had dared "a
any risk to shelter him and to nurse hin
back to life the good surgeons eye;
blinked under his shaggy brOws. He
put his heavy hand in benediction upOT
her bowed head.
"Thou good little Samaritan" he
said.
And two big, hollow, handsome eyes
upon the white bed in the corner also
filled with tears. He was so weak, thi:
poor young Blake, that he could scarcely
help sobbing outright at so touching a
story.
Whv-why,n he faltered to himself,
Gin little Miss Turpin's room! 0 thou
merciful heaveni in little Miss Turpin S
bed With the CHEEKY little fire in the
CRATE to foil yonder biting blast, with al
the little knick-knacks and furbelows
about-the little pictures on the wall,
her bird-ca@e at the window, and q
neat little medicine stand, with lots
of spoons in various doses, each
spoon with little Miss Turpin's name
and to her, then, under heaven
| owe my life! All, may God do so t.
me, and more also, if 1 desert little
Miss Turpin, or let little Miss TurpiI
desert me!
Z" And now," said the sweet, sad vote,
of Miss Turpin, "take me to his bedside
| am foolishly weak. can scarcely see
Let me look upon him just once NOR
before | 90. You will take care of hin
now, Doctor, won't you? But let me sa,
goodbye
The Doctor, undoubtedly, scarcel
knowing what to say, half carried her t
the bed
Goodbye, goodbye" she said
bending over him, her warm tears fall
: ing on his pale. sunken face, her hot
trembling hands clasping themselves to
: gether.
But suddenly two other hot, trem
: bling hands seized hers in feeble grasI
the hollow, sunken eyes of the stu
dent fastened themselves upon Mis-
> Turpin's face with a very hungry ten
derness.
"Oh, no." be said, "you can not @
from here, not for the world; you Sc
l the good Doctor has said it will not d
$ 10 have a strange face at my bedside