The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-07-17

"That is strange" said 'Coralie; "I
wonder Caryl never told you-but
suppose you are still q child to him.
You must be nearly seventeen, Mabel"
Seventeen last MONTH"
"Just ten years my JUNIOR" said
Corslie, and sighed, she could not have
told why.
One dsy there came telegram. Csryl
was coming home.
Coralie arose from the lounge where
she had been lying, and began 70 make
her toilet. In all her life she had never
felt 20 anxious and excited shout her
personal appearance.
She chose a delicate, pale-blue robe.
one that had been very becoming to her
in her health. She arranged her besuti-
full and plentiful hair IN the manner
Caryl had liked of ld,--and then she
threw open the blind and let in food
of wsrm, clear sunlight upon herself as
she stood before the mirror. She used
TO do that in days gone by, and gioIied'
in the beauty that showed no flaw. But
now ali ! the sunlight was cruel, cruel.
1t showed the thin figure, with all its
lack of rounded outlines. 1t showed the
wasted cheeks, the flesh with that gray
look of middle life upon it, the cruel
little lines about the mouth and eyes.
All, God she was no longer beautiful.
Would Caryl still love herr
Just then she heard cry, and turning
toward the window, she saw Caryl COM
ing through the gate and Mabel running
to meet him. He looked but little older
than when she first saw him but he was
hsndsomer, and his bearing was more
dignifed. Her heart leaned to her
throat, her breath came thick and last,
as she watched him unseen.
Mabel met him, her cheeks aglow with
the wild-rose bloom of early youth, her
long hair floating in the summer breeze
As CaryPs eyes rested upon her, his face
seemed TRANSPORTED. Coralie could
think of no other word. He took her
outstretched hands in his and held them
silently, as he looked down into her up
turned eyes.
id There was no mistsking the look-the
look of worshiping love. She staggered
back to her place before the mirror.
With the memory of Mabel's fresh beau
ty in her mind, she looked years older
to herself than she did five minutes be-
fore-old, haggard and unlovely.
Her beauty had been of that rich
type, dependent upon her bloom and
roundness. So long as she was well and
happy she was beautiful. But when
sickness came and health and bloom
vanished, and the excess of fine spirits
ebbed away, she looked older than her
years; and now, with this new and terri
bic knowledge that had just come upon
her, it seemed to her she had suddenly
leaped into middle age.
Mabel came bounding into her room,
and ran up behind her and slipped one
arm about her as she stood before the
mirror. Coralie shrank as if she had
been struck, for the contrast of the "a
diant face and her own haggard one was
almost more than she could bear. She
waited until Mabel had gone out into
the yard before che went down to meet
Caryl.
She saw his involuntary start of sur
prise as his eye fell upon her, and, emil
ing sadly, she said: /" i have been very
Ill, Caryl, and am much changed. l hope
TO grow better after few weeks"
But she did not grow better. She fell
i'll again of low fever, and could not
leave her room.
One August day she took to her bed,
and they all despsired OF her rising
from it.
She called Caryl to her side. He had |
been at home six weeks, and no word
had been spoken by either of their future.
"Caryl," she said, "I want to talk to
you of what is in both our minds. want
% tell you that shall never ask you to
fulfill our long-delayed engagement" |
He was silent.
"I have been very selfish and very
,ruel. / did not seem TO value your
owe or consult your happiness. / only
thought of myself, my beauty, my
pleasure. l thought of these for seven
7ears, but l was true to you Csryl.
Never once did my heart waver in its
allegiance. But instead of making your
life blest and complete, went on gather
ng the apples of Sodom. And can not
blame you, Daryl, that you grew tired of
Waiting, that your heaat hardened
owsrd me, and that new love crept in,
or 1 have seen it, Caryl!-you love
Mabel" |
She paused, and his quiet tones broke
he silence
eyes" he said, "I love her." +
A great sob rose in her throat, but she
hoked it down in silence.
1" l think" she said, that I am mot
,oing to get well. Before ! die wish
Tou and Mabel to get married. Let it
,e soon here, beside my bed. I have
made you 50 miserable sll these years /
would like TO be sure of your happiness
before 1 die. Could you crafty me-" /
eyes" he said, softly; SIT shall be
% morrow, if Mabel loves me. have
lever spoken one word of love to her."
" She loves you better than her life"
answered Coralie
He stopped down and kissed her, and
vent out and left her alone. She knew
,e had gone to Mabel. All the glory
md triumphs Of her life could not bal, |
lnce the pain of that night. She lay
Iwske through tie long hours, her eyes
taring wide open into the blank dark.
iess, thinking clearly. Her beauty was
zone and forever. Premature age had
,one upon her; henceforth she must
AXE her place, if she lived, among the
,assee women. There were no more
or pleasures or youth for her.
And yet with the 6rst mad passion OF
youth she loved .Oaryl now. She had
ust learned what love was, as it was
matched from her and given to
younger girl. But it had been her own
isult. She might have bean his wife
,ow-his loved, cherished wife-witb /
lis children about her knee. But she
mad been unwilling to give her youth \
and beauty in exchange Tor wifehood
and motherhood. And now youth and