The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-02-20
THE FAITHFUL GUEST.

There was something, forget what,
to take my grandfather and grandmother
away from home one day in October of
the year | lived with them in Burns
Hollow. 1t may have been funeral or
some religious meeting, for they both
drove of dressed in their best in the gig,
with old Ajax hsr messed to it and alter
| had tucked in grandmss iron-gray silk
skirt and ran back to the house for
grandpa's spectacles, and had seen the
gig vanish in the distance, | felt lonely.
Burns Hollow was q lonesome, rambling
mansion, which might have sheltered q
regiment, and had a ghostly air about it
when one wandered through the upper
rooms alone.
There were but two servants in the
kitchen, Hannah Cakes and the Irish
lad Anthony. | heard them laughing
merrily together, for, though Hannah
was an old woman, she was full of fun,
and in Eve minutes the door opened and
Hannah came in with the tray.
please, miss" said she, as she set it
down, may / run over to Mapleton to-
night? Ny sisters daughter had boy
last night, they say, and | want to see it,
uat'rsll y-it's the first I've ever had of
grsrdaiece or nephew"
VINO brought the news?" asked.
Anthony, miss" said Hannah. " He
met George-that's my niece's husband
when he was out after the COW, stray
ing Is she ALWAYS is, and told him to tell
Hannah she's grandsunt.
You may 60" / said, "but don't
stay late. Grandpa and grandma may
be away all night, and l feel nervous.
To be sure, there is Anthony, but never
RELY on him. Be certain net 10 stay
late" repeated this injunction with a
sort OF fright stealing over ME- pre-
sentiment of evil, I might ssy-snd
something prompted ne to add Be
back by g." Why, l cannot say; but |
felt ~ if by should be in some peculiar
danger.
Hannah promised, and, after doing all
| required, went away, and | heard her
heavy shoes ON the garden walk outside
Early IS it wzs, ] had dropped the cur
tsis and lighted the wax candle on the
mantel, and sat long after my tea, find,
iBg z certain compshiODship IN 1t, IS
women of all ages will.
sat thus long time, and WIS startled
from nav rsverie by rap 81 the dOor-a
tiuid sort of rap, 30 knew At Oaoe t1st
It va. rot . member OF the house nor an
intimate friend. waited, expecting
Anthony TO open the door, bat finding
he did not west TO it myself.
1t had grown suite dark, aud thc moon
roe late tsat night. at srst ! could
only make out /, croachiag figure at the
b1tton OF the porch but when [ spoke
it advanced, and by tbs light of the hall
lamp Jaw black man. | had always
had sort oi fear of q negro, and instinct
lively .hrunk awsy, but az ! did so he
spoke in husfy whisper: q" This is
Nss.a NortOn's, isn't it ~
Yes" ! replied, " but grandfather
is out"
| retrested as he advanced.
please, miss be said, Judge B.
sent me here. BE said mass 'ud help
me on. Let me stay here a night, miss
Il trabbled FIVE DAYS since | left him,
hidin' like Is awful hungry. Pears
ike I'd drop, and ole masss's arter me.
For de lub 90 heaben, miss, let me hide
~ mewheres, and glib me jes' crust.
Masss Morton 'ud help me, and it's kept
me up. Missus will, know,
| knew thSa grandfather had given
succor TO some of these poor wretches
before; but felt that might be doing
wrong by admitting stranger in his ab-
sence.
Caution aud pity struggled With me.
At last said, 6 You nave a note from
the Judge, suppose, sir p
&" had some writin' on paper" said
the man, but rs lost it de night it
rsined 20. All miss, rs tellin' the truh
Judge sent me, sure Is Ia sinner Is
been helped along 50 tar, and pears Xix
| get to Csnady. Can't go back nousys.
Wifes dsr, and the young uns. Got
clear year ago. Miss, I'll pray for you
ebry day OF my life et you'll be so good
to me Tank you, miss.
For somehow when he spoke of wife
aud children l had stepped back and let
him in.
1t was the back hall door to which the
RAD had come, and the kitchen wss close
at hand. | led him thither Whe.
Jaw how worn he was, how wretched,
how his eyes glistened, and how under
his rough blue shirt his heart beat 30
that YOU could count the pulses, | iorgot
NV caution. | brought out cold meat
and bread, drew q mug OF cider, and
.nre.d them on the table. The negro
ate. and left him to find Anthony, to
whom | intended to give directions for
his lodging throughout the night ..
To INV surprise, Anthony was nowhere
about the house or garden.
Hannah must have taken him with
her across the lonely road to Aapleton-
1t was natural, but / WAS angry.
Yet | lopged tor Hsnnsh's return, and
listened very auxiously until the cl"ck
.trucs nine. Then, instead OF her tout
steps. heard the patter OF ralndrops
and the rumbling thunder, and looking
out saw that a heavy storm was com
ing on.
Now, certainly, grandpa and grsndms
yould not come, and Hannah, waiting
tor the storm to pass, would not be here
for hours. However, my fear OF the ne
gro was quite gone, and | felt certain
pride in conducting myself bravely un
der these trying circumstances.
Accordingly l went up stairs, founC
in the attic sundry pillows and holsters
1 and carried Them kitehenward.
Here" I said, make yourself bee
on the settee yonder, and be easy for tn
night. No one will follow you in such s
! terrible storm as this. and, no doubs