The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-01-16

sign OF any mysterious vfsitant / had
such fear of the darkness. however,
that lett the candle burning.
The fury Of the storm had not abated,
and I lay awake for some time listening
to the wind At last however, l fell
into an uneasy slumber. How long l
had slept know not, when ] was awak-
ened by an icy touch upon my head.
| started up with thrill apprehen-
sion, The light emitted faint, sepulch~
raj Pleam. On, horror Whist was that /
saw? A figure, rObed in white, came
gliding toward me from the icot of the
bed. The face was hidcen from my
view, but / knew from the form that it
was the ghost of Ansstasis.
" William Raymond" csme in a hOsrse
voice from the figure, came here to
avenge your infdelity, and to drag you
down TO the grave in my embrace"
| sbrieked with terror as felt her
clutch at my throat, and cried, family:
Mercy, mercyl'
"YoH would marry Kate Nelson,
would you ?" whispered the ghost, mock
iu ly. eff you do not wish 20 die"--
and here the forefngers pressed so tight
that / gasped for breath" promise me
that YOU will not marry Kate Nelson"
ooh, I pr, mise, ] promisel' said 1,
half dead with terror.
60 Woe be unto yon if you deceive
me answered the ghost, sJlemniy and
heard nc more.
It was some time before l ventured to
cast 3 glance around the room. The
ghost had disappeared. The STERN, too,
wss beginning to subside; but / could
not 70 80 s"op sEaiu, Tor I found Il im~
! possible % forget that phantom and it.
/ deadly clutch upon my throat. /
! resolved TO say nothing about II. OF
/ curse, people would ridicule the idea Of
q ghost. Nevertheless, d d not dare to
wed Kate Nelson vet how could | ex-
plain the sudden change of purpoge ? T
| frequently hoped that she would rot die
OF broken hesrt. What should ! saw
to the poor girl?
After considerable Re lection resolved
to trust this delicate affair to Charlie.
The proposed marriage was so odious in
his eyes that j knew he would Justify
my apparent treachely to her, il possible.
Morning came, and arose in feverish
state of mind. How l dreaded to meet
Kate at the bTeaka asst table! But, fors
tunstely, she did not make her apnears
snce. Charlie looked so troubled that
almost fancied that he, too, mad seen the
ghost.
After breakfast said to him, with an
embarras ment that I strove to hide ::
My dear boy, do you remember what
we were talking about last evening?
have been thinking the matter over Sc
fiOusly, snd am afraid that marriage
between Katie and myself will result In
unhappiness, but nave not the courage
u brave her repIOacbes Now, Charlie,
viii you act as mediator, and make
known this change in my views7"
Why, uncle" he answered, aud I was
almost sure that | could zee a CLEAN OF
mischief in his eyes, something extra.
ordinary mus have happened; you are
not usually 50 tickle"
4" We won't discuss the matter" said
|, in sn irTitated tone. " VIII YOU or
will YOU not grant my request?"
COZ cour-e Twill, -" he replied, " but it
will be a difheul5 task The POOR child
will be so disappointed"
/ detected & joyous ring in his voice,
and looked at him rather suspicioUsly.
His diplomatic mission was successful.
however. Late in the afternoon Katie
came down into the library where | was
sitting. [ had never seen her look 80
pretty.
ooh, Mr.. Raymondr' che said,
eagerly, II am so glad that YOU have
changed your mind 1t was so unex-
Pecyed yesterday. l never dresmed be-
fore that you loved me in any other
way than ss a daughter"
Was this acting2 Was she trying to
deceive me in her pure and sweet unsel~
fshness?
Then you never loved mep
" Dear Mr.. Raymond, you know
better, only it was not exactly the kind
OF love one ought to feel toward q hus
band. You are as dear to me as if you
were my own father; but you arr so
much older than | that-th&t--"
She besitated, and did not finish her
sentence. l remembered my gray hairs
with Pang OF NORTH d vanity. Was
not the ghOstly visit enough? Must |
be tortured in this manner afterwards?
The spell was torn away from the de-
fusion | cherished. Alas! / bad misin.
terpreted her childish affection. 1t might
be that she loved another. looked down
into the face where a vivid scarlet glow
ed, and there read her own secret.
"My dear child p l exclaimed, at
tempting to control my agitation, "tell
me everything"
"Ohl Mr.. Raymond" she exclaimed,
in confusion, Charles has asked me to
become his wife"
The rascal! No wonder he remained
with her such long time that morning;
nor that he boosted of the satisfactory
manner in which everything had been
explained.
1.-The impudent fellow" l muttered
impstientIy. "What do You answer,
child? Do you love him?"
Low and very softly came the answer:
eyes"
The heart of woman is q mystery ]
cannot fathOm. / was certainly Outwit
ted by my nephew. He might have been
afraid, however, that my conscience
would reproach me il Katie showed her
disappointment. ! have little doubt that
she loved me far better than she would
confess.
ALL well, they were married in due
course of time, and we were all living
together. The dear children do every
thing they can to add to my happiness.
Katie is still besuti III woman, and
II, = ha toA IF
old age.
l never saw the ghost again. In fact,
| have good reasons to think that the
mysterious visitant was a certain grace
less nephew OF mi who had fallen in