The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-03-20

can make me anything but IS deeply Il
love with my second daughter SIS q poo
old fellow like Hie ean be. Why, child
ana under cloud all day because 10
morrOw-as Soon as tQ-mOIrow-I can b
Paps Selwyn 30 more, and Madge wi
be thinking about nobody but he
cousin"
"No, indeed 2" cried Madge impet
uously. You will be Papa Selwyl
always-always; and l don't care for N,
cousin Bit"
But her guardian shook his heal
grsvely.
"My dear, you will marry you
cousin"
The FIRE light had died down low, ant
Msdge had courage enough to blurt gu
with an effort the few words:
can't marry Jack, because ough
to love my husband, and / can neve
care enough for him. Or, if l must b,
engaged to, himssto-morrow here Their,
was great sob" Mr.. Fitzallen is very
good and kind, and / do MT want to hur
him, but-but he must go away"
Her head sunk upon his knees with
the great effort of that request.
My poor child" he said, 81 know
your secret. Bravely said, my little
Madge, my bonnie girl You have had
the truth out and done nobly. You are
worthy of the man tDat is to have you
and that is saying a good deall" Then
! raising her head gently he babe heI
listen, for he was going to tell her 8
secret in return for hers. When she
heard it she waited with wide wondering
eyes while he told it q second time. for
she could not believe in her Joy As
you know, Msdge," he began, "most
people in this world have more cousins
than one" And then he went on to
explain TO her that Herbert FitzsI-
len was q very distant cousin, and
that it was to him her father wished ner
to be married. Fitzallen's father mad
been the companion of his labors, and
Herbert himself had been loved by the
dying man as a son; for Herbert was
twenty when Msdge was an orphaned
baby Of four. " You ask what about
Jack, then % said the old man. "Thst
Was my clever trick upon Msdre.
never said you were to marry Jack. |
told you OF your fathers wish. I
brought Jack here, the only cousin YOU
knew and | praised his good qualities
which are fine enough, I can tell you,
and appreciated by young lady not far
from here. / knew that wayward heart
of yours, and [ knew that woman
should not marry without zeal love, end
a great store Of it, too. So left nv dar-
ling open to the idea that Jack was TO be
the lucky fellow and she did lust what
I and all sensible folks expected-almost
hated Jack and her doom, Then I took
care that the man you were meant for
who, my dear, has the best a1d truss.
heart in the wOrld-shOuld come in the
way just at the ri ght time and show an
interest in you. And have l not sue,
ceeded and made my Nadge choose her
fathers choice with her own tree heart
sud will? As Tor Fitzaleu, ne is all
impotence for tomorrow, and he would
have told you the secret at the ball the
other night, when he saws that he was
put TO desperate trial, but he had
promised nue. never to disclose it till we
were quite sure Of success. Wen, are
you happy now, Msdge "
" Ny dear, good second father! How
can l love you enough p was all she
could say when she 1eiC his arms around
her at that moment OF fulfilled desires,
and his lips pressed TO her forehead in
tatherly affection now that his long soli~
ciLude was at an end and his hard task
well done.
That very night Nsdge, scarcely able
to realize her joy, was betrothed % Her
bert Fitzallen, who once the .ecret was
disclosed, would not wait another hour.
Have | not waited yesr- 9' he said.
CAN my time abroad | was waiting, and
then ! came back and found my Madge
more than ever | had dared to hope.
But Madge in her new freedom did
not forget poor Jack. Indeed she was
almost II trouble about her uukiGduess
to him when she heard that he had been
only playing a part bearing all her teas
ing, and being pUrpOsely ungTsci0Us
she grew kind. But Gertrude
c0nsoled her etfecJusliy on that score bv
telling another secret after her ks. Of
CONTAMINATION.
Jack was indeed doing his bast to
carry out the plan" she said; "aud he
was often grieved about you; but, d-aI
Msdge, yeu must congratulate Us now
not me, but us. Jack and I made it up
between us months ago, and We had
many a laugh about you.
So Madge herself accepted the ring
and wore her golden letters by her own
free will after all nor was there ever q
happier or more willing captive. As for
Fitzsllen if he was not another Arthur,
az the girls fancy had prompted her TO
call him, he was as blameless" as the
Prince of the "Idyls," and far more
blest and il he reigned over no realm
he was at least king of one brsve AID
tender heart-a kingdom wide enough 10
satisfy his desires and a prize which time
proved to be well worth his years Of
o.tSno,