The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-10-30
ADELINA.

cold, clear Tuesday mOrulNG-tnat L
disconsolately wendell my way to school,
wishing that holidays came Oftener and
STAYED longer, and regretting that out
of iittv-two there was only one week OF
uninterrupted pleasure.
The old red schOol-house stood at the
junction of three roads, and as | raised
The lir;le hill Just before reaching it, |
saw coming from the opposite direction,
a little black clad figure that looked like
a moving blot on the UnbrOken white
ness 81 the snow-cOvered landscape. |
never could tell what actuated me to
Iingc. on her movements as | did, or
WHY she so strangely attracted me, but
from the first, think must have loved
the child. even before | was old enough
10 slightly understand the meaning of
ne word.
We reached the worn old dOor-stone
together, and, being a boy, not at all
afraid to speak to any one, much less a
timid little girl, l very coolly as ed her
If this was her first day at school.
d" Yes; and | dread it so much"
II was the sweetest voice | had ever
heard or have ever heard since. The
pecuiiar rising infection on the last word
was ike the short, clear, low notes of Il
bird, and as purely natural.
&" DO you come every day?"
:. Haven't missed day this winter. =
ooh. am so glad"
- why are you SO glad?'
E. Because YOU are good boy. Won't
YOU please tell me your nameg
Edward Durand.'
a ike the name" she said sweetly,
and, boy as | was, | wondered how any
mortal ever came by such an angel
smile. All this time she had been try
ing to unite the round worsted strings
of her hood, but had only succeeded in
drawing them into a harder knot.
Won't YOU please unite 1t for me,
Eddie
She held up her little cold chin, and
without "a moments hesitation | bent
down and did rs she requested. 1t was
such % tender. confidin@ little face-who
could help loving it? I patted encor-
arirUly the rose-red cheek turned to-
ward me in gentle truthfulness, and
,,ade her not to be afraid, for she had as
good right to come TO school rs any
one
ssHallo' where did that little black
bird come from?'' cried kind-hearted
Ben Phillips a we entered. Come
along. little girl, and get warm, for you
col, half frozen
4 reacral tittering and nudging fol
lowed Ben's energetic seating OF the new
scholar, and one saucy little mink, moi
understanding lis significance. asked
pcrtly.
e.What are YOU looking SO like a crow
for? / hate a black dress"
..Hush,'' reproved an older girl, wh'
overheard the remark. Hush, Sue
dom Won see she is IN mourning?"
The voice that had so charmed me Il
the entry answered the question in
strangely quiet way.
" NV father is dead"
4 hush as of death fell upon the nois.
group gathered around the old cracke'
stove. The unwonted silence wa
broken by the entrance of the teacher
who Immediately raped US to order
after which he briskly called up the ne'
scholar
4" What Is your name?'
"Men forget easily, | am told; but
" Adelina.n
Mr.. Pike looked wise.
Adelina Lagrange, | suppose: an
Won are the daughter of the lady who ha
recently taken the Baldwin cottage"
Yes, sir
"Well, You may take this seat, pom
Inc 10 a bench not far from where | W.
sitting, and without further questionin
AdeIina had passed through the irwin
ordeal of - first day and was dull
counted one of u.
Her mother, il was rumored, WAS
Yadv of refinement and culture, but veT
urond and reserved in her demeanor tC
z person who was obliged to teach M
SIC for living. Mrs. Lagrange, at an
rate, was young, handsome, and recent
widowed-at least the length and new
ness of her veil indicated to observin
feminine ewes that the bereavement wa
recent, and that is all the gossipS kne'
about her.
The summer term brought Adelin
again to the old red schoOl-house, but
changed outwardly that we hardly kne'
Yher Tor the somber - blackbird of th
previou. winter She iuttered in on
morning dressed in white, with sash an
sshouIder-knots of cherry ribbons-th
gove6est creature ever saw.
At noon she came 70 me and said, yer
graVely: