The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-04-17
NOT GREENFIELD

MOI GRE T. y L lELD'
A chill December evening, with the
rsin and snow forming a disagreeable
SOFT Of conglomerstion on the sidewalks,
the gs,-lamps on the corner Pickering
sulleuly through the mist, and the wind
taking one viciously as one turned the
corner. Not a pleasant evening to as
sume possession Of s new home; but
necessity knows no law, and Mr.. Bark
dale put up his night>key as he walked
into the red brick house in the middle
Of The block, sincerely hoping that his
new landlady would have common sense
enough to light fire in the gate.
IL it you, sir?" Mrs. Human quoth
besmingly. There's a good fire, and
it's ali right"
"All right, Ell 81 said the bachelor,
feeling the blue tip Of his frosty nose, to
see whether it had escaped being frozen
o. entirely. Dwell, 1 am glad to hear
thst. Have the trunks come ??
ooh, yes, sir, and the other things"
What other things?" demanded Mr..
BarKdale.
But Mrs. Hinman pursed her lips. L
WASH. to tell, sir, please"
" Rather an eccentric old lady,"
thought Mr.. Barkdale, pushing past her
to the third story front room, which he
hsd solemniv engaged the day before.
Il had been rather dark and dingY
little den by the light of the moon but
now, softened by the coral shine of a
well. filed CRATE, it wore quite another
snd brighter aspect.
Velvet paper on the walls, gilt panel
ings, red carpet, and Sleepy Hollow
chair, % thought Mr.. Barkdale, glanciug
around. "Not go uncomfortable, after
Sll. When I get my things unpscked it
will seem quite hOmelike."
He set down his valise in the corner,
deliberately opened it, tvOk out pair OF
slippers, and invested his tired feet there
in. Next be laid of his overcast.
" Now for cigar" thought he.
But the brown-layered weed was yet
in his hand, when there was hustle and
a futter, and q whisper, and a merry
noise on the landing outside, and the
door few open, as If by magic, to admit
half dozsn blooming girls.
Mr.. Bsrkdale dropped his cigar and
retrezted a step or two.
=" Don't be alarmed" said the tallest
snd p-ettiest of them, cit is only sur
prise"
A very agreeable one, Pm sure,
said our friend, recovering in some de
gree his presence Of mind.
=. heres no mistake, hope" said =
veTow.tressed blonde. Your name i:
MOI Greenfield ?"
"No mistake st all, assure yeu,
ssia Mr.. Bark1ale. "Oi course it's not
Greenfield. Sit down, ladies'.
And he pushed forward the Sleepy
Hollow chair, a csmp-stool and two
rheumatic reception chairs, which vert
al the accommodations presented by the
apartment.
But. instead of accepting his courtesy
the girls all futtered out again, giggling
and in a second, before he could realize
this strange condition of affairs, they
were back again, bearing benches and
tsble.cloth, bouquets, a pyramid of ma
csOnies, piled up plates of sandwiches
of frosted cake, and a mysterious some
thing like unto sn ice cream freezer
Tue golden-tressed girl clapped he
hands.
You needn't think we are doini
this sor you, sir" she said.
aCh," said Mr.. Barkdale, bashfully
ell hadn't any such impression"
d" 1t is all q surprise designed for Kate
cousin"
lis it ?'' said Mr. Barkdsie, more i
the dark than ever.
" And now do you suppose We founI
il 81 out7" demanded the tall girl wit
the black eyes and scarlet feather in he
hxt.
AZ haven't the least idea"
awe found your letter to Kate, an
then we girls read it, and We resolved t
take you and her both by surprise. Sh
is "a be here in half an hour. Barbsr
that is Barbara Morris, in the blu
merino dress" with turn of her lon
Iashes toward the golden>haired girl
"pretends that she has moved here, an
Kate is to come and spend the evenin
with Barbara. Won't it be joke 7"