The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-01-30

tsinly resign" replied Oldworth, fore,
ing a smile, though ne was white IS
death, and his hands and lips were
quivering. MARY, my dear, are you
eoming7"
No, she isn't" put in Mark; "do you
think she'd rest without hearing my
news ?" l tell you again, you came
back too soon. Five minutes walk and
talk !, the shore, and then it will all be
ever"
Eyes, then it will all be over, dear, u
said Mary, going TO her husband.
"YOu don't want to grieve me, dc
you ?" he answered Come, Mary"
"No, must go to the shore first" she
replied. "Indee0, should like it. 1t is
such strange news Mark has for me, that
it makes my heart throb and burn, and
the night air may cool it"
"You will tell me everything ;" said
Oldworth.
Eyes, everything" she answered.
"Well, of course shall come with
you"
Gas you like" circulated Mark, who
during this briet dialogue had been
waiting with look OF sullen impotence
on his face.
So these three went out into the night
The white, psnic-stricken moon seemed
10 be flying through the sky, followed
by great masses of cloud. As these
three came to the shore you could hsrd-
ly tell which was louder, the winds
voice or the seas. The spirits of the
ocean and the storm seemed to be hold
ing some high revel. The huge, black,
loan crested waves came with the sound
OF thunder against the land, and the
Kissing spray, blown up like smoke,
dashed in the faces of the two men and
the woman. When they were fairly on
the beach Mark turned to Oldworth and
said, in a voice which was quite audible
through the sound of wind and waves
"LOok here, now; I'll be frank and
above board with you. / loved this
girl long time ago; we were playmates
together; and it's rough on me that she
should love you better. Come. now,
don't be greedy. Let US have five min
utes to ourselves to say good-by in, and
then l will never again cross your path
or hers. This | swear"
Oldworth turned to his wife. "Do you
wish it?' he asked.
She murmured family: eyes it will
be better, l suppose"
So he held her with his arms for a
minute, while he kissed her lips lovingly;
then he let her go, and walked aside,
turning his back to the sea.
The moon was hurrying through the
heavens, and all around Oldworth the
night shook and clamored. At times he
seemed to hear footsteps coming and
going near him, and at times he seemed
to hear a sound of singing through the
storm; but these were only sick fancies.
He waited five minutes; he waited ten
then he turned and vert nearer to the
sea, but his eyes could not discover that
for which they were looking.
MARY" he called at the top of his
voice--"Msry, my darling, where are
you 7"
But there came no answer to his call.
Wind and sea laughed him to derisiOn,
and overhead the moon fled aster than
ever before between the great spaces of
black clouds. Oldworth searched the
to its extremity, where two sailors were
lOunging together.
Have you seen man and woman
pas up this way Y'' ne inquired.
owe saw you and another man 90
down with girl some minutes back"
replied one of the sailors "They cer>
tainly have not come up this way. Now
l think of it, they can't have got round
any other way, because the tide is high
up over the rocks"
What, you must he drunk. Bill, to
talk like that" cried the second sailor.
"DOn't you know the gentleman was to
be married to her to>day?" Then he
turned to Oldworth: Never mind him, |
sir. They've only gone higher up. Pn |
be bound we'll find them fast enough. |
What might the man name be ?"
How, in heavens name, should that |
help you ?" returned OidwOrth, desper- |
Stely. The mans name was Mark Shaw,
and he was q sailor"
Mark, Mark Why that our mate ~
cried both men together. "Well, we'll |
do all we can"
And went down to the sea, and while |
OldwOrth stood, feeling that the horror
which he suspected could not really be,
and wondering what he should do next.
the men returned bearing something
with them.
cts a woman's hat, sir" said the
second sailor, the one who had reproved
his companion for what he deemed his in
speech. "But don't you
take on. sir; more hats than one get
blown away this weather."
"Thank you. l know that hat" re-
turned Oldworth, with awful quiet in
his voice. Then he turned from them.
Take my arm, won't you, sir?" said
the sailor who had last spoken, observing
that OldwOrth seemed hardly able to con-
troll his steps. This sailor was known on
the Annie, as Jim, the pigeon-hearted."
Thank you" rejoined Oidworth,
taking the mans arm. al know you
mean well, and | shall not forget you.
You're a sailor. Is there any boat, do |
you think, that could follow and find |
them? Down at the very bottom of the |
sea? Why, thought just now l heard |
her laugh. Don't you think she might |
have run past us? shall find her again
some day; not tonight, perhaps, but
come day."
He pressed his hand to his forehead as
if trying to collect his thoughts; then q
cry, which those who heard will never
forget, broke from his lips and ran through |
the storm. High up it went, far over |
the wind. The dead must have heard
it. Then he tell -enseless to the ground.
The sailors, good hearted men both,
bore Oldworth back on their shoulders to
The inn. Medical aid was procured, but
sll that night he raved deliriously. Very
early next morning, in the first low