The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-11-06
LITTLE MISS TURPIN'S FATE.

that led to strange results. 1t was IN
the front room, but made its way very
readily through the chinks and cram
mics in the mortar to the neighboring
apartment, where little Miss Turpin
was preparing her frugal breakfast.
The toasting-fork nearly fell from her
hand, and her dimity apron narrowly
escaped being seduced by the sumptuOus
flame from the crate, when the harsh,
gruff voice of her landlord fell upon her
ear.
81 want my money, said Mr.. Shad-
rach.
$50 do L. replied the young doc
tor, land more. He that wants
money, means and content, is without
three good friends.
Can | have my money tonight"
a think not"
- Tomorrow"
<sIt is extremely doubtful.
'sTheu you must get out of here. l
want my room"
" When do you want itg'
{" As soon as possible"
" VIII tomorrow doP'
4" Yes
siThen leave me, friend; the room
shall he yours tomorrow morning
The Young medical student was man
OF spirit. and would have vacated these
NOT very alluring premises at once, and
there seemed a vital necessity just then
fer some such proceeding on his part.
He had discovered two days before that
the faltering and shabby source of his
pecuniarv supplies had utterly failed,
and the knowledge that he was without
money or friends in a strange city to-
gether with an inability to beg, borrow
or steal. had robbed him of sleep. The
loss of this necessary rest to tired brain
and worn out body, rendered him the
prey Of many different sensations dur
mo Mr. Shadrach's visit. An iron band
seemed to compass his forehead, his eye
balls burned, his hands shook, his knees
seemed at times about TO collapse be-
meath him as he walked to and fro the
length of the dreary department, for
lack of more nournishing food chewing
the cud of many bitter fancy. He asked
himself over and over again If this was
why he had been such fool as to fancy
he could pursue the study of medicine
with the wretched capital of worn out
body, a distracted mind and barely
money enough to keep flesh upon his
bones. That an indomitable spirit had
prompted him to 90 on, hoping for a
little desultory practice by the way ;
that the rose-color with which youth and
inexperience are apt to tint those falla-
.riouS dreams had been too vivid in his
casa-lhat these and many other excuses
could be made for his folly awaited little
Just now. A systematic course OF semi
Starvation and overwork had broken his
indomitable spirit, and turned the rose
colored dreams to an exceedingly green
ish-hUed nightmare.
The only patient he had during his
nine months stay with Mr.. Shadrach
was poor little workwOman in neigh
boring room, washed-Out, timid,
wretched little creature, with scarcely
enough stamina about her to rally after
a slight attack of pneumonia. Her little
fee had been ready for him after every
visit-in fact, obtrusively ready, tor II
was out Of the questioned course, TO take
money.
Ii was merely neighhorly service,
he said. when, upon his fifth visit, he
fourd her up and at work again, and on
his departure she had stammered out
something about his bill. - am only
too -Eid. NIiss-Aliss-"
.Turpin," she whispered.
To he Of service to. you, and BEG
Won viii call me in whenever my pres
enCe Is desirable. -
Miss Tul.pin faltered out her thanks
A burning flush chased the pallor out OF
her face. rs he warmly pressed hel
trembling hand in his and babe hel
goodbye.
=. Poor little devil! - he said, as he
strobe away to the lecture room. - IT.
bad enough for great strong OK Ike
myself to face and battle with this grin
Old grindstone of world, but for mis-
cradle little waif like that-phew, i'll
moustruus.n
He thought Of her pityingly till h'
crossed the threshold of the college
then. rave himself up to the subject II
hand. which so engrossed his mind, tina
he forthwith forgot the existence of Int
Tie Miss Turpin. But she, upon he
part, repeated over and over the word
of Young DIR. Blake, blushing again
when she became conscious OF the fac
that she really had the temerity t.
dwell upon his genial but commonplace
courtesy.
Miss rurpin'a work was delicate am
artistic. but not soUl-abSorbing, Like III
doctors She could tint her photograph
al the better for this little episode in ne
life. The vines and tendrils took tende
shapes under her deft little fingers;
shv. sweet melancholy helped to max
the shadows at least more and more per
feet. under the roSebudS grew tn
thornS: but there seemed to Turk eve
In their cruelty a subtle, mysteriou
charm. 1t was enough for Miss Iurpl
to dream. The physical and practica
reality of the Doctors nearness had II
weight. but not consciously so, to tn
little woman. She never ventured t
get up a cramp or cough for the sake c
stamping more clearly his shape int
these vague but extrayagant feats c
fancy. In truth, so timid and afrai
was she of practical joy that she actual
" Stunned and shrank from it az
ppoach.
But more and more imposing, grand
er and grander grew this one figure {
her fancy around which revolyed tn
satellites of health and wealth, popular
ity and fame-all that could render LII
sweet and desirable.
Perhaps it is detrimental to my hC
rome 10 say that she would have bee
Unite Content to have lived upon th