The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-10-16

a term for two terms, and with Sucn sue
cess that she felt warranted in making
her appearance at McVicker's last season
in The Two Orphans" and under the
name of Miss Meroe Charles. 1t is
needless to say that the young lawyer
paid the expenses of her dramatic tram
inc and furnished her outfit, but it IS
needful to add that all his efforts for her
were made with a disinterestedness as
rare as it is beautiful in the generosity
of man toward woman, especially to-
ward the woman who is loved. Her
confidence in his honor he held sacred
by upholding hers, and so it happened
that afterward while on Southern tour
with Edwin Booth, who took a kindly
interest in her, they played in st. Louis !;
and among the audience was her hus-
band, who at once recognized her.
The next day she received long let
ter from him expressing sincere repent
ance for the past, acknowledging his
lack of courage, and adding that his
sister was now dead, and that if she
would return he would devote the re-
mainder of his life to making her
happy.
This letter she sent to the man who
had so generously befriended her, with
note saying that to him she owed
everything, and promising to follow his
decision.
Realizing that the offer meant for her
honor, comfort and peace, he answered
in one word, " Return which she did,
and is now settled in her new home in
St. Louis, and that is the reason that the
world theatrical knows no more of Me-
roe Charles.
The other case | have reference TO is
that of pretty Kitty Stokes, who for the
last two years has been Barnum's best
bareback rider. She was literally born
in the profession; her father having
been all his life connected with it, and
for the last 90 years a manager. Kitty
mother was the daughter of circus
performer; her husband first met her
in the ring; they were married, and he
then sent her to a French convent re-
treat to finish her education. After
that she never returned to her old life,
bnt all her four daughters are in
the profession. One Of them, Emma,
stopped during a performance in Phila-
delphia to be married to fellow-per-
former, and then went on jumping
through the hoops. Kitty, who is next
to the youngest, has been earning 1925
per week, and expenses for herself and
mother. Very strictly brought up, she
was never allowed to speak to any one
connected with the circus, her mother
not allowing it for prOpriety's sake, her
father in deadly fear of her marrying.
Kitty rather rebelled against this close
keeping, for it deprived her of the ordi-
nary enjoyment of girls of her age, and
she soon found a silent sympathizer in
Carl Antony, the young Swiss who
managed the wonderful trained stall
| lions.
For a long time their acquaintance
was confined to the few words exchanged
as she entered and left the ring; but by
and by notes were also exchanged, and
gradually heightened into letters, and
finally one evening she left the arena
midst shouts of applause, Carl handed
her note in which he begged her to
marry him, and if she was willing, to
wear red rose in her hair the next
evening.
This was in Chicago year ago last
July, and those who saw her will re-
member Kitty Stokes, a delicate, slen-
der-looking girl, with large, brown eyes
and masses of wavy brown hair; she
usually wore white, with a long white
ostrich plume in her hair, but on this
eventful evening, her fleecy skirts of
white tarletan were looped with great
crimson roses, on her white neck lay
another, and very coquettishly over her
left ear was caught glowing lacquer
not. Even bashful young man would
have been encouraged by this liberal
response to the request, and Carl no
sooner made his handsome stations
waltz around for the last time than he
rushed into the green-room to speak
one word with his lady-love. As i'll
luck would have it, Papa Stokes
saw them talking, and, without
any more ado, walked up and
struck the young trainer in the mouth,
whereupon Kitty, in a manner that
would do credit to a tragedy " star, "
sprang between them, crying, /" Strike
me, papa, but don't strike him.
This betrayed how far matters had
gone, and the enraged managerial
parent strobe out and got a pistol.
When he returned he held it to Carl's
face to smell of, and swore that if he
ever looked at Kitty again, much less
speak to her, he would shoot him down
like dog.
The result of that tete-a-tete was that
the young couple were never seen to eX-
change another glance, but notwith-
standing when they reached Pittsburg,
and Mr.. Stokes was called away on
business, they left the tent one evening,
went quietly to minister's, and were
married. This present season they have
both been with Barnum, under their old
names, and Mrs. Kitty looks as happy
on horseback as Miss Kitty used to.