The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-11-06

gone along Just the same, the TACT OF his
dying in neighboring hospital of weak
ness and want, and the qnenching of all
her material in pauper's grave not in
terfering in the least with Miss Turpin's
airy fabric. 1t would have been impos-
sible to convince Miss Turpin that he
could reach so dire an extremity, had
not the knowledge been forced in upon
her in a way that she could not refuse.
She absolutely heard the gruff voice
of Mr.. Shadrach upon the morning in
question, and the low, musical, but bit
terly knocking words of the Doctor in
reply.
She sat down upon the rug, and
clasped both her hands He was going
away them Until that moment she had
not realized the extent of such disaster.
She could have borne, perhaps, to have
been compelled to go away herself, be-
cause the inevitable for her had become,
/ long since, a matter of course; but to
/ have the iron hand of inexorable neces-
sity grasp this magnificent young man
was terrible. He had the flashing eyes,
/ the lordly mien, the exultant step-for
thus had little Miss Turpin been wont to
classify the somewhat alluring personal
attractions of young Blake--he to be-
come the prey of an adverse destiny!
Miss Turpins breakfast that morning
was failure. By dint of long practice
and an exceedingly gracious gift of
housewifery she had always managed to
get up extraordinary little meals for
herself. 1t was as if little, sooty an
| gel sat UP aloft in the chimney and as
/ 1 II. hn
| little woman. Her toast was of brown
| the most golden, her coffee was of
Mocha the most delicious, her bit of
steak so juicy and appetizing, that some
times poor Blake, in the neighboring
room, with some chunks of brown bread
! floating helplessly in a chalky fluid be-
fore him, finding this savory Odor under
his nostrils, raised his clenched hands at
the stern wall between them in envy and
despair.
But even the little angel in the chin
ney became impatient with the be-
haviour of little Miss Turpin that
morning. The little woman, usually so
practicable and capable, while straining
her ear to listen to faltering, stumbling
steps in the next room, deliberately
burned the toast and boiled the coffee,
and the sooty wings spread themselves,
taking flight in disappointment and dis
gust.
She held her breath as the familiar
footstep passed her door, and slowly
one by one went down the wOrm-eaten
stairs Oh, where was he going? What
would he do? She had read sometimes
of an evening, when working hours were
over, the shaded lamp upon the table at
her side, the Goals leaping and blazing
in the refulgent CRATE, her little slippered
feet upon the fender-she had read of
people who, having neither money,
means nor content, had drifted into a
moment of frenzy and despair, and thus
leaped the awful bar that separated the
known from the unknown, content to
risk any fate but which awaited them
here. She had read thus of poor,
strange unfortunates, and her heart had
ached in their behalf But now? Well,
now her heart almost ceased TO beat.
She put away her work-Of what avail
was it, all blotted and blurred By her
tears or ruined by her shaking brush?
All dav she feared and trembled; at
night-fall some intuitive hope caused
her to brighten the fire, cook dainty
meal, and, placing the table opposite
the door, leave the tempting, coy room
open on the wind-swept, gloomy cor
ridor.
Then she waited and waited. The
clock struck at midnight; then l, 2, 3
from a neighboring belfry. The meal
was cold. the fire burned low; the chill,
gray morning had almost dawned, when
at last it came; yes-thank God! falter-
inc and slow; but it was his fOotstep /;
none other could quicken little Miss Tur-
pins pulse.
He reached the landing, the door OF
her room. Why, truly, he did pause
YES, and stagger in.
ANY other woman but this, perhaps,
would have recoiled with disgust and
horror, and above all, with fear, for the
Young man was evidently not himself.
His hair. damp and disheveled, hung in
heavy disorder about his face and neck
his ewes CLASSY and lurid, blazed upon
hers: red flame burned in his cheeks
a slight foam tiickered his trembling
lips.
He fell into the chair at the table, and
looked wonderingly upon the food be.
fore him; but that which would have
been frantically devoured six hours be-
fore was like the ashes of bitterness tC
him now. He had not tasted food fol
thirty-siX hours. But it was not hunger
that tortured him; it was thirSt-ar
, appalling thirst.
He drank the pitcher of water from
Miss Turpin's hand, and looked plead
ingly for more.
: .'Do not be afraid to give the patien
. water he murmured eagerly. - Ii
cases of febrile debility they sometime
suffer-suffer. l recommend by al
, means, -water-water." Thel
he fell back with groan of agony.
, Miss Turpin ran out of the room ant
, down the stairs, pounded on the door o
the German tailor below, who, with hi
wife and five children, was enjoying IL
sleep the only immunity granted then
from endless labor and toll, babe hin
iv for the best doctor in the neighbor
I, hood; ran up the stairs again like ;
: deer. and found DIR. Blake inSensible
his head thrown back upon the chair, hi
;. ewes half closed, his stentOriOus breath
: inc audible in the corridor below.
, The little German returned with th'
very best medical aid in the vicinity
= even that of the eminent DIR. Havershav
a himself.
All this fuss and confusion ha'
! aroused Mr.. Shadrach, who followe'
. them up the stairs and protruded HI
: long, hairy chin in the doorway.
az i nerbsOs hest that YOU shoul
+ know, madam said the surgeon to III
a tie Miss Turpin, " that it is doubtful
e case. Your husband is in very crit