The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-05-13

seemed to smother me anu aWOhe III
q nervous shiver.
Miss Grimes did arrive in Jerome's
absence: but what contrast to the
angelic Irene of my dream, Not that
she was positively homely; on the con-
trary, / have always considered her
fine-lOOking woman. She had smooth,
sallow complexion, beautiful abundant
black hair and very white teeth, Just
uneven enough to prove that they were
natural. But she was above medium
height, Square-shouldered and angular.
and her motions were so abrupt! ! knew
myself To be petite and graceful beside
her. Within the first hour or two she
informed ne that she was almost four
years older than jerome, and laughed
! in the iOlliest manner imaginable over
the "droll project" as she called it,
which his family and hers had once
entertained, of making a match between
them. she had long wanted to come
[ West, she said, and had no other rela-
/ tiveS or friends to quarter upon except
/ ourselves. She was not going to put Us
out any, and if we would only be dOcile
/ to her at first awhile, she was sure we
would not find her particle in the way.
/ | assured her-and with candOr, for |
foresaw / should like her-that her visit
would give us great pleasure.
My husband came home and greeted
her in his own frank, winning way,
making inquiries about people whom
they both knew and launching at once
into stream of easy, engaging converse
ton.
After she descended from unpacking,
she went to leathern reticule which she
had left on the table, and took from 1t 4
small gold-mOunted revolver.
80, Miss Grimesr' | cried shrinking
away little-for l don't like firearms
-" is it loaded?n
Certainly" she replied, shortly; 81
always carry it loaded when l travel
alone. l would like to discharge the
loads from your wood-shed door, if You
will give me leave"
Leave was given, and in spite of my
fears | followed her at a respectful dis
lance. Just as she was about to shoot
she spied Mr.. Robertson sitting on a
block in the back yard, cleaning the for
est loan from his thick-soled boots.
Dropping her arm, she said: Il shall
brighten that man"
He heard her, and turned about, evil
IDENTIFY comprehending the situation al
once. Never mind me, madam; fire
away, only high enough"
And she did fire, emptying the siN
chambers of the revolver in quick sue
cession. Then the professor" got W
and came in. lido not remember wheth
er | introduced them formally or not;
suppose | did, for | distinctly remember
his taking the smoking weapon from hel
hand and uttering CALCULATIONS Of de
LIGHT over its exquisite finish. After she
had carefully wiped the dangerous toy
and started up stairs to put it away, he
, remarked, admiringly, more to himself
than to me: a lady of remarkable
; spirit, | should say
; The next morning we induced Mis-
Grimes-whO declared herself perfectly
: rested from her journey-to accompan.
} jerome on a fiye-mile drive overa pleas
: ant piece Of road, whence could be seer
some fine farms and several pretty rive
views. When my school assembled a
T nine O'Clock, informed the little people
: that had company from distance t
T. entertain. and that | should be obliged t
oive them a vacation of few weeks, bu
! that in Il couple OF months | would opel
my room to them again and hoped t
see them all together once more.
As the days passed on, found Iren
very little in the way indeed. Sh
= seemed to be very deeply interested il
r. the country and its resources, in the PEG
5 pie and their methods of living. Then
. too. she was a reader, and the - PROBES
= sor $ libraTy-we had no books butmed
l zeal ones-was pressed upon her use.
1 found Mr.. Robertson himself most val
t liable aid in the hospitable duty Of enter
tanning our guest. He had manifesto
| from the first a marked admiration 70
her, and before long began to suspec
= that it was returned in kind, if not in &c
= gree.
= An amusing incident occurred one day
5 when Miss Grimes had been with Us abou
f., a month. We were alone in the house
f she engaged in letter-writing in her bed
Y room up stairs, | occupied with som
= household matters below. All ut one
= there came a great shouting of men an
t bows. accompanied by a vast chorus {
: grunts and squeals. | knew in momer
n what it meant. There had been, durin
n the entire summer, a herd of many swim
t feeding on Baldwin Prairies, few mile
: north of lis, and they were then bein
It moved through the town to some polr
5 further south. Our lot was Unfence
e and there was as vet no foundation wa
0 under our house. which rested on a nun
It Der of small brick piers about two fe,
y high. As the drove advanced, it sprea
out over the premises, and in spite {
S the droverS' efforts TO prevent 1t, the ST.
a Did animals went under the house an
n crowded each other on till a solid mas
|. of pork became wedged between I'll
V piers. | could hear, and even feel, the
4 backs showing and grating against I'll
sleeperS under my feet, and for te
e moments was really afraid the bricE
It might be crowded from under one {
r more of the corners, thus unsettling an
: damaging the house.
/. But fear gave place to a sense of II
:, ludicrous when Miss Grimes came rus
J. inc down stairs, her face the picture
l. terror.
is :. Did YOU ever see the like of thi
k Rose? There are miles and acres
:. hogs! ! can't see the end of the droy
l. from the chamber window! Just feel Il
= house jar! We shall be carried oft {
lie the backs of these dreadful creature
l. Where do you suppose they are going?
y =. To Cincinnati, probably" l replie'
Is land we shall get free ride, part Of Il
/ way at least"
:: Rose Chilcote, we are in real dal
st GER she cried, - and do not see no
N you can laugh! Such an outlandish W;
-. ! g E--;r..l., IL ,,-nnt on har. rnNntic