The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-08-19

exchanged chances and winked and nod
ded at each other in very knowing
way. Katy Kearns looked amazed and
indignant, as if she thought Miss Holmes
had infringed on her rights, while Clara
read complaeently on, in blissful igno-
rance of the connection, to the close OF
her essay, when she quietly took her seat.
ave will now hear Miss Jennie How
ard read" said the Doctor, consulting
the list he held.
But Miss Howard did not move. All
eyes turned toward the desk where sat
the mortified girl, with both hands
spread over her face, which was GRIM
son with shame and anger, yainly strug-
Cling to keep back the hot tears that
were dropping through her fingers.
Come, Miss Howard; we are wait
ing" said the Doctor, after moment
silence, beating an impatient tattoo with
his pencil on the back of his book. "Do
not detain us.
A fresh burst of tears from Miss Jen-
ME was the only response to this re-
quest.
REALLY, Miss Howard, your conduct
is inexplicable, pursued the Doctor.
@ l will give you five minutes in which
to regain your compOsure and will
then expect YOU to read whatever you
have prepared for to-dav's exercises.
Meanwhile we will hear Miss Abby Blair
read her essay"
But, 10! even as he spoke, Miss Abby
disappeared from sight. A moment ago
she had been seen sitting in her usual
place, but it was now vacant. She had not
gone out by the door, and the windows
were open only from the top, so it was
evident she had not inside her escape in
that way. Her essay had been forgot
ter in her hurried exit and was now
lying, done up in pale blue ribbon, on
her desk, from whence the Doctor grave
ly directed Miss Pincer to take it.
- As Miss Abby is not here to read it
herself" he observed, eve will not
prolong the exercises by waiting for her
return You may therefore read it for
her, Miss Pincer."
With a frigid smile, Miss Pincer
bowed acquiescence and began reading
the now familiar lines:
WOMEN JEwS.-By this term we
do not mean" etc, etc.
There seems to have been a most
marked unanimity of thought between
many of our pupils this week" politely
remarked the Doctor. as Miss Pincer
closed; g but perhaps Miss Celia Mae
farIane, who will now read, will favor
us with something different.
The young lady thus mentioned half
arose and with a very red face and
downcast eyes stammered out some
thing about not being prepared. "
"We cannot accept that excuse,
Miss Celia" answered the Doctor.
when l called the roll, you said you
were prepared. How is it that you now
say you are not? have the best rea-
son to suppose you have an essay this
week, inasmuch as one bearing your
name was handed to me last eveningfOr
correction. Your topic if | remember
rightly, was Women jews and began
after this style, BY this term we do
not mean Jewish women ETC., ETC."
The Doctors words were met by
suppressed laugh all over the room,
while Celia's embarrassment was most
painful to witness. Her lips twitched
and trembled as if she were about to cry
and the Doctor, who disiiked weeping
scenes, desisted from saying anything
further, but turning again to his list of
names, said: There are but two other
ESSAYS to be read this morning-One
from Miss Cornelia Jones, the other
from Miss Patty Spencer. We will lis
ten to yours first, Miss Cornelia."
These girls had been carrying on a
whispered consultation for the last ten
minutes, and were at that particular
moment engaged in hurriedly tearing
up certain pink-tinted sheets of paper
into small bits and throwing them on
the floor. So busy were they that they
failed to notice that the Doctor had
spoken to them, and it was only when
a grinning girl in the opposite seat had
pointed her pencil at them that they
realized they were the . observed of all
observers" With guilty start the I'M
happy pair Strengthened themselves up,
and with a look of desperation faced
DR.. Stone.
1--WE are ready to hear your essay,
Miss Cornie," said he.
81 haven't any, sir-that isl mean
l tore it up" faltered Cornie, in a very
low voice.
And you, Miss Patty" he continued,
"where is yours"
The diminutive Patty gazed implOr-
inglv at the Doctor, then at Miss Pincer
and Tutor Watkins, as if trying to dis
cover some signs of compassion or re-
lenting; then sobbed out, It's on the
floor"
"Well, pick it up, and let us hear it"
persisted the Doctor.
:. | can't. sir; its all in little scraps.
But if you'll excuse me this time, Doc
tor. I'll do better after this, was Patty's
weeping response.
LAS you have destroyed it, of course
you can not read it. replied the Doc
tor; g but you can at least tell us the
subject of your essay"
A long pause.
Tell us the subject, Patty" he
urged. >,
I" 1t was about-about Women jews"
was Patty's reluctant reply.
An audible laugh from the audience,
that could no longer be depressed,
greeted this announcement. Even the
severe Miss Pincer was obliged to
pucker her lips to keep back smile,
and the good old Doctor was noticed to
be suddenly taken with suspicious fit
ofcoughing that compelled him to turn
away his face.
miss Pincer," said he, when able at
last to speak, Il wish you would see if
you can find Miss Abby Blair. | have
some remarks to make to all these
young ladies who have been devoting
themselves so assiduoGsly to the Jew
question the past week"
Miss Pincer's black alpaca tlounceS
rustled across the room straight to