The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-08-12

/ THIS at once, he sad TO himself decided
ly. Then he slackened his pace. What
was it to him? Why should he vex HIM
self about this girl? Or NEEDLE in her
love affairs? He went slowly back to
! the hills. But the blood rushed with a
! strange beat through his veins.
In an hour Lefty was back and at
work with redoubled vigor, to make up
/ for lost time. Her mother scanned her
innocent meek face with a breathless
terror.
Surely there was no guilt there. She
would not doubt her; she would not ask
a question.
Il have dressed the table with flow
ers," the mother said, land made a
cake-a real brides cake. Hope Will
lam won't be angry. But this is so
different from weddings in Virginia. o,
Lefty, if you and l could only go to the
old house and sleep for one night in the
room which was mine when l was a
child. [ think just that little thing
would give me years of life"
There they come" cried Lefty, as
the big Crawford carriage was seen
dashing up the road. She grew very
pale and shrank back. The girl had al
ways been afraid of her brother Will
lam; and his wife, she suspected, would
be as hard ruler and a more vulgar
one.
But Mrs. fancy led her to the porch.
"You must welcome them, Lefty"
she said.
The bride watched them from the
carriage window, with keen, Jealous
eyes. Her father had given her hint
as to her future course.
you've made good match, Sophy,"
he said. ''Bill Taney's got as long a
purse as any man in the country and
the FARMS comfortable. But the old
woman an her da' alter win be draw
back. They'll thy to ride over you
rough-shod, likely. Just take your
stand at once. Let 'em see you will be
mistress in your own house,
Trust me for that, pappy," said
Miss Sophy.
The whole Crawford family had ac-
companied her to see how she would
hold her ground.
When. poor Mrs. fancy stepped for
ward, therefore, her thin face REDEEM
ing and her hands held out, the bride
received her welcome with a careless
nod.
q hope you will be happy in your
new home, my DEAR" said the gentle
lady.
30, no doubt, ma'am! 1 generally
hold my own pretty well. Come in,
pappy. Come, Sue. | want you to see
my house, before it is dark. Here's the
living room. Bill must fit that up into
a parlor-double quick, too. Dye hear,
Mr.. Taney?" laughing loudly. "You
needn't trouble yourself, ma'am, to
show the way. Come along, all of
you"
William stopped and looked with sud
den pity at his mother and then follow
ed his wife, who went, talking loudly,
up the stairs.
Mrs. fancy and Lefty placed the
supper on the table. The bride came
in, the noisiest of the noisy party. She
went hastily to the head of the table,
saying: "This is my place, | believe"
William gravely motioned his mother
to a seat among the strangers. His wife
bore herself as though she had been
mistress for years and found fault freely
when the humor seized her. The bread
was dry as chaff, the ham was bitter
with salt, she said.
THAT your idea of cooking, mother
fancy, Ell? I'll give you hint or two
tomorrow. We young people have
progressed you know"
mot that l mean to take the work
out of their hands," she said to her sis
ter aside. "No, no! If we feed 'em
they've got to earn their bread"
Lefty overheard the whisper, and her
scared face grew shade paler.
every nice old silver, William" said
the bride directly, weighing the spoons
on her finger, and then reading the
mark.
cleveland, EN-? You must have
that altered, please, to our initials.
can't use spoons with strange names on
EN-
William glanced uneasily at his moth
err But the latter did not speak. every
well, my dear, it shall be as you please"
he said.
As the days heightened into weeks,
the bride found her sway becoming
more absolute. 1t occurred to William
sometimes that she might share in the
work. But like most farmers of his
class, he was used to see his mother
drudge from morning until night, and
supposed it was her natural |
of life. Sophy carried the |
keys and dealt out the provisions. Her
ruddy, animal beauty pleased him; it |
was pity, he thought, to mar it with |
hard work.
Meanwhile Mr.. Burke had taken lodg- |
ings with a neighboring farmer. He |
kept a close scrutiny on Lefty, solely |
for her mothers sake, he told himself |
She met the "beery fellow twice, and
took long walks with him; she received |
letters from him by mail. The geolo-
gist found that this matter interested |
him more than his fossils even.
One morning Lefty came into the
room, where William stood Joking with
his wife, before going to the field They
looked at her with establishment, for the
girl was always silent and shy.
Brother, l want to speak to you,"
she said, catching her breath.
"Well, 90 on" said Sophy, inpatient
y. "What are you afraid OFF,
Lefty spoke directly to William, ig-
loring her. 1.-The potatoes and apples
must be picked over and the cellars are
lamp. Could one of the hands do itP''
Good gracious! Do you want har-
resting to stop?n cried Sophy. You
md mother fancy can do it at your
eisure. Do you suppose your brother
pays men such ruinous wages to wait
IN a lot of women?'
You have always done it?'' said
William.
"Mother is not well, William"
tWell manarn il as Won like I can't