The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-02-05

Madame ASke. Empioy Hef, my zeal
sir. l will guarantee the result"
Rash DR.. Boulani In an evil houl
Major Elphinstone consented, and an
! appointment was made Tor the attend
/ ance of Madame Olympic.
She came punctually, and was received
by Mrs. Aske, a kindly, sensible woman,
with nerves at their just level. The
| froteuse was a sallow, middle-aged
Frenchwoman, with regular, sharp-cut
features, a thin mouth, and eyes of an
odd amber tint, which had the strange
power of contracting and expanding at
will, so as to be az one moment mere
dull, lifeless Sits in her face, and at an
other wide open and full of light and
heat Her plain, perfectly cut dress
suited her station and herself, as the
dress of a true Frenchwoman almost
always does. Her manner was supple
and caressing. Altogether, Mrs. Aske
saw nothing to which to object, and
Madame Olympic was, accordingly,
shown into Mrs. Elphinstone's room.
Mary was in bed. She had sat up
little since her baby's birth, and this
was one Of her languid days. She bare
ly opened her eyes, and spoke not a
word, as Madame Olympic, having re-
moved cloak and gloves, began her
manis ulations. The rubbing lasted
nearly an hour. Toward its close Mary
seemed brighter, asked question or
two, even smiled; and Mrs. Aske, sur
prised and pleased, felt that the expert
meRt WIS success, and then and there
aptarad int m arra N nra paant .uitI, FL, N
froteuse to come at a regular hour each
day for the future.
So, morning after Morning thereafter
the def, insinuating Frenchwoman raSg
the bell of the res de clauSee at her APP
pointed moment, and slipped noiselessly
through the door and into the room of
her patient. Mrs. Aske made point at
first of being present. In fact, Mrs
Elphinstone's nervous condition was
such that to leave her alone with a
stranger was not to be thought Of But,
gradually, this relaxed. Mary was not
nervous with Madame Olympic. On the
contrary, her presence seemed soothing
and tranquilizing; and after while
Mrs. Aske learned to regard the hour of
the daily rubbing as free ihkerval, dur
ing which she could safely absent her
self fer purposes of exercise or the do
ing of needful errands. The Doctors
prediction with regard to the treatment
seemed justified. By slow degrees Mrs.
Elphinstone grew stronger = could
stand; could walk from room to room;
at last was able to drive out So things
went on for three months. At the end
of that time Mary was so like herself
that further rubbing seemed needless,
and it was proposed that the visits of
Madame Olympic should be discontin-
ued.
I" You really don't need her row."
suggested Mrs. Aske.
"0h, do l think l dol I" replied
Mary, with an odd, breathless intensity
in her manner. "Don't say any thing
to her, Mamma. Let her come little
longer. q
" WeIl-but, Mary - 81 n -&
"Please don't!" interrupted Mrs
81 can't bear it. shall
speak to Archie. He doesn't wish
me to go without any thing want,
am sure"
Mrs. Aske was surprised. Petulance
was SO foreign to Mary's nature that the
answer gave her shock. She made
haste to soothe, to acquiesce; but a
shade of trouble rested on her mind.
Why did Mary care so much about this
woman? She did not 90 out that day;
but sat by during the rubbing, watching
and considering. 1t seemed to her,
though she seolded herself as fanciful
for the idea, that reversal had taken
place in the position of the two, and
now that it was Madame Olympic who
and Mary who obeyed, and
obeyed with an unnatural and ready
1t seemed, too, as though |
Madame Olympic employed quite new
manner toward her patient manner |
almost insolent; while |
Mary watched her eye as timid dog
watches that of his master, doubtful |
to expect blow or caress.
1t was like bad dream, to sic by, fan
cying these things, and yet distressing
her own imaginings the while, and |
hating herself for them. But before |
the end of the seance Mrs. Aske was so |
thoroughly uneasy as to resolve on con-
sulting her son-in-law. The result of |
this consultation was the resolution to |
dismiss Madame Olympic without con-
sulting Mary.
s'She won't mind, once it is done,n
said her mother. 81 think shei is afraid |
Of that woman's temper and feels too
weak still to endure the idea of a |
scene.
There shall be 10 scenei" declared |
Major Elphinstone. 81 won't have
Mary harried and distressed by any
body. don't care who it isl
Madame Olympic took her dismissal,
which was effected with all possible
courtesy and liberality, quietly enough;
but there was look in her eye not |
pleasant to see. ~
al sail now enter to bid farewell to |
she said, closing her wallet
over the Napoleons just paid her as final
settlement.
Major Elphinstone interposed. Ma
dame. must be spared agitation. A
farewell was undesirable. He himself |
would convey the adieu to her. And he |
bowed the Objectionable female, as in |
his own mind he called her, out of the |
apartment, with more resolution than |
politeness.
Madame Olympic paused an instant
on the threshold. Her beady eyes were
1t their narrowest. The glance they |
darted was quick and venomous as that
of serpent.
- You sail all seeim was all she said,
the words with a warn
ing gesture of the finger. Then she |
slowly went downstairs.
The news was broken to Mary. She |