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


dealt a blow here and kick there rs
he waded along. When he neared our
veranda. Irene leaned far out and gave
her hand as to an exhausted swimmer.
With this aid, he made q spring, clear
ing the backs of several lOng-legged
shoatS and landed, beaming, at Miss
Grimes side.
e. How dared Won venture?' l heard
hers Then my feelings overcame me
and Withdrew quickly.
How Jerry laughed when | described
the situation to him that night!
I" To Think l said, &" that she should
regard him in the light Of a deliverer!
What upon earth could ne have done for
us if the accident we feared had actually
occurred?'
jerry gave me a guizzical look as he
replied: Il hardly know, to be sure.
Possibly. however, it was not any more
absurd in her than for certain small
lady of our acquaintance to send to the
office for her husband whenever there Is
the least bit of thunder-ShOwer, and to
declare she feels perfectly safe when he
is with her. no matter how hard it thun-
ders.n
1t seemed to do him some good to say
that, but | considered it very SenSelesS
comparison. and told him so.
One dav Irene came down from her
room with fine cambria skirt which she
| had worn to party, and which needs
must have the starch wa ,hrd oft and be
| laid away rough-dry till another occaSio Il
of importance might require it To be
] ii 1r,l
vel of embroidery, tucks and tine needle
work of every kind, and was by far too
! precious an article to be- trusted to the
/ hands of my waShcr-woluan; so Miss
Grimes begged permission TO dabbie 1t
out herself. 1t was granted, Of course.
and in very short time the skirt was
| swinging by two pins from the clothes
line in the back yard.
We were sitting by the window with
/ our sewing, when an appalling appar-
| ton crossed our sight-a COW with
white petticoat over her head! The
wind had expanded the skirt like
balloon. and Satan entering into that
COW, had possessed her to put her head
through it, detach it from the line and
walk off with it!
Miss Grimes uttered a. wild shrek
and started in pursuit The COW had
stopped a few yards from the house and
stood still till Irene went quite up to
her; but when the excited woman at
tempted to reclaim her property, the
preverse animal started ON again at a
Slow trot. Some carpenters were roof
inc a house near by and stopped their
work to watch the sport and volunteer
such advice as, Head her OFF, ''Back
her into a cornerr' Surround herr
and one more wicked than they all sang
out that old army slang: Grab aroot"
The energetic spinster needed them
not, but steadily followed the COW,
which did not seem in the least fright
ened. but frequently paused till Irene
approached and touched her side, when,
with a toss Of her horns, she would trot
on again. | think the pursuit might
have continued up to the present time
had not relief appeared in the form of
Mr.. Robertson. From my outlook at
the chamber window | observed him APP
proach from the opposite end Of the
street. Seeing the COW with something
on her head, and Miss Grimes in the
road with nothing on hers, ne stopped
and seemed to consider moment what
il might mean. Being n man OF quick
perceptions, he was not long in arriving
at a conclusion. He rctraced his steps
short distance and opened a gate lead
inc into blind alley. The COW came
on and was gently turned through the
open gateway. Mr.. Il. followed, clos
inc the rate behind him. In a few mo-
mcnts it was again opened, the COW
emerged at Il brisk pace, followed by the
ssProfcssOr.n with the skirt hanging Ovei
his arm. Irene stood still in the middle
of the street. waiting the return OF the
conuuering hero. And surely no knight
: of the chivalrous ages ever laid at the
feet of his lady love trophy of his val
or with more of tender pride than Lem
uel Robertson felt when he delivered
that skirt to the hands of its far owner
t Early that afternoon livery rig, the
best in town, appeared at our door, ant
Irene appeared Mt the same moment
, equipped for a ride She kissed me af
, fectionatelv, and said, Don't wait ties
| for us dear; we may return late, and yQr
f know we both Ike nothing better IL
t the evening than a bowl Of bread anc
: milk"
? They returned in the moonlight. 4
5 boy stood waiting to take the team. Mr.
: Robertson and Miss Grimes walked slow
t " up to the house and seated them
| selves on the veranda to continue con
! versatiun which had doubtless been run
= ning for three hours and half L sd
t lust inside the open window and hearc
| the Professor say, in low tone, .
f am 50 glad YOU like Lynn Creek. Gol
= shall have beautiful house there.
l will have my mill and we shall have
5 each other"
e Hearing this, l discreetly retired.
+ The next morning the announcement
e of their engagement was made IN du
Y form, and received by us with suitable
5 expressions of surprise and warm con
+ gratulatiOns Irene was to return to he
/ Eastern home in few days, there to re
main until Mr.. Robertson brought he
e back in the spring as his bride.
= Il have always thought, said Mis-
# Grimes. 80 that a courtship did not de
serve the name unless there were q
). least a few months of correspondence
# And | assure YOU" turning to her be
e throthed, 'syou will find me q very eX
e acting correspondent. mean to ALLOW
n you very little time for anything else bu
)! letter-writing."
To this Mr.. R. made no reply, bu
|; simply beamed on her with very niue
e the same expression he had worn whe
on the day of her arrival he pre-
= nounced her ga lady of remarkable spin
V it."
Y And now, my good friends" sal
n +l,o ,,;,, iii foI1nyu t11I.niuor IN lis CIV