The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-05-06

1 fathers death changed her affection for John
Hackett, or her opinion of him; nor vet that
the must defer to his wishes when he was dead
any more than when he was living, but rather
less, for she was not sentimental or morbid,
like the young ladies in books.
in six months she married Mr.. Hackett. and
went TO live in HyssOp, being as happy in that
relation as fallible mOrtals can be, and devel-
oping into a wonderful housekeeper But the
Hyssop centipede did not die vet, and often
after Edna had told John what her father had
said about him did they both wonder what be
could have meant; and though like a good wife
she kept from her husband the various insinu-
atoms and hints that Hyssop danes could not
refrain from dropping in her ears, she could
not but mediate with curiosity on the cause of
all the talk, for she had too youthful an opin-
ion of human nature to credit it with the en-
tire creation Of a scandal
Butitwas not till some three or four years after
their marriage that they found out all that lay
at the bottom of their troubles. They were at
picnic one day, held on the shores of the lake,
and John had just introduced his wife to Mrs.
Parke, who was visiting in Hyssop.
" By the way,n said that lady, in the course
Of conversation, g heard of you out at Medi-
ma last winter, John"
" How did come to be known in Medinal"
asked Mr.. Hackett.
"Our old friend Mrs. Green came there with
the doctor; he seems to have worn out New
England, and has taken to the West lately.
She met Lucy at a sewing circle, and asked all
about HyssOp people. Lucy mentioned your
marriage, and Mrs. Green tossed her head with
that indescribabe sniff she always gave, if you
remember, and said she pitied your wife Lucy
was indignant-vou know she ALWAYS liked Won
and inquired why Mrs. Hackett needed pity;
and then the whole story came out | hap
pened to come into the room behind her and
heard it all. Do you remember that afternoon
you sent VIII over to Canaan and forgot to
send me word about itl''
Eyes, | do" said John. 81 never quite for
gave myself for making you so anxious. You
see, Edna" he went on, turning to his wife,
"Will Parke was in the bank with me- to do
errands and such things, on his promotion;
and one afternoon had to send him twenty
miles on moments notice. | promised to
send his mother word, and | wrote on the edge
of her daily paper, which Wills old dog used
TO take home every night, where VIII had
gone, and that he would not be home till next
day; but the dog followed VIII instead of going
home, so she never got word, and about two
O'Clock in the morning down came Mrs. Parlc
and her sister to the bank, knocked me UP. and
demanded Will l don't wonder they we're
frightened. | ought to have gone up myself
instead of relying on Bose"
''That was not all. " added Mrs. Parke at
was a moonlight night in June, and very hot
one, which made Mrs Green restless, so she
left her bed and sat at her window in the Hvs-
sop House, and saw two women whom she did
not know go to the bank, knock at the win
dow, talk to you, and then you came out and
went away with them, and she did not wait to
see you come back. This was enough for her
active mind to interpret into scandal; and if
she had not left HyssOp that night for Chicago,
l don't know what would not have been said
about you"
Here John and Edna exchanged looks.
You should have seen her face when, as
she concluded her story with, 4 never knew
who those women were, but of course /
suddenly stepped in front of her and said I
was one of them, and my sister Adeline the
other, proceeding then to tell the truth of the
story"
"Do you think she ever mentioned it to any
one here?" asked Edna.
II put that question to her, for knew her |
to be a busybody, but she declared she never |
had. She began to tell it to Lucelia Pratt that
morning, but l came in and interrupted her |
She said she knew | was 'dreadfully down on |
folks that said word about anybody, if it was |
ever so true so she stopped when came in" |
at was too late,' said John; ''the story |
must have been overheard, retold and |
amended"
And then he gave Mrs. Parke brief sketch |
of the trouble he and Edna had been through |
with, undoubtedly from this report gathering |
length and strength, and legs to run with, as
it went about, till it became a veritable cent? |
pede.
"You might ask Miss Pratt if she ever re-
peated it, suggested Edna to John.
"DOn't!' said Mrs. Parke, energetically. |
g There is no time worse wasted than in hunt
ing lie. You have outlived its stings, and it |
would be more than useless to hunt it up again |
into fresh action; besides, perhaps it has done
you good service. Who knows that you would |
have been so constant and persistent under
other circumstances Nothing grows faster or
fOurishes better under contraricty and adver-
sity than love affair."
Edna colored Indignantly and turned away.
She has never liked Mrs. Parke since; but John
only laughed.
And this is the true story of a Hyssop cent?
pede.-Hdype''S Bdzdr.