The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1881-01-06

] was OhSt tASAt- Al sue k0ONs Wdut
EN- bad enough. Well, let her keep
/ 'em."
Miss Comfort turned toward the door
Of the keepin-rOom' that led up stairs.
"pn bring down that old green para
sol cover, Matildy," she said, pausing
a moment; {" that was sister James
and the black one that was mine-an'
strip 'em up, if can get around the
holes an find inch pieces, an finish up
the quilt, an bind it off. an be done
with it. I'm tired of dawdlin' over it;
and it will be qisilt, at any rate"
"'Twon' The a very scrumptious look
in one, remarked Miss Matilda, her long
nose in the air, with those old duds
sewed into it. If was goin' to have a
silk quilt I'd have a silk quilt that was
somethin' like"
/" Accordin' to your way of thinkin' l
shall sleep just as well under it as if
twas pretty, said Miss Comfort, laugh
ing. &" But l dino, it's dreadful homely,
an do think it'll give me the megrims
more once. Mercy! here comes Johnny
Peck. Now what does he want, won
der"
A stumbling noise sounded through
the back entry, as of small but heavy
feet: then the latch of the "keepin'
room door was lifted, and a voice,
without the slightest preamble in the
way of a good morning." said, my
ma d like your paper"
4" How dye do, Johnny?" said Miss
Comfort, coming back into the middle
of the room.
"Pr'tty WELL" said Johnny, who was
saving of his words Then he twisted
his hands through his shock of light
hair, and stared at Miss Comfort.
"Well, don't sees we can let her
have the paper" spoke up Miss Matilda
sharply, and laying down her deliberately
darned stocking. There may be some
thing in it that we haven't looked at
yet, Comfort. You better say no.
80 yes, we can," said Miss Comfort,
in an easy tone. Il wouldn't refuse a
neighbor, Matilda, whatever you do"
And she began to turn over the big pile
of newspapers on the table, between the
windows, under the old-fashioned look
ing-glass.
AN Mrandy says she wants your
sack pattern" said the voice, without
a change of expression, belonging to
Johnny Peck; who still stood, running
his fingers through his hair, in cool de-
liberation, waiting for his commands to
be fulfilled.
Miss Comfort stopped short from
fumbling over the Weekly Budgets,
and turned around with one sharp look
at the importunate youth. But then it
was " johnny Peck, so, swallowing
something very hard, she twitched out
the last paper from the pile, and dump
ing it on the chair nearest to their guest.
said quickly: "Tll run up an fetch the
sack pattern, an be back in a minute. "
Bring me down that other pile of
stockings you'll find on my bed, called
Miss Matilda after her.
But Miss Comfort came down with
nothing in her hand but the sack pat
tern. There was small red spot in
either cheek, as she marched sturdily
up to Johnny. and decided ring to her
voice, that made that individual stare in
wonder that kept him from using what
wits he had on the message she was
rapidly saying.
You tell your sister," Miss Com
fort began, that she can have my
sack pattern for some ships like that
blue silk gown she wore to John Folins-
bees weddin'. I'd cry my eyes out for
it," added Miss Comfort jocularly, as
she twisted up the pattern into COM
Portable roll, and handed it to him.
"Yes'm," said Johnny, stolidly. Then
he picked up his paper and started for
home on a steady trot.
In Just about ten minutes, Miss Com
fort, feeling very sure of her long-de-
sired bright bits, had given up the ex-
peditiOn into the garnet for the parasol
covers-and now sat comfortably sway
ing back and forth in a low rocking
chair, her work basket on another chair
by her side, while she turned over and
over the nearly-completed quilt, set
Ting in her mind just where Miriam
dys ships" should go-when back came
Johnny, who looked as if he had ran
himself to death.
'She ays-she-wOn't hare your
old -SacG-sor' he pulled. His
little eyes protruded fearfully, as he
tried to glare Indignantly at Miss Com
fort; and he threw the offending pat
tern, which had now assumed the ap-
pearance of a wad, as if some angry
hands had been at work on it, into
her lap.
"Hey?" exclaimed Miss Comfort in
amazement, stopping her rocking so
suddenly that Master Johnny nearly re-
versed his position. 80, she won't,
will she? Well, then, you may just tell
her that she needn't, that's all I say
about it. And if there's anybody mean
err n Mirandy Peck round here, why, L ID
like to know it. Now, that's aHr'
I'm tell her! I'll tell herr' cried
Johnny. with more animation than one
would have supposed could possibly
have been collected from his whole
makeup. And perfectly delighted, he
raced out of the house and pulled home
ward.
"Now you've done itr' exclaimed
Miss Matilda, consolingly. "An' got
that Mirandy Peck around your ears! l
sh'd druther never see a quilt, then to
have such carryin's on"
"She's mean as dirtr' cried Miss
Comfort, her little gray eyes swapping
with indignation, while the red spots
on either cheek BODIED just retribution
for the absent Miss Peck. 1.-The very
idea! An such an in-Sltltin' message to
send by that youngster. My old sack
pattern, indeedr'
Miss Comfort jumped up and began
vigorous pacing back and forth, sput-
tering every other step, such a series of
small gusts, like the cracking of popped
corn-that Miss Matilda's slow, heavy
sentences found no place at all.
I'm have that quilt now, some wayr
she exclaimed, explosively, IAN i: shall
be pretty, now L tell you, Matildy, if l
die for it! An l shall send it to the
next SEWN society an donate it to Mis-
D.. d. IT,, ..-a,m 600 .z-La.