The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1881-10-22

mirers lowering round Gertrude Van
Cortland 8 chair! She was sure Cora
Livingston entrance would not have
caused such a sensation if her father
had not recently been appointed Min
lister to France. No one had heard of
! Peter Van Nechten, and she asked her
self with tears in her ewes why her
| father had not done something to rem
! der himself famous and confer distinc-
ton upon his family.
Her two months stretched into four,
but she returned to the Lodge more
! Disconnected than ever. Her father
greeted her gladly. He had employed
! himself in her absence in making alter
ations in the house which he thought
would please her fancy; and he pro-
| posed to invite Gertrude Van Cortland
to pass the summer with her. Lillian
declined the offer ungraciously, and
met all her fathers efforts for her
pleasure with an ungrateful manner
which refused to be pleased with any
| thing Her father was very considerable
and gentle in these DAYS; he did not
reprove or reproach her. but seemed to
! be silently try inc to find the way to his
/ daughters heart. There was tender
yearning in the furtive way in which he
watched her, glad flushing of the
| check whenever she CHANGED to bestow
J on him careless caress. He was not
| well and had given up hunting; but he
went into society more than formerly.
and Lillian could not help noticing when
she entered a drawing-room leaning
upon his arm that there was a little lull
in conversation and people looked at
! him admringly. He was q handsome
man, with his abundant gray hair and
I fine sOldierlg figure she cOntrasted him
/ thankfully with stout little Mr. Van
Rensselaer,, and felt that she would be
| proud of him even in a Philadelphia
/ asSembage of diplomats and dignita-
ries. If only she could hear his name
/ called with some high-sounding title
attached! Perhaps it was not too late
! even now. Father" she asked one
I day as they rode through the wood
together, why don't you go into pol
| itics.''
He leaned forward and gently ca
ressed the head of one of the hounds
with the handle of his riding whip.
If l went into politics, Lillian" he re-
piled, 81 would have to leave the Lodge
and perhaps bid farewell to Principle,
Peace and Prosperity"
Lillian thought of the words only as
! the names of the dogs. Il don't see
why you are so attached to them" she
replied; 81 was so ashamed all last
winter to have people say when l was
! introduced: Van Nechten, it seems to
me | knew your father let me see
WASH he a member of Congress for
- or are you the daughter of Col
onel or of Judge Van Vechten.' Then
some of the Philadelphia families are
descended from Earls and Dukes, and
have coats of arms emblaZoned on the
| panels of their coaches. | never could
find that any of oar family were noble
and once or two of the girls have been
to England and have been presented at
court. Edith Verplanck showed me an
amber satin dress she wore at royal
reception, to which she was invited just
because her father had been sent on
diplomatic mission. don't seem to
have anything to be proud OFF,
| Lilian's father glanced aside. 81
am sorry you have had occasion to be
ashamed of your father" he said,
| quietly.
The girls better nature asserted it.
self for the moment. Il never could
be ashamed of you, dear, kind father"
she cried impulsively. cit is just be-
cause you are so much more worthy
than other men that fret that you are
not recognized. l should think our
country would feel honored to be able
to point to YOU as its Minister in some
European city. | am every bit rs proud
OF YOU rs Cora Livingston is of her
father-she always looked so ag-
gravatingly when people praised him
to her.
But, Lillian, if were to be sent up
on foreign mission, perhaps could
not take you with me. How would
you like being left behind?"
Il should not mind it in the least"
Lillian exclaimed, thoughtlessly. Il
should hear people praising you, and so
would Cora and Gertrude and the other
girls; and | could hold up my head
with any OF them"
"And YOU would not mind if l were
to spend the rest of my days in Turkey
or IndiaP"
"You would not have to spend your
whole life there, would you?" Lillian
asked eff you did, couldn't you lind
some way for me to Join you?"
"And leave Philadelphia? are you
sure that you would care top
"Why, of course, dear father"
even if it were a half civilized post,
something like the Lodge?"
"Yes, indeed; and to proveit I'll not
leave you this winter. | am afraid
have been selfish daughter, and | will
give up Philadelphia if you wish it,.
A smile of infinite content crossed
Peter Van Vechten's face, but he shook
hig, hn, 4 he, g. Il
be too great-you enjoy Philadelphia
tbfI,rh I1n panInn'