The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1881-02-18

I
Elizabeth. queen of hearts and beau
ty, whSse espoasals yeu are happily
present to witness"
As he spoke, the Earrs daughter
entered the hall, richly attired, and
attended by long train of maidens.
Never had she looked so lovely. 1t
vas apparent that she was, at least,
no unwilling bride, fer never could o
luster so sweet fill the eyes, nor smile
40 happy wreathe the lips of one
forced to the altar.
my Lord of Dalton" said tn
king, turning to her father. prou
nut tirnid nOblemaR, whose whole lif.
had been consumed in accumulatin,
wealth and trimming between Yorl
md Lancaster. cit is With your FIRE
consent, | believe, that you give you
daughter away to the good earl ii
whose favor | have asked her hand
1 vouching that his lineage is noble
in all respects, and that his broad
acres equal your daughters dowry."
at is, my liege," said he, bowing
low. "Your Majesty had but to name
the boon, and |. accorded it at once,
being eager to testify my love to your
house and my loyalty to the throne" ="
"Stand forth, then, Roland, Earl Of
Langleat," said the king, advancing
and laying his hand on the shoulder
of our hero, who hitherto had stooC
in the back ground. Receive you
bride" and with the words, he Dlacec
the hand of the Lady Elizabeth i'll
that of Roland. "Now both of yt
kneel to my Lord of Dalton, and ask
his paternal blessing"
From the start of the old Earl il
was evident that he had been kept in
ignorance of The fact that it was his
former page who was to wed his
daughter. In truth the monarch,
who ever loved jest, had purposely
concealed this.
"But, my liege," at last stammered
the old earl, still drawing back, and
gazing in amazement from the pair TO
the monarch, and then from the mon>
arch to the pair. This is my own
page, who left me not twelvemonth
ago; no knight, much less belted
earl"
"Knight and belted earl both, said
the monarch, laughing, "and holding
of me, by my free gift, broad manors
that once we're his ancestors, and
which | have confscated from the
Lancastrian thieves who dispossessed
TIE old Bohems, whose name and
blood he inherits. Nay, sir earl, put
good grace on the affair, and bless
them; don't you see the Lady Eliza
beth is nothing 10th? Remember, i
have your promise. All the condi-
tions are fulfilled on my part"
Thus pressed, the old noblessblessed
the youthful couple, though with
dubious and concerned look, as If he
fancied there was someitrick about it;
for he could not, as yet, realize the
sudden changes.which had occurred
in Rsland's fortunes. But the next
words of the king revealed all to his
bewildered mind.
"And now, lords and gentlemen"
said the monarch, taking the youth>
full pair in either hand, and advancing
to the front of the dais, "let me in-
troduce you to the Lady Elizabeth
Dalton, lOvellest of her sex, and to
her espoused husband, Sir Roland
Bobem, Earl of Langleat, peerless
knight and true liegeman, but for
whose arm your king would last
night have died under the sword of
an assassin"
He had scarcely finished when a
shout went up from the spectators.
that made even the spacious hall OF
the castle shake and shake again I;
and when this had died away, hun
dred hands were extended to grasp
that of Roland, while a hundred
voices congratulated him on his cour-
age and his good fortune.
A year from that day saw the
young earl married to his lovely
Elizabeth. History records how King
Edward gave the bride away; hew
there were jousts and tournaments for
lays in succession; and how the
bridegroom Was the handsomest
knight as his bride was the lOveliest
lady at all these entertainments. But
one little incident, which history has
overlooked, must be narrated before
we finish.
"Ah! did l not tell you" said the
bride, when alone with Der husband,
"that, if we trusted in heaven, all
would go right ?"
"You did, dearest, and were true
prophet" said Roland. fondly kissing
her. But he added, archly, "and
yet, after all, and in spite OF your
prognostications of evil, we owe not u
little to that moonlight ramble.'
! On that subject they differed to
their dying day. They never quar-
relied about anything, however, but
lived as happily as they lived lcng.
Therefore, good reader, do not let us
Quarrel even on that subject.
During the year ending with the