The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1881-01-06
IN THE'PALACE OF TRUTH.
The Remarkable Experience Of Mr. RICH
ard Turner at Mrs. Grey's ball.


Richard Turner, Esq, lawyer, let
rs hope of future fame, returning home
the other night in an unenyiably bad
bumor, founda certain dainty little note
awaiting him on his mantelpiece. 1t
had Just come, his landlady said. and
slowly tearing open the envelope, Dick
read as follows:
Nix DEAR Mr. TURNER: Many thanks for
your lovely flowers, which have been greatly
admired. Itwas like your thOughtlulness TO
remember ny birthday when l had almost
forgotten 1t myself / was so sorry to have
missed You this afternoon.
Sincerely yours,
FLORENCE REDIFER.
A very gracious little note. but for
some reason it appeared TO afford its
reader but small satisfaction. Dick read
il twice with a curling lip, then tossing
IT into the scrap-basket, he lit cigar,
stretched himself in an easy chair and
thoughtfully observed through the
smokewreaths that began to float around
his head: What precious little liar
she isl AS if didn't her. ten min
utes after she was not at home to me
this afternoon, start out driving with
Tom Baker in that confoundedly jerky
dog cart of his. Shouldn't wonder if
he had ierked her out before they got
home; and serve her right, tool Why,
Snip, what is the matter with YOU, sir?''
Snip was the skye terrier, who failing
to understand why he had been sighted,
was seeking TO secure his master no.
tice by sitting upright and waving his
front paws to and fro in gentle and
deprecating fashion.
"Did hurt your feelings, poor little
boyP" said Dick, tenderly. "Wen, |
wouldn't, / assure you. for dozen lit
tie fiirts like Florence Redifer, but | do
think, Snip, and l expect YOU TO agree
with me, that. we would all be much
better Off If women and men, too, would
say out truthfully what was in their
minds instead of this eternal beating
around the bush. Why can't people be
a little more candid with their fellow
creatures instead of fooling them to the
top of their bent and then laughing be-
hind their backs? Do you know, Snip?"
Snip didn't know, bus he was the last
dog in the world to confess his igno-
rance, so assuming q look Of wisdom
which Solomon might have envied, he
gave mysterious little bark that could
mean anything and composed himself
again to listen.
just eight O clock,'' said Dick, con-
sulting his watch. In two hours I've
got to dress and 90 to Mrs. Grey's ball,
the biggest bore of tha season / haven't
doubt; but there is no escaping it.
Aren' tyou glad, Snip. you don't have
to go to ballsP'
Snip barked again. this time in an af-
firniatiVe manner. He always accom-
modated himself to his masters moods
and was well accustomed to being
questioned. Alert and vigilant he
watched the cigar dwindle down by
slow degrees, while he waited in we'll
bred silence for a renewal of the con-
versation. But Dick was drOwsy and
cross, and when the cigar was smoked
out he turned his head aside and fell
fast asleep, while his little dog, curled
contentedly around his feet. looked up
into his masters face with world of
patient love in his honest brown eyes.
Seven, eight, nine, ten! Was it pos
sible that he had sleptnearly two hours
and the clock was really striking ten?
Dick Jumped up, glanced at his watch
10 make sure and with a stifed groan
prepared to induet himself into his
ess with him and by the time he en-
tered Mrs. Grey's brilliantly it-up
house the great clock in the hall was
pointing to quarter past eleven.
The rooms were crowded and sitting
ly hotg The very flowers appeared to
droop under the glare and the heat, all
except some deep red roses which had
been arranged in a sentence over the
doorway and whose glowing hearts
presented the most sumptuous and in
tense bit of coloring, even in that many
hued apartment. Il was strange, but
Dick found himself unable to read that
sentence, although composed of only
three short words. The language, even
the letters, -were-sNsknown to him and
for half a minute he Stood puzzling over
the mystery. Then the incoming crowd
gently showed him aside, and abandon
ing the effort he made the best of his
way towards his hostess. A pretty lit
tie woman, magnificently dressed, but
seemingly already much fatigued with
the work in hand, she half smiled as
Dick edged up to her.
Have you just come, Mr.. Turner"
she said. :" 1 thought you were to be
oAe of my early birds"
80 i would have BEEN" he eX-
planned, "only, unfortunately, | fell
asleep and did not wake up in time"
"Oi that was the case. was il? Well,
such lengthy nap ought to brighten
you up beautifully for the rest of the
evening. Sometimes, you know, you
are rather stupid
Dick looked at her to see if she meant
a joke but her pretty face was gravely
raised to his. "You are flattering me, i"
he said, shortly.
Il don't mean to, indeed" she an
swered, quite earnestly. but there
are plenty of men who are always stu
pid. while you can be rather entertain
ing when you are at your best, and
she turned gently from him to greet a
new batch of guests.
"Was ever damned with such faint
praise before?" thought Dick. Il won
der if am at my best tonight"
For minute he stood taking a sur
vey of the scene before him. The mu-
sicians were paying waltz and play
ing it well; only strange to say there
was flute among them, which came
piping in with its slirill persistent little
treble in & manner distracting to Dicks
over sensitive ear. He thought of Mo-
Fart S saying that the only thing in the
world worse than flute in an orches-
ira, was two flutes, and wondered at
Mrs. Grev's choice in music. Never
theless, as long as he was there he
might as well dance and looking around
for familiar faces. his first glance fell
upon brown-eyed maiden whom he
had met at party only the week be
fora aud r,,l,nr,, 20 hnd admiral NTH