The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1881-01-13

intensity.
One night there WAS q party al
Steve's fathers. 1t was Martins birth
day. Mr. Fordyce took me over about
eight o'clock. 1t was a gay party
We had dancing, which we do not
always have, and the music and supper
were good. l danced with Steve sew
eral times, and, being in good spirits,
found it rather dificnlt 20 maintain
the distance | had lStely adopted to-
wards him. His eyes, too, had such a
soft, tender light in them, and his lips
such brightness.
Come into the garden a minute,
Bell" he whispered to me, at the close
of dance Il have something to say
to you; :" and for the life of Inc l could
not say no.
When we were in the bright moon
light garden he stopped where clump
of lilac bushes hid US from the house,
and'drew from his bosom a roll OF
notes.
81 shall finish paying for our house
tomorrow, dear" he said in a voice
that exclusive happiness made tremu-
lous. 81 drew the money from the
bank TO- day, twenty-five hundred dol
lars. All, how l have worked for this
hourp
1 should have been harder than a
milestone if hadnot forgotten all my
foolish anger at that moment, if | had
not melted rather from my coldness
for was as glad as he was, and drop
ped my head on his shoulder there in
the moonlight, and cried happy, happy,
remorseless tears.
"Steve," said, "you shall let me
keep the money till morning. l shall
think | have dreamed if you don't"
Steve laughed, but let me have my way.
Ah, what foolish whim it wasl Few
women would have dared to take
charge of such a sum of money; and
fewer men would have permitted
them. But Sieve knew it was safe, tn
all common calculation, with me as
with himself.
As we turned toward the house for
q single instant l thought / .aw the
shadow of a man across our path bu,
looking back, saw nothing but the IL
lac bushes tossing in the summer air
Whats the matter? ?" said Steve
noticing my backward gaze.
II thought I saw the figure ofa man
crossing the path" | replied.
"Nonsense !" said he; and we went
indoors.
Well, Steve and were the happiest
pair there that night; and Mr.. Fordyce
saw, and could not quite keep his eye,
from saying that he hated us both for
il, or l fancied So
The party broke up at twelve O'Clock;
that was late for as, and Mr.. Fordyce
having brought me there, took me
home. On the way he told me of an,
other robbery that had taken place the
night before at one of the hotels. A
person had been robbed of five hun.
dred dollars, which he had just rcceiv.
ed at the bank. Perhaps it was thai
story that made ME, tired as was, be
stow some thought on a hiding place
for Stevc's money. 1 pondered very
seriously as took down my hair and
arranged for the night; then with {
laugh at my own ingenuity | tuckeC
theroll of notes in my lux uriant tresses
and drew a net over to hold all il
place. was asleep almost the instant
nay head touched the pillow.
ought to have slept soundly anC
dreamed happy dreams, but | did not
some counter influence seemed to rut
file my slumbers and l awoke.
Some one in my room. knew it a
as well as though | could see, and th'
room was dark fo5 that. There was M
sound either, but for all that / knew
was not alone. | tried to scream, I,
raise nay voice, was frozen with ter
ror. Inever thought once of the mon
ey, or robbers, or anything that know
of. was only frightened so that
could not move hand or foot, or make
a noise. don't know but | stoppe'
breathing. / can remember yet ho'
cold l felt, though the night was warm
Suddenly, without the warning of
breath | was conscious that hand wa
creeping stealthily about my pillow
! did not think of money even then
As terror had stolen my senses, ;,
now it brought some of them back.
gave one scream and spr,ng from til
bed, or lried TO. Two strong hand
dropped me firm hand held me
while the other hand vainly sough
to loose my hair. The net, more otsii
nate than nets ussally arc
would not come of, probably because
in his hurry my mysterious assailan
was unconscious of its plant meshes
He pulled my hair in his awkward al
tempts horribly The pain was like
spur to me. As his arm lay across III
arms, bent my head swiftly, and IA
tened my teeth upon it with viciou
snap that only a woman in my situa
tion would have been capable of.
The unexpectedness of the attac
dissolved my bonds. With an audibl
oath he let me go, and darted ava
with winged feet, and met father j
the passage. OF course | tainted thr
| and there; and by the time any bod
got into my room my robber had mac
good his escape.
Alas. however, he should not hay
allowed himself to swear, above all to
: " oman of such acute ears as had.
r had heard the voice, and | knew
i belonged to Nr. Fordyce.
Father flirly tnrned pale when