The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1881-10-29

/ MADE tlab lslreaJ WnaJ the result would
be. Next to gators Ike dreaded me
rs driver. ] had come to grief on
more than one occasion by taking the
| rens.
The horses foundered and begged
| several times, and the carriage lurched
until felt seasick, but we did Uet on,
/ though at a snail pace. 1t was nearly
/ dark when we struck hard ground, and
! by the dim light we could see that we
were actually on road again. 1t was
a bad road, worn into deep ruts by
! heavy wagon wheels, but that only
proved that we could not be far from
! some house.
Oars a lightn' cried Ike, pointing
to faint CLEAN through the thick trees
of the forest.
! We plodded our way toward it, and
as we drew nearer, saw that the light
| proceeded from kind of hillock, where
several people were moving about. Ike
gave loud halloO, and in response one
OF the figures, snatching up pine torch
from the fire around which the group
were clustered, came toward us.
BY the ght he carried | could see
that the bearer of the torch was tall
and his motions graceful, though he
seemed very dirty, and his face was
fairly blackened by SCOT or smoke. In
spite of it all, | thought | had never
seen brighter, franker smile, and
more beautiful eyes than those of this
young stranger. He seemed about
eighteen, and listened to my account
of our mishap with evident interest.
"Of course, you can't go furder to-
night, ma am" he said, land them
horses is dead beat, sure. Ny fathers
cabin is about half mile from here,
and | reckon he'll take you in. We've
only got one big room in the cabin. but
mother II fix that up. Your niger there
will have to sleep in the stable-ort."
if you could only have seen how Ike
sweled and pulled in indignant sur
prise at this insolence! He was black
as coal; but to call him Niger was
a gross insult not to be borne. He
turned to me with dignity
perhaps dis young white telLar will
de woods and de savages, no how"
The young man laughed good-hu-
moredly. He was not aware that the word
"fellar' was Ike's most offensive cpl
tibet, and he evidently did not class
"Why, there amt no wild Iniuns
round here old man." he said, land
you can't miss your way if you foller
the road. I'd 90 with you, but me and
my brothers is burnin' a coal kiln. and
we cant leave it, Go straight ahead,
and hollcr when you get to the gate.
! The dog S awful fierce"
We did 90 straight ahead, and, when
] ,al In L. ~
would have wakened the seven sleepers.
A woman came out with a lighted
lantern. She evidently was reluctant
to take us in, for she said her cold
man" was sick and crippled but she
had kind, mothely face, and l soon
worked upon her sympathies.
She went into the house minute TO
consult with the master; but soon re-
| turned.
You kin light and come in" she
said; "but I'm not fixed to take in
travellers nor strangers. Wen give
you what we've got, but it's hard
fare"
l wondered if the fare could be hard
er than the face of the man who sat in
a large chair, near the fireplace, as we
entered the cabin, and who answered
our salutations by surly nod. His leg
was propped up on another chair.
His AK slipped and cut his leg to
the bone" the woman told me, in a low
voice.
What bitter, stern face it was!
found myself constantly watching it,
while the woman was busy preparing
our supper. She was evidently very
much afraid of the man, and started
whenever he spoke to her, which was
seldom, and merely to ask for some
needed article.
Poor little Mary chung close to me,
and felt uncomfortable opposite that
silent figure. At length l volunteered
a remark. but the answer was in mono
syllables, and | was relieved when the
summons to supper took us to the other
end of the long room. The woman then
became more communicative.
My husbands name is Stratton,"
she said, land we're from North Car
liny. We amt been in these parts hong,
and tell you it's mighty lonesome.
The folks round here don seem to like
strangers comm in and they're forever
pickin' quarrel with my boys. IF the
ole man wasn't so stubborn, we'd sell
the place and move away; but he'll die
sooner than be crowded off by anybody.
IT. hard cross to be watchin' and
waitin' fur trouble to come to you, and
that's what Pm dom all the time"
All this was said in subdued voice,
as if she was afraid OF being overheard.
/ asked q question about her husband S
accident.
"Yes, it's monstrous hard on him,
! w 70 do n
never what you'd call an easy man, but
] what with baipt o,.i,n1aJ on1