The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-02-04


it is worth nothing in exchange for
bread and butter.
The girl had no time to act In
second her father had noted the move
ment on the part of the young man, and
at the same instant the lash of the whip
was laid across his face like a living line
of fire. The Count Semilof had stopped
long enough for that, and to hurl half
dozen oaths at the young mans head,
then the sleigh dashed on like the wind.
Nicole staggered back. He grew
cold and sick from head to foot-cold as
a stone, and with no life in him, save
where the scarlet line on his face
throbbed and beat like wound. He
slowly steadied himself at last, but he
was deadly pale, save for the crimson
band, and he shook from head to foot as
if with the palsy. Course the aristo-
cratr' he gasped; zone day we will be
quits for this. If l lived a hundred
lives would never forget this moment.
Bah! fool that 1 was to forget for an in
slant that am one of the people-that
my hand is against such as he and his.
He has brought me to my senses with
vengeance. That blow ought to kill my
love-and it will. Henceforth | live for
revenge, and when that day comes,
Count Semiloff, l will remind you OF
this"
The sleigh, skimming along the frozen
ground like bird on the wing, was a
mere speck in the distance by this time.
Not word had been spoken since the
oaths that the Count had Numbered
forth with his blow. There was not a
sopnd save little gasp from the young
girl. and afterwards a muffied sob.
."Vera, what do you mean?"--in a
stern voice. "Look at me"
The girl unwillingly turned her face
towards him-a sweet face, with the
color gone, and lips that quivered a lit
tie, and eyes that met his own undaunt-
edly, though they were as misty as the
blue of showery skies.
"You have tears in your eyes, girl!
cried, stormily. "By he internal the
legion, do YOU dare to whine about my
Just chastisement of that fellows ilnpu-
deuce?'
He had good face, papa, and
looked poor and cold"
Bah-the beggar! Well, warmed
him a bit! Besides, I've shrewd idea
: that he was sham beggar, after all
|, llOU Duu Wutb llC NOulNl HiNO bCCh
" served if he d been genuine! There s
work enough in the Empire for all
: Only with this man I've happened tC
notice one thing-for the last month We
have met him every day. l flatter my
self we will not meet him again"
2 "But why should he sham beggaryP
? asked the girl, wonderingly.
She was very young, only sixteen, anC
t she did not dream that it was her owl
sweet face that had made the poor you'll
| mad and blind.
Her father gave her penetrating
3 glance. He would have been wise t.
f have spared her, but he was too angry
3 I" | thought women were keen enough
2 to see these things" he said, scornfully
t Its my idea that he wanted to attrac
your attention at any price But if h
t comes in my way again, I'll set the dog
: on him." ~. = Ia
/ At these words a quick flush mounte,
4 to the fair face of the girl. 1t was tn
9 first time thought of her power owe
i any other heart had been projected int
a her mind, and she could not help think
y ing little of this man-this first lover
/ who had dared so much for one loo
y into her eyes. He must be very roman
e tic, then, this poor young man; and he
heart softened little as she remen
bered his dark, eloquent eyes, with thei
appealing glance. .
y 1t was not strange that the thought {
u this young man took possession of he
a fancy for few days. She longed to lt
IL him know that her fathers barbarou
d blow had wounded her as we'll to sho,
him that her heart was not so hard
70 that she had not inherited the cru,
G, prejudices of caste. She found out h
is name from her maid, who knew the pet
er pie OF the village; and she heard tn;
le he was educated and ambitious. Da
s. by day she watched the roads as Il
IL sleigh skinned along, but she nevC
.e saw the face she half-feared, half-longe
&c to see. After time stern realities toe
er her away from these dreams. Her an
IN bilious father had sutton for her
contemporary of his own--again
~ whom her whole soul revolted. Coul
I'd Semiloff found to his surprise that h
he daughter had inherited one thing fro
lg him-namely, his iron will. She dare
TO to rebel against parental authority
to VOW that she would never say the fat
y. full words of assent, even if she we
d. dragged to the altar.
A You are my only child" said Il
VI Count in his hardest voice; "but
IS. sure as there is God in Heaven | W
ne cast you off-you shall be as a strang
n i will forget that you live-unless "
d. obey me in this thing"
a $50 be it," answered Vera, with
ks white face, and eyes full as cold as
IS. own.
It. He did not dream of the self-co
al | taipad noyyar in tho o.;rl He boJ co,