The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-01-28

seeming never to tire of the music Of
the sea.
The day after her drive with Mrs.
Blount, she took her child by the hand
and started out for longer walk than
usual. She wanted to look again at the
old house by the sea, where dwelt the
woman who had lost beneath it's relent-
less waves all that had made life sweet
to her.
Leaving Fife to play on the sand by
the shore, Mrs. Arden walked toward
the house, anu, after some hesitation,
entered the neglected garden. All was
silent. There was no sign of life among
the trees where the wild birds flew from
branch to branch.
Seeing a path that had evidently been
much trodden, Mrs. Arden turned into
it, wondering where it led; to some
rustic seat, perhaps, where she could
rest after her long walk.
She started little, and gave quick
sigh as she came suddenly upon little
grave under cedar tree; a child's
grave, tufted thick with purple pansies,
and dressed here and there with snowy
daisies. She needed not to be told what
child lay there; her warm, mother
heart told her that.
A quick step sounded on the path be-
hind her, and she sprang to her feet to
see woman approaching, whom she
knew at once could be no other than
Mrs. Granger. She was a woman Of
middle-age, tall and straight as an ar
row, with large, deep gray eyes, and
dark hair thickly-sprinkled with gray.
Her features were regular, and she
must at one time have been very beauti-
full, but now her face was like marble in
its perfect repose. There was no
warmth in cheek or lip, but there were
lines about the mouth that told of past
tempests.
"What are you doing hereP" she ex-
claimed, in quick, excited way. cit
is my grave; you have no right to in
trude upon it."
q came upon it by the merest acct
dent" apologized Mrs. Arden. 81 in
tended no intrusion. But am not sorry
| came, for it is so beautiful" And
then with sudden impulse she could
not resist, she caught Mrs. Granger's
hand in both of hers, saying, with Sob
bling breath:
80, how pity you! How would
help you if only knew how; if l only
could. You have suffered sol''
Mrs. Granger drew her hand away,
and turned her head aside, as she said,
in a cold voice, made bitter by suffer-
ing:
a want no help, no sympathy.
Words like yours are false and hollow
What can you feel for one who is a
stranger to you. Go. / would rather
be alone"
She was looking down toward the
beach, where the great waves were
tumbling and tossing upon the rocks,
looking far out over the green waters
with their fleecy crowns of foam. But
suddenly she started violently, and a
great change passed over her face.
She put her hand over her eyes, as if to
shut out some sight that panied her;
some phantom of the past that rose up
to torture her. Mrs. Arden looked in
the same direction, wondering at this
change, and saw Effie coming up the
path, her hands full of shells, and her
golden hair falling closely over her
bare shoulders.
Mamma, mamma" she called in
her childish treble, "where are you?'
Before Mrs. Arden could answer,
Mrs. Granger sprang forward with a
faint cry, and threw herself at the
child's feet, holding out her arms
pleadingly, hungry, yearning look in
her face, and agony of love in her glow
ing eyes.
But instead of running into the
strangers outstretched arms, Effie
drew back with a cry of alarm, and
Mrs. Granger rose instantly to her feet,
shuddering as if with sudden chill.
mot miner' she said in a despair
ing, wailing voice. "Ho! no! mine is
dead! dead! Even her spirit can never
come back to me-" And she threw her.
self prone on the ground, hiding her
face in her arms.
| For moment Mrs. Arden stood 81
lent and motionless, not knowing what
course to pursue. Then she whispered
to Effie, and the child, early taught I'M
questioning obedience, went to the pros
trate woman, knelt beside her, and
winding her little arms about her neck,
kissed her softly on the cheek.
The long, unfelt caress, child's in
nocent, gentle kiss, accomplished what
nothing else had done. The barrier of
| distrust and hatred in that isolated wom-
ans heart broke down; the fountain of
tears so long sealed opened at last, and
with cry of joy and relief, Mrs. Granger
clasped the little girl in her arms, and
wept until she was utterly exhausted.
Then still holding Effie close, she APP
preached Mrs. Arden.
Forgive me if have been rude to
YOU" she said; my grief has made me
callous to the worlds opinion. Is this
your childP'
"My only one;" answered Mrs. Ar