The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-08-05


the aforesaid daughter-Valeri e-too
much taken up with the same idea.
Absent-minded, book-loving Cousin
Guy knew there was Chris" for he
had occasionally noticed that industri-
GUS young person busting his books, and
he had vague idea that she always put
his dressing and slippers in the
right place. If questioned about her,
however, doubt if he could have told
whether she were eight or eighteen.
So in all 1.-THE wide, wide world
"Chris reckoned only Jack as her one
friend and admirer.
what is it, Chris? Has Val been
nagging again?" as he noticed her red
eyes, flushed cheeks and weary step.
"Oh, no, jack" hastily, "it isn't
anything"
"Well. but it's something! You
wouldn't look all tagged out for moth
ing" he persisted.
II only got little tired walking"
she answered, evasively.
Needn't tell me thatp' and he
snapped his fingers derisively. "Or, if
you did, Val had a finger in the pie
some how. I'd like to see a pie she
didn't have finger in," he mutters.
"Come, Christie, tell a fellow all about
it." he added, suddenly changing his
tone.
And Chrissie does tell fellow all
about it."
Sympathetic Jack listens, part of the
time giving an imaginary Valerie a
piece of his mind, and then, in magma
ton, shaking hands admiringly with
Keith Falconer.
Chris remembers herself with start.
40 Jack, must help Watkins now,"
and leaves him.
Eyes" he mutters, wrathfully, "walk
two miles in the blazing sun, help Wat
kins till tea-time, then rig out Val, and
afterward play quadrilles for the rest to
dance two or three hours! don't see
what in thunder makes girls so hateful
to each other"
Jack had no idea of being profane.
but he was of the opinion that it took
strong words to express strong indigna-
ton.
That evening Miss Valerie Richards
found Keith Falconer rather more in
different to her charms than was alto
gether pleasing to that young lady. To
all her witty remarks he seemed insensi-
BILE, and was once rude enough to inter-
rupt brilliant sally with:
Amt we to have the pleasure of see
ing your cousin this eveningP''
"My cousinP" she asked, arching her
jetty brows in well-simulated surprise.
81 beg your pardon" he answered,
81 had reference to Miss Eustace."
80, you mean Chris! Why, l no
more think of calling her cousin than l
would Watkins, my maid. Her father
was only papa's half-brother any way,
and we're only keeping her till she can
get better chance"
Indeedn E.
And the gentleman nodded rather too
stiily to be entirely gallant, it must be
confessed.
A slight movement behind caused
both to turn. Chris, with a fierce little
flush on either cheek, stood waiting for
them to stand aside that she might
pass.
On, is it you?"
Miss Valerie didn't care to conceal a
certain scornful emphasis.
pardon men' exclaimed Falconer,
much disturbed, for he knew she must
have heard that unkind remark mo-
ment before. But he managed to
possess himself of the roll of music,
and, Notwithstanding Miss Valerie s
ill-concealed disgust at this proceeding,
accompanied poor little Chris to the
piano. There, although he exerted
himself to the utmost to be agreeable
and no one could be more so when he
choose-he could not altogether Danish
the cloud from the pretty face, or the
panied look from the tender brown
eyes.
More than once he looked up to see
sudden tears kept back by a great eff
fort, and perhaps this fact, together
with strong personal interest,
made him more devoted and tenderly
solicitous for the welfare of his little
protegee than suited the fair Valerie.
Be that as it may, she fairly ground
her teeth in rage, as Keith Falconer
stood turning Chris music, and once,
when he capped the climax by bringing
her an ice, Jack, who was peeping i'll
the window. was afterward heard to de-
clare:
oval was so tearin' mad, she shook
her fist at the whole caboodle of 'emr
"Caboodlen was word all Jack S
own, coined for the occasion.
After that quadrille he took her out
to walk on the piazza in the delicious
moonlight, and made himself so pleas
ing, talking with her so kindly and
gently, and insisting upon arranging
the teecy Shetland shawl about her
shoulders to suit himself, that poor,
foolish Chris half wished that this
moonlight walk might last forever, and
the morrow of which she had such pain
full forebodings never come.
The next morning Chris did not an