The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-12-30

JOURNALIST, anu marrleu MIN. we were |
not burdened with untold wealth, but |
we loved each other dearly, and con-
cluded to take the chances about get
ting along, which childlike simplicity
we have never had cause to regret His
business led him hither and thither. and
in every move | have accompanied him.
Last summer we went to San Fran
cisco; there [ visited my mother. We
heard great deal of prominent jour-
nalst who had come there rich man,
and multiplied his fortune so many
times that all feminine Frisco was now
pulling caps for him. He was present
ed ut mamma saloon one evening.
Imagine my establishment, when this
golden man was presented to me, TO
behold in him Harry Fenton! In the
course of tete-d-tete conversation. he
told me that his father had died, leav-
ing him alone in the world. Unable to
endure life on the land that had de-
prived him of his dearest hope, he sold
it, and, taking the proceeds, started on
tour-much after the manner of Jean
! Faults heroes finally reaching the Pa
cite coast, where he rested Then he
! importuned me for news of the friends
had left. OF Hildegard, l told that
she had remained abroad five years. At
! the expiration of that time her husband
! had died in Arabia, leaving her a Wild
| ow with two children. She came home
at once, bringing the two little ones and
her husband body. The undertaking
was an immense one, and, ON reaching
New York, she succumbed to a severe
illness, through which Nina had nursed
her, and with whom she had remained
ever since.
Here Harry asked me when we were
going East - "
! I had iust.receiveda letter from Nina,
begging me to come home in time to re-
ceive New Year SEALS with her, and
reminding me that we had not all held
the watch together Since that night so
memorable to her. / handed the letter
to Harry, saying: We will go on Tues
day" .4 TX. sH ia. H..
Il will go, too" said he, decidedly.
only needed one look into his eyes
to know his purpose.
II $50 with u.s." said !.
i Probably will,'' replied he; "but
l will see you again." and, bidding
mamma good bye. he was gone. 20 ~
On Tuesday, as we were starting. a
telegram came from Harry saying that
he could not leave, but adding that he
certainly would keep watch with us New
Years Eve.
When weswere- fairly at home, told
Nina, and we both concluded that il
was best not to mention anything about
him to Hildegard, lest something I'm.
! foreseen should cause disappoint
ment. RNNk a
On New Year'sSEve we talked OF girl
hoods days and doings. 1t had been
, fifteen years since we had held oul
mountain watch. Nina and 1 were de
cidedly nervous, no word having come
: of Harry arriving -Hildegard seemed
! depressed. About eleven O. clock. Adele
her husband, and papa. came in to hell
: us watch; so Mt a quarter OF twelve
o'clock we formed quite a party. A
ten minutes of twelve Mr.. Farquha
r threw back the stained glass doors tina
r closed off the third room, and, seatin!
D ing himself before the organ, said h,
would play the Doxology; we all fol
: lowed, and ranging ourselves in cir
Gle, awaited the striking of the hour
l Hildegard alone was not OF the number
1 she had been standing in one of tn
windows, evidently wrapped in thought
e Amidst light-fallng snow a sleigl
g dashed up to the door, and a gen
Q tleman leaped out The porter ha,
e the door open by the time the visito
+ reached the steps. The transit fror
e sleigh to the parlor had not taken NOR
o than a minute, and Hildegard, SUI
Q prised out of action, had only .turne
: and faced the door. Her whole eounte
e nance must have told how thank
full she was to see Harry again, for in a
It instant he embraced her right heartily
G Then we all came forward to extern
g welcome. Nina would not let Harr
Y leave the house, but insisted upon max
a ing it his home during his visit. The
II we sang the Doxology, some minute
after twelve
u AS we finished, Mina's maid tappe
4 at the door, calling her away moment
e Harry and Hildegard wandered dow
/ the parlor. Nina looked in, saying
"Our dresses came an hour ago, an
Il Marie has laid them out for us to see
Come up stairs"
!, Hldegard took no notice of the il
h vitation; so we went without interrupt
ing her conversation which for the mex
Q half hour formed a sort of low obligat
accompaniment to certain improyis;
j. tons upon the organ, wherein MI
d Farquhar gave utterance to memorie
Il aroused by this anniversary of his be
a trothal. .I...g .4f.r
Once in Mina's exquisite little DO,
|, doir, she and | rapturously embrace
e each other; we did not speak, but W
felt pretty sure that at last all woul
/. go we'll with Hildegard; and it made I
y very happy. Then Adele's exclam'
It tions of admiration drew our attentio
t. to the dresses we would wear upon th
Il u...1.aIr El.l,I,, iii, foil To disn