The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-07-29
"Yes," she said, 81 think I have.

Il
should marry minister or mission
ary." Admirable and pathetic faith!
And Mr.. Applebloom says he knew
the moment he set eyes upon me that I
| was ordained to be his wife; so you see
it is not the surprise to either of us that
it is likely to be to our friends.
knew then that her mind was fully
made up, so | demurred no longer, but
lent myself at once to a discussion of
the wedding, which plainly saw was
what Miss Lyddy desired of me.
" You will be married in church, l
supposed"
gentle decision. II am the last of the
Ludkinses. All the LIdkinses have
been married at home. will go out
from under my own roof-tree. If l
must seem to forsake the ancestors
she paused to regulate little choking
in her throat-'I will at least not for
sake the traditions. shall leave lit
tie money with the parish clerk, that
he may see that the graves of my dead
are keptin order, as always have loved
TO keep them, and hope they will forgive
my departure; but will at least go as
Ludkins should. 1t is my desire to be
married in my grandmother's wedding
gown. ...'.-~s
Miss Lyddy's voice trembled, and
there was a humidity in her eyes, at
which | did not wonder, for it was much
like funeral, after all.
81 thought, perhaps" went on Miss
Lyddy, IF 1 brought the venerated
relic to you, you would tell me if any
thing were necessary to be done to fit it
to me. | don't care for the fashions,
you know. and my grandmother, as l
remember her, was about my height,
but still, you know-some changes
might be advisable"
Certainly" l said, "do bring it to
me. should so like to see it.
90 1t is sprigged India (she called it
Ingy) null. My grandfather, Captain
Simon Ludkins, brought it home from
overthe seas. I'll bring it."
Like some pale and gentle ghost she
rose then and went to bureau drawer
and unrolled from folds of linen that
smelt of lavender, the fair, frail relic of
Mrs. Captain Simon Ludkins' wedding
state. 1t was fine embroidered null,
the undoubted product of Indian looms.
ut is lovely" | said, "and so well
|
you. Will you try it on? We can tell
then Just what it needs"
Miss Lyddy proceeded to disrobe her.
self and put on the spider-net gown.
As she did so, the changes in fashion s
mandates became only too evident. 1t
had no waist to speak of, and just lit
tie lace-trimmed puff for sleeves. Miss
Lyddy was evidently surprised. She
had not thought of this. l knew well
what the troubled look upon her face
meant, and pitied her maiden sensi-
bilities Could it be possible that her
grandmother, Mrs Captain Simon Lud-
kins had ever worn such gown as thisP
She said not word that could indicate
the depth of her modification, but her
face was study for an artist.
"There must be sleeves" she muir
INJURED, after few moments of silent
and embarrassed contemplation.
Eyes" | replied, cheerfully as my
constrained gravity would allow. "And
you might have a fichu and hounce
on the bottom"
She looked down. She had not be-
fore realized that the skirt of the ven
Grated relic lacked full quarter of
yard of touching the floor.
However could theyr' she ejacu-
lated in an undertone. But she quick
ly recovered herself and looked up to
me cheerfully over her spectacles
.. How ingenious you arer' she said,
with an air of sweet relief. al knew you
would help me OUT
We went out together and bought the
requisite null that day, but when we
came to put it beside the 'venerated
relic" of Mrs. Captain Ludkins it was
evident that time had so enriched the
color of the latter that the two were most
unfortunately unlike.
1--WE can lay it out on the grass" l
said; these June dews are Just the
thing for it, and as it will be evening
nobody will in the least notice"
Again Miss Liddy smiled gratefully.
and declared that my suggestion should
be carried out in the most faithful man
ner.
The Rev. Nehemiah Applebloom-"a
lovely name, don't you think SOP" said
Miss Lyddy, and she blushed and
smiled like schoolgirl in her teens
had but short furlough, and the mar
riage was to transpire the next week,
so the relic was put out to bleach forth
with. 1t had already been upon the grass
three days and nights, and been relig-
iously watered by Miss Lyddy at morn
and noon and dewy eve, and the next
day it was to be taken up early and
put into the dressmakers hands for the
necessary alterations, when the dread
full event occurred with which this mar
rative opens.
GLORY" said, ''do you keep watch
for Miss Lyddy when she returns. Say
nothing about what has happened un-
less she misses the nown from, tho nrraan