The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-03-04

OTdcK went JbO seal as Snedrliled with
1t. But, in her frenzy of jealous anger
and hatred, only an "iron-clad " envel-
ope could possibly have withstood her
hand. The next moment the letter was
opened out before her. With sicken-
ing heart she read the manly, straight
forward proposal of marriage. But her
fair, proud face Frightened at the con-
GLIDING words:
81 had no courage TO say this while we were
together. Nor have / COURAGE TO meet your
refusal, even though 1t should be written
one. So | will beg of you, If your heart is 9TH
erwise eng ige1 not TO pain me by the knpwl.
edge. II you do not answer this letter, / shall
understand that IL is for that reason. IL you
do answer t. you viii make me the happiest
CHARLES EDWARDS"
"There is the answerm said Kate,
spitefully, tearing the letter across and
across. and thrusting it deep into the
hedge in its envelope.
Then she walked back to the farm.
That night the first snow of the autumn
fell, and the farmhouse was deserted
the next day by the last of its summer
guests, good Mrs. Williams writing
down the city address of Lily Melville,
and faithfully promising ito forward
any letters that might arrive" while
Kate Jervis looked quietly on.
Two months went by. Lily, toiling
away at her paintings, found time to
wonder, sadly, why the hoped-for letter
from Charles Edwards never came. Not
for his fortune did she love him, but for
himself.
1t was a mild, open winter, and when
m hn ha
few dollars she had so painfully saved,
and went back to the old brown farm
house, where she had first met him.
Since she was to see his face no more,
it would be some consolation, although
a sad one, to visit the places where she
had been so happy by his side.
The secluded road that led to the
village had been one of their favorite
walks. There Lily fingered through a
whole sunny afternoon-the last of her
stay that year, as her purse was nearly
empty.
Some bitter tears were in her eyes as
she turned to 90. A carriage was COM
ing from the station, and, not caring to
be seen there, weeping, she drew back,
with her face toward the barren hedge.
AT her feet something white cleaned.
She picked it up mechanically, and, to
her establishment, saw torn and
stained letter, with her own name upon
the envelope.
Under the ice and snow of the past
autumn it had lain, waiting for her com.
ing. She could still decipher it, and as
she read, q mountain of snow and ice
seemed to be lifted from her heart
THANK God! He dill love mer' she
exclaimed.
"Lily-Miss Melville!' said famil-
lar voice.
She turned. The carriage which she
had seen stood waiting in the road; and
at her side was Charles Edwards, look
ing from her happy face to the torn let
ter in her hand with questioning gaze.
81 was coming back for few days
to the dear old place. he said. You
made me very unhappy last autumn.
Yet am like the moth with the candle
not wise enough to keep away, even
after getting severely burned"
4" only found it this moment, under
the hedger stammered Lily, giving
him the fragments that she held. 1T
must have been lost, and hidden under
the ice all this time"
"You could have answered me, then,
Lily?' he asked.
Her shy, happy eyes looked gently up
at him.
"Drive on to the farm, my man. We
viii walk" he called, to the staring
man.
And drawing Lily's little hand within
his arm, they began their life journey
happily together -Nnr9dret BlOttnt.