The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-01-14

she looked NJ IL uOuDtIullY moment, !
then took it from me with ierky mo- !
ton. saying, IN an audible undertone;
"She ain gwine come" and disap- |
peared with it.
And now the notes of another voice |
smote upon me clear and low, but ex- |
pressive of subdued resentment
Il don't care to see the card" it !
said. cannot see the gentleman; he
must excuse,me."
Then there was seconds pause. dur
ing which, as ] shrewdly expected. do
nity gave way TO curiosity and my card
was examined. And sure enough. the
next moment, little Miss Dignity ap-
peared before me, covered with bushes,
holding my card.
'Are you really Mr.. Julian MooreP"
she said. Il beg your pardon, but I
had no idea of it. You must have
thought me rude"
Having assured her of my identity and
called up in her bonny face fresh
phalanx of dimples, followed her into
the parlor.
81 thought it was some one stopping
at the hotel whom / did not know, and
felt almost frightened; and / was rude,
I'm afraid. You have been so very kind
about taking the time to answer my let
tiers that l am ashamed to have given
you such a reception"
She addressed me with so much awed
respect that | experienced something of
the sensation of literary lion, for the
first and probably the last time in my
life, and set myself at once to the task
of putting her at ease. inquired about
! H., nd inf,
| as to its ultimate appearance in print,
assuring her that it needed only a little
! thoughtful revision to make it shining
success, thereby undoing all my earnest
! ly-laid plot to discourage her from writ
ing more, which / had subtly introduced
into my letters. / saw that she listened
with delighted surprise, and | waxed
more and more eloquent, expressing and
certainly feeling ten times the emotion
and enthusiasm that talk with George
Eliot would have inspired. 1t was de-
licious to call up such a happy light into
those lovely eyes and sucha confused
pleasure to the sweet voice that responded
to me- l was playing the idiot, but
had completely lost my head. After q
long talk she explained, with much hes
itation, that she would be obliged to get
ready for church, as she played the organ
and must not be late, and when | asked,
feeling a strange timidity myself, whether
Knight be allowed to accompany her,
she told me the church was several miles
away and that an uncle and aunt who
lived in the country would call for her
in their rockaway.
but wouldn't a sleigh do as well as
a rockawayP" l asked, delightful
project suggesting itself. perhaps l
might get single sleigh and drive you
outr' orr ...I ..fII,f/tN.tt.
She hesitated moment. and could
see that the project delighted her. So
said no more, but retained to Uncle
Davy and procured the use of a shabby
little box on runners, with steady little
horse, and when 1 appeared at the door
opposite was soon joined by Miss Tenn
7 Pile, who looked prettier than ever in a
/ coquettish little fur muff and collar.
A few minutes later we were skim
ming over the country roads with hearts
as light as air. l had forgotten my
friends who were expecting me else
where-forgotten the brilliant young
lady who had been good enough to ex-
press some interest in my coming.
had forgotten everything and everybody
on earth, indeed, except the bewildering
little being beside me.
"It was so kind of you to come with
me-" l said. elbow can ever thank
you enough? 1t shows me what a gen.
erous and confding nature you have
and you never shall regret it." e tf
"Why, of course, was delighted tc
come with you, Mr.. Moore" she said
looking at me with WIDE, questioning
! eyes. " am sure ought to do every
thing you ask after all the valuable ad
vice you have been kind enough to give
me-"
When we reached the church l coulC
see that my appearance was perceived
with great surprise by Nelly's young
: friends in the choir, which was in
! creased by the fact of my joining in
brave and strong, in the music which
, Nelly accompanied and led. Sh'
: praised my singing very highly after
ward, and said my voice furnished jus
the support hers needed. What a hap
ply day that was, and what never-to
, be-forgotten thing was our ride home.
l went over and spent that evening
' with Nelly, and she took me into he
confidence and friendship in the sweet
r est way in the world. OF course sh'
, introduced me to her people, and l haC
} to be inspected by them, but l sool
found that they were all her willing
slaves and her approval of me was tn
only guarantee they required. Indeed
, they were, one and all, so unconvention
> al and unworldly that | felt a little un
/ easy at the thought of my dear it'll
/ Nelly's being without more capable
protector, and not averse to assuming