The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-05-06

leading lady's dresses were not ex-
quisite. Her enthusiasm was charming,
and so was the play of her features
while she talked of the performance;
but when ten minutes after her
arrival. she asked her husband how
he was feeling, she did it so listlessly
and mechanically that | departed with
distinct conviction that Marston's
home-life was not what it should be.
Two or three days aftorward, as l
left home before daylight to catch an
early morning train, the newspapers of
the day struck the front door as /
opened it, and / recognized the figure
of the retreating carrier as that
of Marston. ] also heard a cough that
made me apprehensive as to the health
of my newsman. For a moment was
inclined to follow him and warn him
against imprudence, but / had no time
to spare, so | hurried to my train.
On my return, two days later, found
that Marstons son had called several
times within few hours. l immediate
ly hurried to the shop, but finding it
closed, went on to Marston's residence.
Mrs. Marston received me ut the door.
~ am afraid your husband has suffer-
ed a relapse" said /. i'''
Eyes, . said she, "and isn't it too
bad? He was to have got me pass to
Ms benefit tonight. I'm dreadfully
disappointed" .g.-r.. .....
The moment saw Marston | feared
that the end had come. His face was
strained, his eyes bloodshot, and he
breathed with difficulty. His boy knelt
by the bedside, with one arm thrown
across his father, and with more sor-
row and apprehension in his face than
l ever saw i'll human countenance be-
fore.
"Where is the physicianp 1 asked.
"He-why, Ellis did not think he
needed one, and agreed with him; he
seems only to have a heavy cold, and
has been doctoring himself"
l sent his boy for my own doctor,
who lived only two or three squares
away. The little fellow was 10th to 90,
but something that / whispered to HIM
sent him off in haste, only to return
with word that the doctor was not in.
Meanwhile responded to an invitation
from Marston's eyes, and leaned over
| him. ,n ..| uH .. #'|
Excuse me-" he gasped, "but /
have no friends-no relatives-any-
where near. VIII you-be-my ex-
ecutorp"
Certainly" 1 replied. He drew
from beneath his pillow piece of paper
that proved to be a will, very short, but
to the point.
Witnesses uick!'' he whispered,
hoarsely. -....r
turned quickly toward his wife, but
he seized my arm and said: 'Dont
brighten - her. Let me - die - in
peace" H'
| excused myself for moment to
Mrs. Marston, who was reading the
evening paper, and hurried downstairs
| for witnesses, returning almost at once
with grocer, from the nearest corner,
and a policeman, whom l persuaded to
leave his beat Then Mrs. Marston was
alarmed, but stood helplessly in the
background as the dying man signed
his will and the two men affixed their
! signatures.
When the witnesses departed, Mrs.
Marston asked me what was the mat
ter, and when L told her that her hus-
band had thought it only proper to
make a will, as he should have done
/
in treasured tone, and said that the
scene had reminded her of one that she
had seen in some play.
resumed my position at the bedside,
kneeling to catch the words that Mars
ton found hard to utter. The boy, on
returning, knelt also and took his faith
err S hand.
1.-The stock-and-good will of--the
-ought-to give-her enough to-
bury me and-get her back-to-her
family. Advise her--to go--to them.
She's good woman--a good woman
but New York's-no place for-her.
My boy -" 1Iafrf. ...
Just here Marston's voice failed him;
he struggled, thrust one arm toward a
chair near the bed, and took a small
bottle. | took it from him, saw ''Bran-
dy' on the label, poured its entire con-
tents into glass and helped him to
raise his head so as to drink it. As soon
as his head touched the pillow again, he
whispered:
I" My boy-he is a noble fellow. What
will become of him, God-God only
knows. His mother knows nothing
about boys-and she can't seem to learn.
Would you watch him-a little, and save
him if you-oanP He's, worth al that
can be done for him. y En-
did not know what could do in the
future; but looked into Marston's eyes
and then int o the boys, and put one
arm around the little fellow, and drew
him close to my side; his father
seemed to understand, and the look he
gave me was full payment in advance
for all have done or can do for the
child.
Mrs. Marston could not have heard