The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-08-05

was pouring vi upon Jnc bIOuDlBu wa
tiers below, the other, in a little cham
Der up three flights, was industriously
fashioning pale-blue satin bows for
white muslin dress of Valerie's.
Nothing had been said to her about
last nights escapade. and Chris felt al
most blissfully happy, even though she
had been working since daylight, and
the memory of the unkind words of the
evening before would sometimes thrust
itself upon her.
Valerie had come in early, and ordered
the dress finished for the lawn party
that afternoon. And Chris, singing
little snatches of song, worked away
for dear life, never wondering in the
least when Valerie informed her brisklv
that probably she wouldn't have time to
finish the dress otherwise, and she
needn't come down to breakfast. Wat
kins brought it up to her soon; and to-
ward noon Jack appeared with mys-
ferrous white-tissue-paper parcel.
Flows thisP" he remarked, irving
to appear careless and Indifferent, and
making a sublime failure, throwing the
parcel into a chair.
A beautiful pale-pink sash, which
Chris had long coveted at Farlan's,
greeted her delighted vision.
go Jack dear Jack, is it for me P"
she asked, hugging him rapturously.
"Of course it S for you; how look
with it on ?" receiving her caresses
with good-natured patience. Now
try it on, and see how it looks"
So it was tried on, and tied, and
looped. and bowed in every conceiva-
oh cd, Nh,.,1
cised by Jack, who wound up with:
"Pll bet two cents you'll look better'n
the whole kit of 'em this afternoon |!
Soon after, he took his departure, and
met Valerie ON the stairs just going up
to Chris's room.
Whether a good or evil genius took
possession of the boy at this moment
tits impossible to relate, but he tiptoed
softly back to the door, and applying
his ear to the key-hole, listened dill
| igently.
An hour afterward, Keith Falconer,
returning from gloomy and unsuc-
cessful fishing expedition-Guy was
busy on some critical review or other,
and couldn't accompany him-saw the
lad seated at the foot of the long
avenue of oaks near the road.
A fierce frown dishgured the usually
frank, boyish face, and Ms lips were
compressed in manner not altogether
in keeping with his youth.
"Mr. Falconer, should like to speak
with YOU" he began, abruptly.
"Very well, my boy, what is itp'
Keith asked, encouragingly.
ats about Val-and" -after mo-
ment's pause, land Chris"
"Ahh'
Keth's face suddenly glowed with in
| terest
- suppose it seems sort of mean to
you for fellow to be down on his own
sister-and | hate being tell-tale, too
but when girl tells such lies as Val
told Chris this morning, about things
you said at breakfast, which know you
never said; and twits her about trying
TO attract gentleman's attention, who
doesn't care straw for her, and who S
just the same as engaged to somebody
else; and orders her not to stir out of
her room until after this gentleman has
gone; and stamps all over her new
sash which somebody has just given
her.
Here, Jacks lip quivers, andhe pauses
a moment.
did your sister say all this to Miss
Christabe?" Falconer asks, gravely.
Yes, she did, - answered Jack, reck-
lessly, "for listened! l know that s
mean, too, but l don't care. And she
made ma believe Chris was sick with a
cold and couldn't come down, when all
the time she was working on an old
white gown of Walls. and now she's cry
ing"
And Jack breaks down again.
For a few moments Mr.. Falconer
looks deeply thoughtful, then takes a
sudden resolution, and makes q con-
fidant of Jack. ..... ..,
The lawn party passes off pleasantly.
and Valerie pronounces it a success.
From some distant shrubbery, Jack
alternately glares at her, smiles on
Keith Falconer, and then executes q
war-dance for his own private delecta-
ton. .
OF course Miss Valerie knows nothing
of all this, and Mr. Falconer is so amia-
bly, polite, and seems so sublimely
indifferent to the fact OF Chris S absence,
that this ambitious maiden confessed to
herself that night, in the solitude of her
own chamber, that she must have been
a little precipitate in supposing he
would care for a little chit like Chris.
"But after all twas just as well to
be on the safe side men do take queer
fancies sometimes OF course any
such affair is safely nipped in the bud
now ~
And this self-satisfed "nipper I"
crept smilingly to bed, where she slept
| lr ell - Al. inrht
The next morning after all the family
! excent Chris and ITncIe Richards had