The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-05-20

then paused in front of her. eyer the
picter o yer mother when she was a gal,
an Dan'l an me were boys. | suppose
We don't know We cum mighty nigh to
bein my darter?"
Sophronia had risen wher he did
Her heart was full, and her tongue was
no longer fluent.
al don't mind tellin' on We" he said,
little huskily, "for We amt the gal to
60 repeatin' ont; yer mother wuz the
only gal ever asked to marry me. an
| wuz a soft-hearted lad in them days.
She said no, and it spilled things for me
good deal ever sence."
He walked away again, and stood
some moments in the front doorway.
When he returned it was with his old
manner. He too had in his way been
proud, for he had RETAINED from telling
Sophronia that it was chiefly due to an
ungenerous action on her fathers part
that her mother when she was pretty
Anna Green, had refused him, and
steeled his heart once and for all.
ats a bargain" said he, " an I'll
stick tot jest as if We were my own dar-
| ter an not my enemy's darter."
This bit of humor and half retaliation
made it easier for Sophronia to thank
him, and they who had passed each 9TH
er in the village ways for all her twenty
years as strangers, parted now as
friends, with an odd bond of secrecy in
their alliance. Stephen Billings had not
been the only direction in which So
phronia had sought relief She had an
aunt living in New York, the wife of
one of its wealthy merchants Mrs.
! Bird was very fond of her niece, and
having no children of her own, would
long ago have adopted Sophronia if the
latter could have been induced to leave
her parents. AS it was, Mrs. Bird had
insisted on securing to the bright and
pretty girl the advantages of full
course at the Wilbraham Academy. To
Mrs. Bird, Sophronia had written, re-
vealing the home situation under pledge
of secrecy, and begging her aunt to Sc
cure for her some young pupils for
forenoon class. Mrs. Bird in reply
warmly eXpostulated with Sophronia, Of
fering her a permanent home, and pro-
posing an immediate loan. But So
phronia was firm, declined all these kind
overtures, and pleaded for the forenoon
class; and the very next day after her
interview with Stephen Billings she re-
ceived letter from Mrs. Bird announc-
ing, still with much tender protest, that
the class was arranged, and she could
assume its direction at any moment.
With this letter in her hand, Sophro-
MA broke the matter to her parents,
who were not only surprised and loath
to part with her, but urged that there
could pe no necessity for it, now that
"Old Grind, as Mr.. Newcomb dubbed
his cid school-mate and creditor, had
"shown such soft spot" and granted
him a whole year on the pesky mort
gage"
Nevertheless Sophronia persisted in
carrying out her plan. On arriving in
New York, Sophronia amazed her aunt
who received her warmly, and made
her at once the mistress of a lovely
room-by going out on the third day
and returning with the news that she
had found and taken cheap but repu-
table lodgingsin another part of the city,
with kitchen privileges.
Kitchen privilegesn' cried Mrs.
Bird, looking at her niece in real dis
may. MY dear Sophronia, what on
earth can you want of kitchen priv
legesP"
"Why, to board myself, of course.
must earn and save every cent l cam"
said Sophronia, earnestly. II have
given my word, and will keep it,
And can't you see, dear aunt, there is
but one wayp"
mo, CAN'T and Mrs. Bird folded
and unfolded her hands in sincere vexa-
ton. You do not need to be so
proud. If this is what is meant by New
England pride, I'm sure it a very ugly
virtue. 1t was all very well for those
delicate women who had to come over
in the Mayhower, and be dumped on
Plymouth Rock with nothing to eat or
to wear, poor things, for they couldn't
hurt themselves. I've never believed
for there's no sense in it-that they
came OF their. own free-will, and chose
hard times and everything dirty and
disagree able. But with you, Sophro-
MIA, it is very different, and you might
please me if you would"
Sophronia gently shook her head.
do let me do as feel ought, without
having to feel that vex YOU" she plead
ed; and then she kissed her aunt with
so sweet look of tenderness and inhex-
Utility that Mrs. Bird yielded. 1922
The arrangement limo way interfered
with Sophronia's management of her
class, which she met daily in the vestry
of chapel which had been fitted and
assigned to this purpose through Mrs.
Birds representation and at her ex-
pense. Sophronia enjoyed her work.
As she went to and fro she observed I'M
obtrusively but keenly the people and
the incidents of the streets; the rich, as
they walked or rode, the poor, and the
deYices to which thnu rosnrtnd tho