The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-07-29

tate. 1t still retained many marks of
wealthy and cultivated ownership. but
it was sadly run down, as the home of
bachelor is apt to be. The grove,
which had once been the pride of the
place, was grown up to brush now, and
the sere leaves of many summers
growth rustled under my feet as I
walked through it.. At one point. COM
ing suddenly around thick clump of
underground, | heard chorus of tiny
snorts and the scampering of number
less hoofs, and ! knew that had invad-
ed haunt of the Majors last agricult-
ural freak, the very brood of Berkshire
pigs that were the source of all my bor-
rowed woes. Away they scampered,
their shouts we'll raised in the air, and
each with a curl in its tail that seemed
too ornamental to be wholly the prod
uct of nature and to justify the village
rumor that the Majors own man put
those tails in curl-papers every night.
They had the air of spoiled child
rem, every one, and were evidently the
Majors pets. But that didn't matter;
they had ruined Miss Lyddys wedding
gown, to say nothing of a dozen other
aggravating exploits which do not be-
l
to have satisfaction out of their owner
l found the Major sitting on his
piazza with an after-dinner look upon
his handsome, good-humored face. He
rose to greet me with an air of old
school politeness, dashed with a faint
wonder that L, woman, should have
had the hardwood to approach place
so little frequented by women.
GOOD evening, Miss Grace. I am
happy to see you In what can have
the honor to serve you?"
He had read my face and knew that
L had come on mission.
Major Hawthorne" 1 said, paying
no attention to his offer of a chair, Il
have come on very painful GRAND"
"Sit down, madam" said the Major,
politely. II cannot possibly permit a
lady to stand on my piazza ought,
perhaps, to ask you to walk in, but it is
rather stuffy indoors this evening""
"No," l said, IL will sit here, if
you please" To tell the truth. indoors,
as seen through the window, had not
the most inviting look, and was glad
to compromise.
"You have, no doubt, heard -
plunging in medias res" that Miss
Lydia Ludkins is about to be married."
married! Miss Lydia! No! Hadn't
heard word of it," said the Major, in
genuine amazement. "Who is the fort
innate man, prayP
1.-The Rev. Nehemiah Applebloom, a
missionary to the Micronesian Islands,
who has come home to recruit his health
and find wife,
ct EpoVy hin, :, cold Tho Mo;o, Co..,
him down at the station-a long, lean,
lank individual-just fit for his vocation;
no temptation whatever to cannibals!
But what the deuce is he going to do
with Miss LydiaP What will Balaam's
Corners do without herP"
"Balaam's Corners must do the best
it can," l said-I fear a little sharply
for my mind was still in a most aggres-
sive state toward the Major
"They are to be married next week,
and"
"What will become of the 'ances-
torsP'" interpolated the Major, in whom
surprise seemed to have gotten the bet
ter of habitual politeness.
go, she has made arrangements with
Mr. Crow about that"
"Just like her! Dear, faithful girl"
The Major had all his life loved all
the sex-not one-and l was not to be
beguiled by this show of feeling.
"She had set her heart upon being
married in her grandmother wedding
gown"
"Old Mrs. Captain SimonP l re-
member her well. A mighty fine wom-
an. She never would have gone to the
ends of the earth with missionary.
It's the craZiest scheme l ever heard
Of"
L began to fear L should never get to
my Grand.
at was put out on the grass to
bleach, being a little yellow with age
1t was lovely embroidered India mus
lin that the old Captain brought home
from India himself.
How well 1 remember him in my
boyhood! A jolly soul! A grand
daughter of his 60 off to the Cannibal
Islands to be eaten up by savages! 1
won't have itr'
"Her heart is set upon going" con-
tinued. 1.-THE wedding gown was put
out to bleach, and this very afternoon
those little Berkshire pigs of yours
they are a nuisance to the whole neigh
borhood. Major-trampled and rooted
it to pieces, so that it is utterly ruined"
Little black rascals!" said the Ma
jor. with a chuckle behind his neck
cloth.
land l have come, without her
knowledge, to tell you of it, because 1
was sure that, under the circumstances,
gentleman of your breeding would
feel in honor hound IN mako Soma ran.
aration to Miss Lydia"
The Major unused and looked at his
boot for moment in silence.