The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-06-10

annuity, which il so strictly tied up
that it is useless to talk of it."
Them" says Tim, rising, 'I had
better face the only alternative and tell
him the hole / am in. He can't do
more than stop the allowance, which
won't be much good to me if | don't
pay up tomorrow
But this announcement instantly
worked an unexpected change in the
manner of his host 1t seemed as if
they were suddenly transported to
Sharp street, as the money-lender. with
ali the profession in his tone, said:
"Mv dear sir, YOU are too hastv! Bust
ness is business; and | care no more to
send it away than poorer man. You
have something to sell"
"Iw calculated Tim, with astonish-
ment
"Yes; a revisionary interest"
"In what?" asks the other, sinking
into his chair again with an expressive
shrug of his sholders.
Your father is of certain age.''
"Well?"
Your brother is unmarried; failing
him, you are the next heir"
"Sor'
"You shall have what you need to-
morrow, for your reversion-and a
promise.
"To do whatp"
Marry my daughter"
The hot blood of the Montagues
flushed all over poor Tim, and for a
moment it seemed as if he would forget
everything and hurl something harder
than ''No'' at the head of the cool pro-
poser of such an extraordinary bargain.
But, with all his recklessncss, he knew,
at times, the virtue of prudence, which
certainly was contained in the reply
which was waited for with ill-concealed
impotence.
81 am afraid that even if you cared
for pauper son-in-law, the young
lady would prefer some one of her own
choosing"
{" All that is my affair."" answers the
father, with grandose air.
Tim weighs rapidly the position. Re-
fusal meant ruin, utter and complete,
for even if his father paid up. he certain
ly would fulfill his threat, and cut him
off instantly with the proverbial shilling.
On the other hand, he might have
freedom from hateful position for
really nothing. His brother was young,
strong, and, having only to amuse him
self, and not even the contingent risk OF
being food for powder And as tc
matrimony-but here the sharp pane
which shot through him told him that
there was one who might hear of his
marrying another with something more
than Indifference, who might feel that
| she had some claim to be considered in
in any bargain affecting his future. He
! hesitated painfully till he remembered
that his now certain poverty prevented
even the hope of his offering her any
/ thing, and then, with look which
went to the heart of the other, hi
| gave him his hand and said, in {
| firm, but strangely altered voice: at il
a bargain. As to the latter part, an
at your disposal after | am off with tn,
old love, which won't take long unde1
the circumstances, he added, with the
| grimmest of smiles.
The money-lender looked at him ques
tioningly for a moment and then, APP
parently satisfied with the result, said
Every well, I'll prepare in few min
utes document which is, perhaps
]
and you shall have what you require il
the morning."
Half an hour later, as Tim drives bach
towards his Bohemian quarters, he find
his heart is Offering sundry reasons TO
delay. Obeying an impulse he does no
stop to question, he suddenly alters hi
direction, and presently finds himsel
on the doorstep of a house which haC
seen him not unfrequently in the las
few months. As he goes up stairs h,
wonders vaguely in what sort of stat
he will come down--much as the youn!
soldier going into action speculates OIL
the probabilities of his needing stretch
er. Little time for further reflection i
given him, for, as the servant retires
he sees att the other end of the room
the tall, graceful figure he now feels h.
has learned to love. ovelmuch for hi
happiness. AS she moves toward hin
her fair face beams with the unconsciou
but unmistakable light of love, AM
leaves no doubt as to her beauty. while
with the gfrankness which is not tn
least Of her charms, she says: II am 81
glad you have come; it is quite an ag
since we met" ..t .#
Anything but coNcomb, lin canno
but see that the task that is set befor
him is harder than he had dared to thin
possible. DEf vrrsgs y0rtr..r vi
"You have found itso, "he says, ten
derby, as he takes her hand and sits be
side her. And then there falls upol
them both that too eloquent silenc
which tells so much. OF course, sh
was the first to find the advantage G
speech. But were things made bette
as she said, with heightened color:
Did you get letter, from a name
less friend last nightP' = ''.
| g -'rYes,'l he answered, with amaze