The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-01-14

however, with real curiosity as TO her
nature, experience and surroundings. 1t
was strange that SO very young lady
should have come to regard life as such
a bowling waste and the world so aw
| fully hollow. Certainly could imagine
that she might prove rather melancholy
company if her conversation and ideas
resembled her heroine's, as of course
they would. She was just the sort of
writer to feel impelled to write an auto
biography, and yet, though it seems par
adoxical while her heroine seemed to
me the quintessence of dismal insipidity,
l felt exhilarated by the thought that my
! Christmas at Fordville was to be en-
livened by the acquaintance of Miss
Temple.
1t was too late to make any effort to
find out the young lady that night, so
after eating a very well prepared supper
at the village inn, which proved to be as
comfortable within as it was dilapidated
without, went to bed and slept sound
", waking next morning in frame of
mind Mark Tapley might hare envied.
A bright wood fire was cracking on the
hearth as l walked to the window and
drew aside the curtain. Outside the
ground was covered with snow which
had fallen during the night, and which
now lay crisp and sparkling in the brill
liant winter sunshine. / dressed hastily.
The vital necessity of having sleigh
ride at once presented itself, quickened
by the sounds of bells coming and going
swiftly over the country roads.
After doing justice to a deliciously
cooked breakfast, found my way to the
front porch, where my host was walking
up and down, enjoying his pipe. l had
begun to question him as to the practi-
cability of procuring a sleigh when the
sound of merry laughter smote upon my
ear, and at the same time dazzling lit
tie creature with fluttering red ribbons
appeared on the porch of the neat cot
tage across the way. She was a perfect
little beauty, with a face from which the
ideas of merriment and good humor was
inseparabe. The peal of laughter which
l had heard had evidently been directed
toward some one in the house, for she
stood alone upon. the porch holding a
scarlet wooden comforter in her hand.
"Look, Uncle Davy," she called out
in sweet, gay voice; GIVE finished
your muller at last-iust in time for the
snowy weather!h
Hid behind a wide old pillar, / listened
with much interest, as the old man eX-
pressed his delighted thanks. "H
But how am L to get it across to
| you?' the girl went on. 81 know your
! rheumatism won't allow you to come for
it, and the snow would be over my shoe
> tops"
As the dilemma remained unsolved
stepped from my hiding-place and offered
myself as Uncle Davy's messenger. Ac-
cordingly descended the steps and
crunching the untrodden snow beneath
my feet, crossed over and approached
the young lady. As i looked up at her
, | observed that though she was standing
/ in the same attitude, holding the scarf
in her hand, marked change had come
, over her face, which now looked pro-
foundly amazed. fTfrRI n EfET AT
a AS l approached her. however, she
responded very prettily to my bow, and
q when | swept off my hat with flattering
: deferentialness and explained that I'm.
Gle Davy had intrusted me with the
I honored mission of bringing him his
\ scarf, she handed it to me with very
a becoming flush and smile, and thanked
7 me with demure courtesy ##
n | did not feel at all like turning my
. back upon her and returning to the vi
I cinity of the old hotel, but there wa.
+ nothing else to be done; so 1 replaced
I my hat and found my way over to I'm
q Gle Davy and delivered the scarf. TIL,
a old man received his present with the
! greatest delight, and after vociferously
p shouting his thanks across the street
Il turned and entered the house for tn,
# purpose, as he explained, of exhibit
,Oo 10 LOT A., L. L.
) down the narrow hall, heard him cal
If out: d
J. "Wife, where are youP Come and Sc,
> the pretty present Miss Nelly Tempt,
" has sent me-" a -
n Miss Nelly Temple Here was a sur
), prise. | remembered now that / haC
d heard him call her Miss Nelly, but
n had been so engrossed at the time tina
k the name had not struck me, and had
II for the moment, forgotten the existenc
i of my melancholy young high TRACED,
II authoress. How could she possibly b.
d identical with that piquant little beaut7
J. yonderP And raised my eyes to draw
le the contrast, only to discover that sh
h had disappeared
o l hesitated for a moment as to m
e course, but as | recalled the very crate
N full and admiring tone of her last 1ette
D. to me, which had convinced me at tn
s, time of its receipt that she had put m
1, on pedestal along with Emerson
ir Holmes and Longfellow, 1 thought
" might venture to take decisive step; so
d without more ado, took my way agail
l. across the street. and, walking boldly u
% the steps, knocked at the door. As
/ did so | caught sight of some scarle
ie ribbons screened behind the muslin cur