The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-10-28

says /. but all the same, head or tail,
| can't sarve.'
"'Why SOP
1--we got a good, lawful egscoos,'
says l.
a. What's the natur' on it?' says he
:" It natur' strictly private, says /.
We'll, come an state it to the
Court, says he, pullin' me along; Il
haint got no discretion
81 don't think you her, saws |,
by the onreas' nable way you act
leone along says he, or L II have
to call a possy"
" That sort o skeered me. l didn't
lest know rightly what a possy' was,
but knowed by the way the Sheriff
looked it must be suthin' startlin'.
"' No! no! don't possy me- says I,
AN I'll go peace BILE
"'Take your seat onto the jury
says the clark, as soon's the Sheriff
| brung me into court.
&" 'May't please you're Hon rable
Honor says /, turnin to the Jedge.
"'Silencen he bellered, AN take
your seat onto the juryn
"'But,' says I, I've got pertic-'
"Take your seatr yelledthe Judge,
an if you cheep agin I'll punish you
for actin contemplate to the court
"Twas on the top o my tongue to
tell him / thought twas the court as
was actin contemplate to me; but
thought L d wait till ketched him out
1.-The clark made us lay our hands
onto big book, an then ratified off
SUI thin quick that sounded like, 'goin'
-goin' -goin' gomez arter which they
begun to try case where one fellerwas
sum another for his character, which
tother'n said he never hadn't any; an
he wan t fur wrong.
81 was in hopes the trial wouldn' t
last long, an that by hirin q fast boss
| might still be in time to be married at
the appointed hour, which twas in the
evenin'.
Z" But along O. quest min, an cross
| quest'nin', an criss-cross-quest'n min, it
| took good spell to git through the
evidence. Next the lawyers made long
winded speeches, arter which old Testy
j took his whack, and lambasted both
sides for nigh onto an hour. Then n
constable took us to a room an locked
us up to agree onto verdic', which |
thought we could in no time.
"The fust vote stood six an six; an
then the argyfyin' begun, an pooty
soon the two ring-leaders got to fightin'
"We got 'em separated alter they d
wooded one another cons,d' rable, an
took another vote. | turned my coat
this time, which made it stand seven to
five. Then all the five pitched into me
like p'ison for desartin' of my flag; an |
b'lieve they'd mobbed me if t'others
hadn't enterfared.
"Twas too late to think O gittin' to
my weddin' that day; so | Jest sot down
sullen an let both sides jaw away.
1--WE sent out u request to the Jedge,
arter while, to be discharged for in in
compatibility; but old Testy sent back
word that he didn't see it, an onless we
agreed he'd keep us out till the eend o.
the tarm, which he was sorry to say
warn't furder off; an he was as good as
his word. / tried to get messidge
sent accountin' for my absence from
the weddin', but the constable said
twas agin the, constitOotiont to allow any
outside communication.
1.-The day court riz we was discharged
with q reeprimand, still standin' stiff,
seven to five. The two leaders adjourned
to the courthouse yard to resoom hos
liberties, an | struck bee line to find
the fastest boss 20 be had for love OF
money.
II hadn't got fur when l heered q
piece o. news that made me hurry faster
still. The boat was eXpectin' to 90 on
when the Sheriff ambushed me was
blowed up an hour afterwards, an
nearly ev'ry soul aboard lost! Poor
Janet-I was only jokin' when
limited bit ago 'twarn't her | was a
meanin'-would think me numbered
with the dead!
''Faster time was never made in them
parts nor made over that twenty mild
to Janet's home.
81 busted in without knockin'. Janet,
who twas easy to seed been cryin'
jumped up with a little glad cry, an
was runnin' to me, when look heI
father gave her made her stop.
81 hurried to explain what d KEEP me
away, but the old gent still looked
black an onsadisfed.
Perhaps you kin explain this, too.
he said, placin' an opened letter in my
hand directed to myself. Mr.. Hoard,
here, picked it up where you drapt it,
'spose, an thought twas no more 4
his uutJ 10 eSSpoSe your uoOpleNlCy.
Il hadn't noticed afore the presence
O. Misham Hoard, sneakin' cuss,
Janct's friends had long wanted her to
marry instid o. me, but she wouldn' {,
He sot back with grim of trump or
his ugly phiz.
run my eye over the letter.
"DEAR CALEB it said, Il got your nice
present. Joe jines in sendin' love. l spost
| m
weddin' day. Too biz to write more. on! re
ICdr, as the French millinger says.