The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-09-16

must put brave face on it, and turn
it all into a jest"
Very presentable' she certainly
looked, though unusually pale, when a
half-hour later, as she sat alone in the
parlor, the servant announced Mr..
Kingsley.
Where was the other brotherp Only
one entered, and if Belle were pale, he
was deathlv white. No look of an ac.
cepted lover, but more that of a man who
had lost all he holds dear on earth. was
on his face, as with sort of desperate
courage he walked up to Belle, who
had risen silently to receive him.
For q moment he stood before her
without speaking, without looking at
her. then cried out impetuously: Belle,
Belle, can you ever forgive such decep-
ton? 1t seemed but Jest till your
note came, and then | realized in mo-
ment what had risked, and how by my
folly had lost you"
Belle could not speak; the ready re-
partee or saucy jest which she usually
had at command failed her now, but she
shyly extended her hand, while she
smiled re-assuringly upon her lover.
Belle! Do you mean it! Can YOU
pardon me?" he exclaimed as he COW
cred the little hand with kisses.
Apparently Belle did mean it, and
some minutes passed in blissful 81
lence, before Mr.. Kingsley kindly in
CURED: "And how long have you known
of the deception, BELIEF All the time,
or did Joe turn traitorp'
He was traitorous enough.n said
Beele, in her usual merry tones, ':if, as
/ imagine, he was the originator of this
fine plot against an unsuspecting maid
ems peace of mind. No, l did not know
all the time, and hardly know when
began TO, suspect that Henry and Ash
ton Kingsley were one and the same
person. By-the-by, which are youp"
she added, archly.
al am both. My name is Henry Ash
ton Kingsley was the reply.
$50 imagined, for after / once had
a suspicion of the truth many things con-
firmed it. Fer instance, one day you
| dropped a card on the table, and it had
H. A. Kingsley written on it. Anoth-
er day, when you came as Ashton, you
attended to something which had hap
pened when you were here the previous
week; though it was as Henry that
you had then been here. But tell me, :"
she continued, "what made you ever
think of thus personating two brothersP"
Il used often to do it at school," re-
piled Mr.. Kingsley. ut was COM
menced by my schoolfellows declaring
that in my different moods of grave or
gay, was as unlike as if distinct boys,
after which they called me Henry when
lively, and Ashton when quiet, and l
used to take much delight in making
the two characters as unlike as possible.
When | came to Frankfort, Joe revived
the old joke, and finally proposed that
l should appear at Cranston in my two
characters, and thinking it would only
be for once or twice, and never dream
ing how far we should carry it, l con-
sented! | assure you, l have been well
punished, since l found how much |
had risked by my folly"
Great was the excitement when Belle
told of her engagement. Not stitch
of sewing was done at the Benevolent
Society meeting that afternoon, except
which Belle did herself, as she sat with
pretended calmness, listening to their
comments, for she had explained that
there was but one Mr.. Kingsley Weary
at last of their endless EXPLANATIONS, she
sprang up to leave, saying as she did
so: "At least, you must acknowledge
that have kept my word. for / always
told you l would take both. whenever
| you wondered which will she
chooseP "-BalloU'S Magazine