The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-03-11


heard him speaking somewhat sharply
to him because he had not gone TO the
stable, and declaring that his business
was of more consequence than his sup
per. / heard Joseph mutter something
about taking time to finish his meal.
Ten minutes later, as father was going
down the steps to get into the carriage,
he turned back TO me, and holding his
umbrella so thatmother should not hear,
he said
1--WE been thinking, Christie. that
young Randall had better come and sleep
at the house. l shall feel easier
about you. You can telegraph him at
the office. He is to be there at work to-
night until very late.
Then he stepped into the buggy, and
they drove away down the path into
the darkness and the rain.
| did not send message to Harry,
however. Indeed laughed little as |
thought of fathers anxiety. He was
almost as timid as mother, after all.
was of a rather easy, careless DISPOSE
ton, and really had not a particle of fear
in having the money in my keeping.
| And as we two sat there in the library
for long time after this, mother doing
in the big chair and l intent upon some
fancy-work which was anxious to finish
in time for friends birthday, | forgot
altogether the package of money that
lay at the bottom of my dress-pocket
Joseph did not get back until nearly
ten o clock, although it was only three
miles to the Junction, and he should
have been home long before that hour.
We thought little of that. however. He
had been with us for several years, and
had great confidence in his faithful
ness. 1t was not until afterward that
mother and | learned that he had re-
Gently been led into bad company, and
that father had several times had angry
words with him about his habits.
Joseph slept in the house; and for Chat
reason it had seemed to me quite un-
necessary that Harry Randall should be
| there also. When the clock struck ten,
mother arose. declaring it was time to
90 to bed. She went into all the lower
rooms to see that the windows and doors
were fastened, and then came back to
the library for me. But | did not feel
sleepy, and wanted very much to get on
with my work; so l begged her to go up
stairs without me, promising to come up
in the course of an hour.
The clock struck eleven almost before
L knew the time had passed. | laid
down my work and counted the strokes
without looking at the clock itself.
was sitting at the comfortable, near the
lamp. At my left, little way of
against the wall, was fathers desk, with
books and papers scattered upon it, and
the battery at one end. Opposite me
were two long windows that opened
upon the side piazza Over these were
thick curtains, closely drawn, which did
not shut out the sound of the pelting
storm outside. Directly behind me was
the haL-door standing, as usual, wide
open. Just then heard. or fancied |
heard, low sigh or breath out in the
hall. / turned my head instantly, but
did not see any person; and listening in
tently, heard no farther sound. | felt
little uneasy and smiled to myself at my
nervousness; then took up my work
again. | had not quite finished what |
had set myself TO do. | had not taken
three stitches when laid the work down
again. There was no use denying it or
laughing at myself. For some reason
there had suddenly come over me
strong feeling of nervousness and dread.
1t seemed as if [ realized, us | had not
before that evening, the fact that | was
sitting all alone down stairs in the house,
at eleven O clock at night, with large
sum of money in my pocket. | glanced
at the desk. Possibly Harry was still at
work at the office, If he was, single
sentence over the wire would call him.
was just getting up to 90 to the desk
to signal and see if he was at the mill.
when something occurred that seemed
to turn me cold and motionless as stone
in an instant.
Behind me, so close that | knew it
must have come from the threshold of
the hall-door, a low, hoarse voice, that
knew, without seeing the speaker
must be that of a desperate and wicked
man, broke the stiffness and babe me
Good-evening!"
For moment, as | say, | felt as
though had been turned to stone. Then
the voice, speaking again, seemed at
least to restore the life in me. and to set
my heart to beating violently. The
language that the man used was not
even as good English as, in attempting
to reproduce it, find myself writing.
"Don't be frightened, miss. | beg of |
We not ter be frightened. All we've got
ter do is ter keep still, an not hair of
yer pretty head shall be harmed"
Then turned my head, half-wheeling
my chair at the same time, and saw, |
standing in the doorway, a large,
brutal looking man, altogether as ugly. |
and ill-conditioned, and fearful looking |
person as | had ever seen.
Naturally enough l opened my lips to
uttera cry, but he stopped me by single !
threatening motion of club he carried