The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-05-20

her to Mile. Bland. OF course | took
her to my dressing-room. She was
plainly dressed. but in good taste. and
was not only beautiful. with charming
manners, but so earnest and so frank |
was captivated by her. She made a
strange request. She said, without anv
prelude, that she was in great need of
money, and TO obtain it wished to pro-
cure the disguise of a poor old woman,
and to learn how to assume it readily.
| should have liked to give her the
money at once, but if you had seen her
you would understand how it was quite
impossible to think of it for moment.
| assure you | would quite as soon offer
my purse to a queen | was so inter-
ested, and, must confess, so curious,
that | said if she was going upon the
stage I would gladly hear her rehearse
her part, thinking that this offer would
bring me some hint of her purpose. But
she might have been an oyster, for any
information could elicit. She pleased
me SO much that | took great pains to
teach her how to make herself up as an
old woman, and 1 gave her dress
suited to her purpose, melange from
my Meg Merrilies and other costumes.
1t was a great success. She caught
every suggestion of mine with the quick
ness of an artist and at the last, mag
inc my perplexity when she attempted
to pay me, not for my kindness, she
said, but for the costume and the little
parcel of cosmetics. l had really to
quarrel with her." .-f .r
"Where did she come from?"
"What name did she give?" asked
several of the guests together.
"Ah, that is the oldest of ALL" said
Mile. Bland, laughing. She didn't
ask it. ! should know the costume
anywhere; SO if it appears on the stage
here, may yet discover her."
As the year passed on, small sums
steadily made their way to the old peo-
pie at the Newcomb farm, and Stephen
Billings had received nearly all his
dues
Sophronia had, in the first instance,
explained to her aunt that until
her pledge was redeemed she desired
retirement, and to avoid any introduce
ton to Mrs. Birds multitude of fash
ionabe acquaintance. Therefore, she
had been very seldom to Mrs. Bird s
Fifth Avenue home, where she would
have been so welcome.
At last the debt was paid, the last
farthing had been dispatched. the old
home was ransomed, and would be the
happy humble shelter of her parents
closing days.
One night in spring, when the apple
trees were beginning to blossom in the
orchards and sweeten the airs of Hill
side, and the weather. classes of New
York were beginning to plan and pre-
pare for the usual summer exodus, an
old woman who had become familiar to
the passers on certain beat as the
bearer of tray of excellent and al
was fresh candies, which sold as fast as
she could replenish her store, took her
stand, with her last trayful for that
evening, near Che stage-entrance of a
theater. She had found that she could
generally clear tray to the players as
they came out in tired yet generous
and testing mood.
The occasion had been especially
brilliant, for it was both the first and
last appearance in months of the great
popular favorite Mile. Bland. The act
ors began to come out. Several of them
spoke to the old woman, and purchased
from her tray, which was attractive
with a scattering of fresh-cut flowers.
At last Mile. Bland appeared. A tall
and remarkably handsome young man
pressed forward, with an air of privi-
lege, to hand her to her carriage.
In the same instant Mile. Bland saw
the old woman. Breaking from her
companion with an excited exclamation,
Mile. Bland grasped the old woman by
the wrists. The latter stood ansfxed;
her tray fell to the pavement, and the
scene being misunderstood, she was
somewhat rudely handled before Mile.
Bland could prevent, and her hood and
wig falling back, the disguise was evil
dent to all. The wonder was rebuffed
and the gathering crowd kept off by the
quick-witted action of Mile Bland.
Forgive me, my dear" she said to the
candy woman, so that all could hear it,
and to the crowd, ats all right" and
helped her into the carriage, the Young
man following, which rolled away while
the by-standers were still gaping, The
next morning Mrs. Bird received an
early call from Arthur Lynd, the young
man in whom she was most interested
of all her large circle of acquaintance.
She admired his character, believed in
his future, and had of late begun to
think in the secrecy of her soul that she
could not do better thing than to bring
about an acquaintance between him and
her lovely niece But how to accom-
pliSh this with the intractable Sophronia.
"Well, what is it?" said Mrs Bird, as
she received the young man.
g She IS found!' he exclaimed in an
excited tone, as he tossed his cap aside.
i,