The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1883-03-10
Jones' New House.

and stating the comfortable fact that he
was sole heir to large amount of mon
ey. Jones answered the letter by the
next mail, telling the writer, who was a
LAWYER, how to send the funds, and then
he went home and INDUCED in some
day-dreaming
MARIA. he said, approaching Mrs.
Jones with sheet of drawing-paper
covered with intricate lines, ''do you
know what that isP''
yes" answered Maria, looking ut
IL moment with careful attention; tits
view of Central Africa; we had it at
school," ....r.."
Nonsense" retorted Jones, walking
heavily up and down the room, and
stepping on the baby, ''its our new
house. That's what it is.
"Are you going 10 build, Jepthap''
she asked as she bathed the baby's
head with vanilla under mistaken mo-
ton that it was arnica. IA
Immediately answered Mr.. Jones,
putt ng both elbows through the parlor
window in his excitement ''Do you
see that plan, Maria9 / drew that all
out OF my own head and have wood
enough left for another. Look at that
vesti ule! Fourteen ways to get out in
case of fire." af.lt
ED rather be sure Of one way to get
in-did papa break its little head, !
poor thing? Seems to me I've heard,
Jeptha, offools building houses and wise
men living in theml What does it mean?'
YrIt means that some fool of AN archi-
tect will build this house and viii
live in it. He's making out the plans
now-four parlors, a hall with stained
glass windows, marguerite floors, Tell
| you what, Maria, folks will stare." ~ q
= But don't you catch your lot first"'
asked Mrs. j.. .rH''eae
."Oh that's all right! Lots of build
ing corners everywhere. Now, let me
see. Every room must have bay win
| dow, and there must be niche in the
hall for a bracket of Venus or some
thing"
Willie Jones went to school and told
the boys they were going to have a new
house with the n itch in it, and he d
catch it and give it TO them all, and
Jones went off up on Davenport street
to look at house that suited him; he
staid there all the morning studying
modern architecture, and getting his
death of cold, and then when he sat
down before supper to make drawing
from memory he found that he had for
gotten whether the front door opened
i in or out.
"rll go up and take another look"
he said TO himself, and he did; he got
down on his knees on the door mat in
the du k, and took mental measure
ment OF the premises. Just as he was
rising voice came through the key-hole
into his nearest ear.
'My hero my prince, | have long
waited for thee. | fly to meet thee.
Be at the drug store at the corner at
nine tonight Adieu, my unknown.
Read this letter and youwill know that
your passion is reciproeated." u YVrs
! Jones took the letter that was insinu-
ated under the door,. and turned to
leave, all in futter, when brawny
hand fell on his shoulder.
81 say. you Teller, git! I've he'd my
eye on you all day, and you're actin
mighty suspiciousiy. Ii you dom twant
to be jagged keep out o this beat Yer
appearance is agin YER nw
"But," stammered the unfortunate
man, don't you know meP My name
is Jones. live on
Z" on care if your names Smith or
Brown retorted the policeman; lit S
my opinyon yer n. $50 git
Jones got; he went home rapidly
filed with a sweet, mysterious influence
from the secret letter he carried, and
which he dare not stop to read under a
lamp post. Maria met him in tie hall,
so he didn't get any chance to slip the
missive out of his overcoat pocket unit
after tea Then Ma"ia came in with
the unlucky overcoat in her hand.
"Pm going to sew on that button
this very minute, she said, holding the
said button in her teeth and turning the
pockets inside out, while quarts of per-
spiration ran down Jones' back and his
knees shook like castanets. She doesn' t
stop to look at the letter. Oh yes she
does, let woman alone for that!
What's this?' she gasped. ITO my
heart lido" in a strange woman S
hand. "Oh, hold me, J m going to die.
Tra-t-o r-r-r! Wret-chr
What is itPn asked Jones, innocent
ly in a voice that seemed wrenched
from his boots. "Why, Maria, what a
goose you are? i picked that up in the
car-don't open it, there's fine of five
hundred dollars for opening other peo-
pies letters"
Mrs. Jones concluded not to die Just
then, and they spent lovely evening
quarreling as to whether there should
be a china closet in the front parlor OF
not, and if marque RE was spelled with
two a or one. The next day just as
the architect was wishing either that he
was dead or Jones was, there came
another letter from the lawyer saying
that he was not the Jones--the money
! was intended for Joseph Jones, the
Board of Trade man. The mistake
arose from the initials of their from
names BEING similar MRS T. saws shs