The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1883-06-23

depths below.
All around were hills. Hills rising
up behind a stretch of woodland back
of them; hills rising again beyond
strip of narrow valley in front; hills
rounding up at the right and the left,
and dotting the hillsides, occasional
farm buildings, with stony, stump-dis-
| figured fields, and long lines of ''staked
and rideredh fences-not an eplivening
picture at any time, doubly dreary in
the late gray dawn of this dismal MAY
morning.
1.-The mere fact of leaving it is enough
TO make any one happy" thought the
young lady aforesaid with a swift
glance comprehending it all.
"Don't you see the stage coming,
PeterP" she asked, for the tenth time.
"Oh, pray look again, Sister Annel
I'll be in a pretty pickle if / have to
stand much longer in the rain. And
the road" with shudder, "the road is
too horrible to be thought of. de-
clare I've a notion to start off and
walk"
"You walk" said Peter, in disdain.
"It's ten miles if it's a step. l dunno
but you'd get to Junctionville just
about as soon, thought he added, de-
spairingly. "Jim's off horse is gener-
ally lame in one leg, and it's about
| time for that other wheel to break down.
l noticed that the axle was kinder weak
last time l see him go past. Mebbe
you'll make the 'leven train at juno
tionville, school-ma' am, but l wouldn't
! like to bet on it."
"Oh, Peter, don't be grumpy. You
ought to be glad to see me Off
"Ought l to bePn demanded Peter,
with an injured air. "She's a comm ~
he announced in another moment, and
scrambled from his perch" "Reckon
you won't ever think of comm back to
these parts again, Miss Braxton," in
the shame-faced manner of one who
would rather die than betray any emo
! ton.
'Not if l can help myself" said Miss
Braxton, decidedly. - Here, Peter-I
boxed your ears once, didn't I?-take
this to remember me by"
But Peter resolutely declined the sill
yer dollar she would have pressed into
his grimy hand. He wore the face of
Spartan youth; not for this wide world
would he have given utterance to a
blubber; yet shock-headed youths of
fifteen have their feelings, for all that.
Goodbye, Peter" cried Miss Brax-
ton from the stage door Tim your
first love, know, but 1 won't be your
last; let that thought comfort you" O.
The door was shut; the numbering
vehicle started, and Alexia Braxton
turned an inquring glance upon the soli-
tary fellow-passenger which it con-
tanned. He had settled himself for a
nap, and only the tip of his nose was
visible between the turned-up coat col
lar and drawn-down hat. But with the
advent of rosy and charming young
lady he reconsidered his intention, and
sat up to reveal himself, man of thirty
odd years. who evidently had some
struggling memory of having seen her
before.
''Is it Miss ThomasP" he hazarded;
cor Miss Deane, perhaps? The name
has escaped me, but | believe we had
an Introduction last evening""
:" It's Miss neither, and we had no
introduction at all"
"Oh, beg pardon, but 1 certainly
thought"
THAT you saw me at the lecture, as
you certainly did, and | don't believe |
know anything more about Esthetic
Culture than l did before"
"Oh, l daresay," said the lecturer,
with perfect good-humor "You see,
otter trying my hand at about every
thing else, without very much success,
| am just trying myself at that. l
didn't imagine | would find critical
audience down here. I've tried the law,
both sides of it, and don't know but l
find my fOrtQ in that ~
"Both sides of itp" queried Miss
BraXton, in puzzled way.
You see, have been reformer.
also, in my day, and, to be reformer
with effect, one must be a reformed
man. Don't look so very doubtful, my
dear young lady. never did anything
worse than to 'prig "a wipe if you
know what that is, and there was an
Interior object behind that little act;
but did come near committing bank
robbery once. 1t was eighteen years
ago; was mere lad, but / got a
fright then, which persuaded me that
honesty is the best policy, and I've held
fast to that line ever since"
"A fright? Were you caughtP"
"WOrse than that. l caught some
body else, not at robbery, but at mur-
dern'
"Murder!" echoed Alexia, in hor-
rified tone.
Her companion laughed. Miss Brax-
ton had started out by snubbing him,
and he had succeeded in awakening her
interest most thoroughly.
i've kept the secret of that murder
to this day." he said, Though it would
have made an excellent point in my re-
formatory speeches. Pray, don't be-
| trau IL il Won ever have nccasion to