The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1883-06-30

I
synonymous terms TO me. Your father
and mother are quite wen, trustp'
~ rQute well, ~ answered Dana, max
ing haste to introduce him to Alexis,
whose presence he scarcely seemed to
observe l9 -ad siiifHuiAolh
Mrs. Oliphant came in at the moment,
/ Mr.. Oliphant made his appearance
later, and Mr.. Marquis staid to dinner,
staid for the evening, and made his
! adieux as the clock struck eleven. ,
"Ill come around in the morning
and talk over that matter of the por-
Etrait," he said Mt parting. III you say
you want it done, Mr.. Oliphant, I'll
throw over all other engagements, and
stay to do it. There's nothing pressing
among them, nothing but can wait as
well as not"
Mr. Oliphant was by no means anx-
ious to have his pictures perpetuated ON
canvas, but his wife was, which amount
ed to the same thing, and Mr. Marquis
received his commission for the portrait
on the following day. l..... ..'.o.I
=" And for young lady who has had
so few chances, You have made remark
ably good use of your time said
Alexia, as the girls talked together be-
fore retiring. 1.-TWO strings to your
bow within five weeks after you have
landed is doing very well.n rrt.ati
Il am not sure that have even one,
my dear Lex.n ' -tJ ,h.' rt3L
al wouldn't fib," said. Lex, ,I "Dana
/ .Oliphant, what a lucky girl you are.
You have everything to make you
happy; splendid home, indulgent
parents, lots of spending money, and
devoted lover. If were disposed to
envy any one in this world, / would
\ envy you'll .uA su IIU6 5ut no
l. Everything to make her happy Yes,
surely she had. Yet Dana was not so
bright as a perfectly happy girl ought
TO be. atIgrous+ .at.t- ratr..f .a.Ig 3.
Mr.. Marquis lost no time in beginning
his work. He engaged a corner in a
4 friend s studio, a vast sky-lighted
B. apartment up innumerable flights. of
stairs. but subdivided by screens and
curtains into more than one charming
and retired nook. Here Mr., Oliphant
came, two mornings of each week, to
pose for his portrait, generally ac-
companied by some one of his woman
kind, or as sometimes happened all three
together; but whether one or all went
Lex never failed. hng ,3I.Is ODD ~ Ia
!. She liked the glimpses of Bohemian
life which She caught in these morning
y visits, but this was Bohemia with silken
, curtains, and thick carpets, and plate
glass, and golden frames-the Bohemia
Of the successful genius, not of the strug-
Cling aspirant after fame. She liked to
get,up an occasional Irritation with the
y long-haired art students who were con-.
istantly dropping in, liked to dazzle
them With her bright glances and flash
ing smiles. f
d The ELEPHANTS were not in society,
but it was, by their own choice. a Old
friends of the family, who remembered
Power Oliphant as a young unmarried
man, were ready to throwopen hospit-
able doors, but, his wife pleaded the
lateness of The season, and beyond an
exchange of calls with a. very few, had
not encouraged advances. bpp ,jf
The daily drive in the park or saunter
on Chestnut street, hardly supplied the
diversion which Miss BraXton craved;
therefore her keen enjoyment of these
mornings at the studio. She had grown
friendly with MIR. Schoenberger, q the
resident artist, who extended the free
dom of the place; and rummaging
around among his pictures, she came,
one day, upon an unfinished head
Enough was done, however. to bring an
exclamation to her lips. Mr.. Schoen-
berger looked up from the bit of ultra
marine sky WHICH he was decorating
with pink cloud.
Zach, Himmelr' he calculated in
comic dismay. You hat surprised
your admirer, Mees BraXton,"l. sd
"My admirerP" Il
p Undoubtedly. He comes profess
edly, to hat me take that sketch; in
reality to hear about you. ......,.,I,
About mef" Lex echoed. RI!
III hat said it-yaw! He comes the
hour after you go, he watches your
party, he listens with sick face when
tell him how the artists are charmed
by you" .9.L9pu $500 I'd IlutQ u
l. i" Then you tell him the most unwar-
ranted falsehoods," cried Lex, but with
flash and sparkle of absolute de-
light Had she really made conquest,
she wondered, TO make conquest, to
have real and devoted lover, Just now
: was the end and aim of Alexia' s exist
ence. ...t,y ..l4 4.......
In the half-limned features she recog-
nized the gentleman whose chances had
{ been directed so persistently toward the
: window in Walnut street. Had he
really been attracted to herself instead
of searching for Dana, as she then sup
{ posed9 AM ...
: 1t did not require much persuasion to
| induce Lex to think so. Mr.. Schoen-
> berger saw that he had made an i'm
t preston, and enlarged upon his theme.
: He was one of those benevolent beings