The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1883-05-12

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and, mingling with the crowd, disap
peared.
Mr.. X. viewed several of his CORES
pondents in this way at a distance, but
as all fell far short of the standard of
beauty and refinement he desired, he
concealed his identity from all, and con-
cluded TO wind up the affair with a
grand dress-parade of his forty-one fair
friends, and invited half dozen gentle
men to witness it. He then wrote a DO
lite note to each of the addresses he had
received, apologizing handsomely for
his non-appearance, with the plea of
unexpected business, to those with whom
he had already made an appointment.
He begged each one TO meet him at
three o'clock Friday afternoon on the
north side of Randolph street, between
Dearborn and State, and taxed his ihge-
nuity to suggest separate and distin-
| gushing mark by which each one could
| proclaim her identity. One he requested
to carry blue veil in her hand, another
to wear a green ribbon at her throat,
another TO carry parcel wrapped IN
newspaper, etc.
The stretch of sidewalk appointed for
the meeting was in plain view from the
windows of Mr.. X. IS Office across the
street, and at the time appointed the
friends invited were on hand promptly
to see the parade. AS the clock struck
three, the ladies began to appear, and
excitement reigned in the office.
First came a stylishly-dressed little
widow, sauntering carelessly along, car
rying under her arm huge newspaper
parcel at which she glanced from time
to time with evident disgust. Then APP
peared from the other direction tall.
dignified young lady, who wore at her
throat a green bow, large enough %
decorate an entire st. Patrick S Day pro-
cession. The blue veil also duly made
its appearance, carried by an elderly,
dowdily-dressed woman, who was so de
termined to make the acquaintance cf
her correspondent that she fingered on
the block till dark, waving her blue
banner at times as if to summon the re-
creant knight to her side But all in
vain; the shades of night fell at last like
a pail upon the city, and upon her
hopes, and as Mr. X. passed her on his
way home to dinner she was Just turn
ing to abandon the spot.
Thirty ladies of all ages and styles
appeared in response to the appoint
ment, and the fun in the office waxed
fast and furious. The notes were spread
upon the window-slls, with the APP
pointed signals penciled upon each, and
the gentlemen enjoyed the piquant sit
uatiOn to the utmost, shouting with
laughter at the appealing, inquiring
glances cast by each lady at the gentle
men hurrying past, with such complete
and comical Inconsistencies of her
twenty-nine companions ~ misfortune
One young ledy had been requested &c
twirl her glove in her right hand, and,
as she had come in all the way from
La Grange to keep the appointment,
she was evidently resolved that there
should be no mistake as to her identity
so she marched back and forth fol
three-quarters of an hour twirling thai
glove with energy sufficient to have
raised two hundred pounds fifty feet
3 if properly applied, or to have fed hal
a dozen electric lamps.
The parade and the maneuvering werC
pronounced a grand success by the
} spectators, and continued with no breal
in the ranks for about thirty minutes
Then the widow pitched her newspapel
bundle into the street and walked brisk
ly off, the rest following her example il
) the course of the next half-hour. WheI
all but the damsel with the blue vel
had departed the gentlemen threw al
D the notes into the fire, and they sepa
3 rated. after passing vote of thanks t.
Mr.. X. for his delightful and novel en-
i tertainment. Thus endeth the histor,
e of the personal every word of which i
q true, with the exception of the localit,
y mentioned, as will be certified by an
+ one of the gentleman spectators in tn
c Office or of the forty-one ladies who an
; swered the advertisement.-Ch ic0g
: Tribune