The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1883-11-17

IN tNlS way. Rupert temper Is so
strange--he has such fits OF moodiness
and of moroseness, and of sudden. mex
plicable aversion to people. that none of
the ladies we have had here before
would stay. | am not surprised. / can
not expect strangers to bear with the
things that mother gets accustomed
to, and then. know that he loves me.
You shall see Rupert tomorrow, and
converse with him. Then YOU must tell
me the honest truth. If you object to
taking charge of him shall not have a
word to say. You shall not be pressed
to do il, but should be glad if you
would remain as Damaris governess.
But if you DO get on with Rupert-even
if you felt that in time you might be-
come better acquainted With hint as
sure you that when he does give his af-
lection, he is most gentle and lovable.
You might"
Pray pray do not speak in that
mannerr' cried Margaret, moved.
'Surely, any woman should be kind and
should have patience with one afflicted
as you describe him to be. 1 should
like to try"
you shall do so. l think-I almost
feel that you will be successful. To-
morrow 1 will bring. you to him,
and"
" Pardon me, but should think it a
favor if you would allow me to make
acquaintance with him alone. / shall
be able better to come to an understand
ing with him. Indeed, YOU need not
mlstrust me-"
Z" Be it SOP said Mrs. Lascelles, after
pause. II have never reposed such
confidence in any one before, but your
face inspires me with trust"
She looked gratefully at Margaret,
whose eyes sank, as she felt an uneasy
sense of confusion and embarrassment.
Mrs. Lascelles went on discoursing for
some time on Rupert's idiosvncrasies,
and enlarging upon his cleverness.
Thus the evening droned away, and
about ten o'clock Mr.. Lascelles arrived,
and Margaret was introduced to him.
He was rosy, healthy, bluf-looking
country gentleman, known far and wide
as 1.-The 2Squire;" a startling contrast
in appearance to his wife-on whose
looks and words, however he appeared
to lang with much devotion He pro-
fessed himself tired and sleepy, and
seemed anxious that the household
should retire early.
Chow has that lad been?' he asked,
abruptly.
"Oh, much as usual, DEAR" answered
his wife. 81 am just going to look into
his room now. If he is asleep, Miss
Percival, as l think he will be, / should
like you to see him."
They went upstairs. Margaret fol
lowed her to the end of corridor; she
noticed the geography of the upper por-
ton of the house, and remarked that
her own room was at the opposite end
of the same corridor. of which circum-
stance she made note.
Mrs Lascelles, after looking into the
room, turned, and beckoned 10 Mar
garet to enter. She did so, and stepped
up to the side of a low iron bed, beside
which lamp was burning low on a ta-
BILE. Mrs. Lascelles turned up the light
and she and Margaret stood, one on
each side the couch, looking down on
the face of sleeping boy.
Even in sleep it was a singular face.
One saw that it was sallow, as if with
habitual ill-health, and there were dis
tinctly marked lines on the brow and
about the mouth-lines which, fort
unately, are rarely to be seen on the
faces of boys of fourteen. The forehead
looked even too large and massive for
the delicately chiseled outline of the
face. The mouth was large-the lips
drawn, as if with pain, even in sleep.
A quantity of light-brown hair was
tumbled back from his forehead. Mar.
garet could not guess what his eyes
were like, They were yelled over by
the mystery of sleep.
She gazed silently at the pale, pa
thetic face of the boy, who suddenly
stirred in his sleep, and turned over,
his face toward Margaret. Mrs. Las
celles quickly turned down the light.
One of Rupert's hands stretched itself,
as if seeking some answering clasp to
which it was accustomed. His eyes
half opened. Margaret put her hand up
on his. His fingers closed for a moment
over hers, and she felt the clasp, a
strong and nervous one, though the
hand was thin to emaciation. He
sighed, as if satisfied. Then his fingers
relaxed their grasp, and once more he
was plunged into deep sleep. Margaret
looked up, smiling, and found Mrs.
Lascelles' eyes fixed upon her. Tears
stood in them.
1T is happy omen" said she.
They left the room and Margaret
asked softly:
Does ne sleep alone, then?"
"Only dressing-room divides his
room from ours. Well, what do you
think?"
- think | should like to take care of
him, and try to make him happy"
said Margaret, looking earnestly into
the mOthn1's frnnhlnl nune