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

Tor her II Sne wanted her. Having
done this, she went to begin the great
interview. for she now quite compre-
hended that this poor Rupert was the
center of the household may, that so
far as this household was concerned, he
was the center of the universe She
was not surprised at it. She had. dur
ing the night, reviewed the situation.
and had decided that If this invalid boy
should like her, she would be distinctly
glad to stay where she was. The con-
seriousness that she was of some use
and help to some one would 90 long
way toward making life agreeable to
her.
Damaris showed her where the school
room was, and Margaret. who had been
out in the garden, had armed herself
with bunch of sweetlv smelling wall
flowers and some dailodils She de-
termined to propitiate Rupert by offer
ing them to him with her best grace
1t must be re membered that Margaret
possessed great beauty, apart from that
peculiar charm which all who APP
preached her felt, more or less. The
plain, tightly lifting black dress she
wore, with its narrow white linen collar
and cuffs, set off the rich brown of her
abundant hair, the supple grace of her
figure, and the delicacy of her creamy
skin. She walked into the room, shut
ting the door after her 1t was an am
pie, airy room, full of light, and abund-
antly furnished with all manner of
pretty and pleasant things. AT one side
of the room, near window, was
couch, and upon the couch-Rupert.
A little stand was beside him, on which
stood tray containing Il half-tasted
breakfast. His crutch, too, stood lean
ing against the couch. The boy raised
himself as Margaret entered, and she
saw the same face that she had seen
last night but so altered by the wide
open eyes that it looked almost like
another face. 1t was, indeed, al
most a weird countenance so young,
and yet SO old - and the pale
blue, almost watery, yet intense
ly keen eyes, gave an almost I'M
earthly sharpness to it. How he scru-
tinized her from them as she APP
preached, from beneath the massive
brow which overhung them, while the
poor, plain lips, accustomed to be set in
the endurance of pain, were parted now
in inquiring suspense! Margaret saw
it was suspense with which he regarded
her, and she smiled upon him as she
came toward him, and held out her
hand with frank gesture. She pushed
the little stand aside, and sat down be-
side him.
:. l saw you in your sleep last night,
and shook hands with you then" she
said. "You have been ILL., / hope you
feel better this morning; and / have
brought you these flowers out of the
garden" f.t. q go .E
She looked straight at him as she
spoke, and saw what curious express
sion he had-pinched and frosty. His
reply was an unexpected one. He pos
sessed himself of the flowers and asked:
"Who told you to gather themP"
"No one. ..
did you gather them for nc?"
"Of course"
"Why?'
Because hoped you would like to
have them"
You are quite sure that you gath
cred them for me of your own design
and imaginationP'
positive. ...
"Then L will keep them. You saw
me in my sleep last night, you say?"
Eyes. Your mother took me to your
room. You had hold of my hand, and
1 thought l should like YOU"
eff you saw me in my sleep you saw
an ugly wretch enough. in all CON
science. Still, if you have to see me at
all, it is best to see me then, because,
when | am asleep, am quiet, and when
am awake l am generally swapping.
You may ask Damaris. -
Margaret laughed
II should Think said she, "that
you had better leave it to me to say
what l think of YOU and not 90 putting
your own thoughts into my mind, in
that way"
The boy looked at her keenly.
"That shows that you have mind,
to BEGIN with" he said, caustically,
and Margaret laughed again. but as
for their being my own thoughts-they
are everybody's thoughts People may
say what they like to me-that is what
they think of mel
What? That you look ugly when
you are asleep, and snap all the time
you are awake, do you mean?"
He nodded drearily, with Il frosty, yet
wistful smile.
"H you are so cross, I won't tell you
what l thought" said Margaret, smil-
ing her tenderest smile, and feeling her
large heart swell with sympathy, even
with love, toward him. His reply at
first seemed irrelevant. Stroking her
hand, from which she had by Miss Per-
civals sage advice stripped all the rings
(goyernesses don't usually 90 about
with four or five hundred pounds worth
of ieMelrY on their tinpers nlnne.u She