The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1883-10-20

in the room--a stout, fair, matronly
woman, young still. and only promising
to be enormous aud unwieldy in figure
some time. She was dressed in kind
of tea gown of some flowing white stuff,
q la Hatteau, which, with its frills and
ribbons of blue. suited her. Her fair
face wore somewhat high color, and
she threw herself back in u lounging
chair. and closed her eyes, signing
YEARLY, and clasping her hands upon
her knee.
"Oh,n she murmured. half aloud, "is
everything ready, wonder? / do wish
he would come, and relieve my mind
about that champagne. know there's
not enough in The house, and if we were
to fall short at the last, good gracious!n
After a moment given to bordering
on the dire possibility, she suddenly
started up again in an agile manner,
and pulled the bell. Then she said to
the servant who answered her summons:
Bring some tea. and ten Miss Bar
rington that If she is at liberty / should
like to speak to her"
With which she again sank into her
chair and waited, her lips moving now
and then, as if she mentally apostro-
phized some loved object. 1t was not
SO, however, as those who knew her
would easily have surmised. Could her
meditations have been heard, they would
have run
81 suppose l must trust to his re-
membering it, but men are so careless.
Unless their wives look after them they
really do behave like imbeciles in some
things. Men and cooks-I don't know
which are the worst
Here maid came in with the desired
tea. While she was clearing one of the
innumerable small tables before alluded
to for its reception, the door was Sec
ond time opened, and a. young lady en-
tered, at whose appearance the eS-
hausted looking matron in white and
blue raised herself, and testified signs
of renewed animation. ts s ss.I,
" Oh, here you are, Margaret! Come
and have some tea don't know what
you feel like, but / am so exhausted l
feel as if / should never come round
again. And do think you might have
helped me-more. ur v
"My dear Laura, you know this en-
tertainment is against my principles in
every way. How, therefore. could |
help you without pcrjuring MYSELF
and then, / know the more trouble such
an affair gives you, the more you enjoy
it, 0IY er3j raI Au.H
"Well, considering that all the trouble
is on your account" Ht.H -.t.
But not at my desire, my dear. l am
sure you will not maintain that l asked
you to give ball for my coming of age.
Why, when people are one and twenty.
should they go and advertise the melan-
choly fact aloud to all their ill-natured
acquaintance, who would always have
hold upon them in after years, when
perhaps they would be glad enough to
appear young? 1t is simply giving all
the gossips you know a handle when
they want to say ill-natured things"
'Pooh! Stuff! Some people may want
| to conceal their age. Heiresscs never
need. Oh, but tea is truly refreshing.
Do take some'p 1 A3AaS IT
"Thank you," SAID Margaret Bar
rington, with an odd little smile rs she
poured a cupful of the beverage out,
and carrying it to thebay window, stood
in that recess, and looked out while she
drank it.
! She was considerable heiress, and a
great many people said she was a
beauty. This day she attained her ma
jority, and entered upon full and I'M
controlled possession of her fortune and
property. Margaret's mother had died
at the girls birth. Her father had
taken no second wife, and she had lost
him when she was thirteen years old.
! She and he had been alone in the world,
so far as having any near relations went.
! Mrs. Pierce was Margaretls own cousin,
though many years older than herself.
| She had been Miss Cathcart, poor and
pretty, and she had at an early age mar
ried Robert Pierce, rich manufacturer
of great city, whose money was abun-
dant, if his family was doubtful. TIC
him-Mr. Pierce-and his wife, the
guardianship of the young heiress had
been consigned, not because the late Mr..
Darlington considered them the most
desirable persons to bring up q young
girl not because he liked their style,
or their friends, or their mode of life,
but because Laura Pierce was the only
relation his girl had, and becaGse, with
all her foibles, she was kind-hearted
woman, and because Mr.. Pierce, if moi
a gentleman, in Mr.. Harrington Is Sense
of the word, was also a kindly natured
| man yandrawayv frpmshs home, where
| he was indulgent Ito weakness, Was !
keen, shrewd man of business, and hon
est withal--who would take care o.
Margarets money as if it were his own
Stringent provisions for the education
of the young lady Were. made in hel
fathers will; she had, to use Mrs
Pieree's plaintive expression, T" enjoyed
every advantage" which the best schools
the first masters, the most accomplished
mistresses, could give. She had passed
with honor examinations bristling with
] n. L L Il 4