The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-12-06

Many and many n time since leaving
Turin L had thought OF the Girl l had
seen at San GiOvanni-thought of her
so often that ! laughed ut myself for
my folly. Until now | had never car
ried in my mind for so long n period the
remembrance OF wOmans face.
There must, for me. have been some
tang strangely bewitching in her style
OF beauty | recalled every feature-I
could, had | been an artist. have painted
her portrait from memory Laugh at
my folly. as | would, could not con-
ceal from myself that short as the time
was during which | had seen her. the
impression made upon me was growing
stronger each day, instead of fainter.
l blamed myself for leaving Turin before
l had met her again--even if for that
purpose it had been necessary to linger
there for months. Ny feeling was that
by quitting the place 1 had LOST chance
which comes to q man but once in a
lifetime.
Kenyon and parted in London He
was going to Scotland after grouse. /
had not yet quite settled my autumn
plans. and 50 resolved to stay, at any
rate for few days, in town.
first morning after my arrival in Lon
don business led me to Regent street. |
was walking slowly down the broad
thoroughfare, but my thoughts were
far away. | was trying to argue away
an insane longing which was in my
mind-a longing to return at once to
Turin. l was thinking of tho dim
church and the fair Young face | saw
three months ago. Then, as in nv
mind eye saw the girl and her old
attendant in church, l looked up and
here in the heart of London they stood
| before me!
Amazed as | was. no thought of be-
ing mistaken entered my head Unless
it was dream or an illusion, there
came the one had been thinking of so
often; walking toward me, with an old
woman by her side. They might have
just stepped out Of San Giovanni.
There was little change in the appear
ance of the old woman she was dressed
more like an English servant; but the
girl was the same. Beautiful, n IRE
beautiful than ever, l thought as my
heart gave great leap. They passed
me; | turned impulsively and followed
them with my eyes.
Yes, it was my fate! Now i had
found her in this unexpected manner |
w uld take care not to lose sight of her
again. attempted to disguise my
feelings no longer. The emotion which
had thrilled me as | stood once more
face to face with her told me the truth.
l was in love-deeply in love. Twice,
only twice, had seen her, but that was
enough to convince me that if my lot
was ever linked with another's it must
be with this woman's, whose name,
home or country, knew not.
There was only one thing l could now
do. must follow the two women. SO,
for the next hour or more, wherever
they went, at respectful distance, ]
followed. / waited whilst they entered
one or two shops and when thor walk
was resumed discleetly logged their
steps. kept SO far in the rear that
my pursuit was bound to be unnoticed
and could cause no annoyance. They
soon turned out of Regent street and
walked on until they came to one OF
those many rows of houses in Mazda
vale. marked the house they entered,
and as L passed by it. few minutes
afterward saw in the front window the
girl arranging few flowers in vase.
1t was evident l had ascertained her
abode.
1t was fate! was in love and could
only act as my passion impelled me.
must find out all about this unknown.
| must make her acquaintance and So
obtain the right of looking into those
strange but beautiful eyes. l must hear
her speak. laughed again at the alb
surdity of being in love with a woman
whose voice | never heard, whose ma
tive language was a matter of uncer-
tainty. But then, love is full of ab-
surdities. When once he gets the whip
in hand he drives us in strange ways.
l formed a bold resolve. | retra ed
my steps and walked up to the house.
The door was opened by tidy-looking
servant.
Have you any rooms to let ?'
asked having jumped at the conclusion
that the unknown was only lodging at
the house.
The Servant replied in the afllrma.
tive, and upon my expressing n wish to
see the vacant rooms | was shown q
dining-room and bedroom on the
ground floor.
Had these rooms been dungeons in.
stead of airy cheerful apartments-.had
they been empty and bare instead o.
comfortably furnished had the rem
been fifty pounds week instead of the
moderate sum asked, should have en-
gagged them. was very easy to dea
with The landlady was summoned
and the bargain struck ut once. If that
good person had known the state of m
mind she might have reaped COLDER
harvest from her ground floor apart
ments. As it was, the only thing she
was eXacting in was in the matter o
references. | named several, then
| ~ 4 4