The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-12-06
CHAPTER ".
NOT ron LOVE or MARRIAGE.


A week has passed by. am more
in love than ever. am now sat SIZED
as to the thoroughness of my passion;
certain that this thorough love of mine
will endure Us long rs my life; that it is
no transient flush to fade away with
time or absence. Whether my suit be
successful or not this woman will be my
first and last love.
As yet have made little progress in
the furthering of my desire. / see her
every day, because | watch for her COM
ing and going; and every time S, her
find fresh charms in her face and
graces in her figure. Yet Kenyon was
right Hers is a peculiar sly OF beau
ty. That pale, pure face, those dark,
dreamy, far-away eyes, are out of the
common run OF womanhood. 1t may
be this accounts for the strange fascina-
ton she has for me. Her carriage is
upright and graceful; she walks always
at the same pace; her face is always
grave, and it seems to me she seldom
speaks to that old companion or serv-
ant who never quits her side. l am be-
ginning to look upon her as riddle,
and wonder if the key will ever be
mine.
have found out some few things about
her. Her name is Pauline-a sweet
and suitable name-Pauline March.
She is therefore English, although l
sometimes hear her saying few words
in Italian to old Teresa, her servant.
She seems to know no one, and, so far
as | can learn, no one knows more about
her than | dol, at least, know she
came from Turin, and that is more
than my inlormants were aware of.
still occupy my rooms, waiting my
chance. 1t is tantalizng to live in the
same house with the one you love and
find no opportunity of even commence
ing the siege. That old Teresa guards
her charge like a thorough bred Span
ish duenna. Her dark eyes glance
quickly and suspiciously at me when
ever | meet the two women, and bid
them the good-morning or goodev, n
ing which fellow-lodger may venture
upon. As yet l have got no further
than these cold civilities. Pauline eyes
and manner give me no encourage
ment. She acknowledges my saluta-
ton gravely, distantly and alphabetically.
1t is clear TO me that love at first ght
is not bound to be reciprocal. l COM
fort myself by thinking that Fate must
have something in store for me, or
Pauline and would never have been
brought face to face again.
So all | can do is to lurk behind the
thick red curtains of my window and
watch my love, guarded by that old cat
Teresa, go out and come in. | am
obliged now to exercise due caution in
this proceeding, as the duenna once
caught sight OF me, and now each time
they pass | see her fierce eye peering
into my hiding place. l am beginning
to hate Teresa.
Yet if | have done little, am in the
same house, breathing the same air as
Pauline, and / am patient man and
can wait for my opportunity 1t will
be sure TO come at last.
This is how it came. One evening l
heard fall, clatter of china and cry
OF distress. | ran out OF my room and
found Teresa lying on the stairs amid
the ruins of the landlady's best tea set,
and groaning earnestly. My chance
had come!
With the shameless hypocrisy of love,
| ran to her aid. as eager to help her as
though she had been my mother. |
endeavored, in the most tender manner,
to raise her. but she sank back, wall
ing out something about zone OF re
foots broke"
it was clear that Teresa's English
was not her strong point; so asked
her in Italian what was the matter.
She frightened up as she heard her own
language. and | found that she had
sprained her knee so severely that she
was unable to rise. l told her that ]
would carry her to her room, and with
out more ado picked her up and bore
her upstairs.
Pauline was standing on the landing.
Her large dark eyes were opened wide,
her whole appearance that of alright.
paused moment and explained what
had happened. then l took the old
woman into the room which she occu-
pied and laid her on the bed. The SER
want of the house was sent for doctor,
and, rs | retired, Pauline thanked mt
quietly, but faneied listlessly, for my
Kindness. Those dreamy eyes met
mine, yet scarcely seemed to know it.
Yes, | was obliged to confess it my
goddess was in manner apathetic--but
then, her beauty! Those refined regu
lar features, the girlish but we'll formed
fgure-the thick brown hair, even those
strange dark eyes. Surely there wa
no woman in the world to compare
with her
ITO BE CONTINUED.