The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-05-24

GOOD Lord, Does she think she can
keep Mabelle forever tied to her apron
strings? What will she do when the
child marriesp"
at will depend very much on 10hon1
the child marries," his sister had grave
ly answered, as she fixed her eyes upon
him, but found he was not looking at
her. When at last he did meet her
eyes, Grace laughed, and Philip
laughed, too; upon which Miss Massey
called him goose, and went away look
ing very well satisfied with herself, and
him, and the world in general.
The day came on the morrow of
which Mabelle was to go to Irkford.
She and Philip and Grace had planned
a last excursion with DR. johnson in the
pony carriage, to some fine old woods
from which they could descend to the
shore, and picnic under some huge
cliffs an almost unknown, untrodden
region, which Mabelle had a yearning
to visit.
1t was September, yet the heat was
great almost sultry; there was dusky
haze over sea and sky when the three
would-be excursionists met at break
fast. Their elders had finished long
ago, for do not suppose any one will
attempt to dispute the fact that the
present generation, as a whole, break
fast later than the one Immediately pre-
ceding them. Mr.. Massey had been off
in his fields by half past seven, and
Mrs. Massey was at this moment in the
kitchen, not exactly "eating bread and
honey" but experimenting her hand
maids in the preparation of something
which at the evening meal should far
surpass in excellence any bread and
honey that ever passed mortal lips.
Lettersr said Philip, strolling in
last, as he simultaneously kissed his sis
ter and took up a blue envelope add
dressed to him.
Good morning, Mabelle," he added,
for Grace, rs well as he, had discovered
that the Miss Fairfax" sounded I'M
natural, and Philip had adapted himself
to the circumstances which required
him to call Miss Fairfax Mabelle,"
while Mabelle adapted herself to the
uncomfortable method of not calling
Philip anything but "you."
He read his letter, while Grace began
to lament the necessity for Mabelle' s
early departure the following morning,
and was expressing the wish that she
had not so long a journey to make
alone, when Philip, laying down his
letter and helping himself to an egg,
observed in a well-feigned matter-of-
course accent:
II shall have to 90 to Irkford myself
Immediately, so l may as well go to-
morrow as the day after, and then Ma
belle will have an escort"
Grace looked swiftly at him, while
Mabelle's face flushed, and the former
said
'Really! If you could manage to 90
together it would be very nice. " hat
calls YOU to lrkford; Philip"
"a letter from Mr., Starkie. I've
been expecting it, to tell the truth, for
some days. They are establishing a
branch concern at Bradford and had
hint that most kelly the management
would be offered to me; so that the let
ter is not exactly surprise; but l know
Mabelle likes to have rs little to do with
me as possible, so l thought | would
not make her unhappy with the idea OF
my travelling with her unless it was alb
solutely necessary.
What do you mean?" began Ma
belle, but Grace interrupted;
"Why, Philip, you must be congrat
ulated, mustn't you? Isn't 1t very
good thingP"
at will be by no means bad thing
and it is very quick promotion"
"Ah, but then, you have gone through
the iuconceivable hardships,' etc.
"And Bradford may be very dul
place." he added.
"Oh, the idea of thinking of that
Why don't you congratulate him, Ma
belle? Don't you see that he is waiting
for you to do it?"
sis he? am sure do congratulate,
you very much. am very glad
'If you are pleased, l am so glad
though it seems to require great effor
on your part to make the necessar,
speech for the OCCASION" said Philip
unkindly. "But, considering the jour
ncy tomorrow, will sayn more abou
it."
Mabelle could not answer the teasin!
remarks of Philip with her wonteI
clever little thrusts in return. She fel
an uncomfortable sensation of Gropin,
in the dark She wished that Grac
would not keep looking at her so ear
hOollJ IhoO hitlP hOuiH NV PSioiSp
talking about the journey tomorrow
Above all, she wished, and yet did no
wish that that dreadful journey wa
safely over
Very soon after breakfast the pony
carriage came round, and DR.. johnson
coming from the hall. where he ha
been waiting, summoned them forth
and it did not do to keep DIR. Johnso
waiting They all went cut, Mabel
and Grace in their shady hats, and Phil
ip in what Grace called "the Australia
novelty in white straw. They too
sun-shades, little shawls, and a goodl
basket of provisions, as to which Phil