The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-03-15
CHAPTER vi.

leces and schools OF lrkfOrd break up
for their holidays, and there ensues q
regular stampede of teachers and pupils
and parents to the lakes or the seaside,
or country -''anywhere, any
where out of the tow" away from Its
dust. its smoke, its close and sitting
heat, from its rolling carts and omni-
buses, its dingy streets, out into the
fields if possible, or to the fair seashore,
or amidst the cool and mighty lakes
and mountains.
When August has fairly set in Irkford
is wont to look empty; the squares are
deserted, the shops little troubled by
customers, whilst the young women be-
hind the counters droop and look limp
and white and bleached like every other
livinp thing in the unwholesome heat
of town.
1t was the beginning of August in this
particular year of which am writing.
The day was Monday. and it was a
bank holiday. The heat in the town
was sitting; not cloud was to be seen
in the dull blue sky, save the dun-col-
ored shroud of smoke which encircled
Irkford, and through which the sun
glared unwinkingly, like ball of mol
ten brass. Hot, hot everywhere! Hot
in the monstrous warehouses; hot in
the dim and dusty offices; hot on the
hard stone pavements of the squares and
in the narrow streets. Hottest of all,
perhaps, in the rows of thinly built
suburban houses, with their Inadequate
blinds and flimsy walls and ill-fitting
windows.
In the parlor occupied by Angela and
Mabelle Fairfax they both sat this broil-
ing morning. The blinds were drawn
down to keep the sun out; the windows
were shut to keep the dust out; and yet
it was hot-stifling hot.
"How awfM it isr' calculated Miss
Fairfax from the sofa upon which she
had flung herself, and upon which she
lay, languidly waving q fan up and
down--her face rendered more pallid
and marble-white than ever by the great
heat. Nature is much kinder in this
respect to some of her children than to
others, and, as usual, arbitrary and
capricious in her favors. For example,
excessive heat did net give Angela
Fairfax a red face. nor Philip Massey
either-it rendered them rather better
looking than before; but its effect upon
the countenance of Mr.. Fordyce was in
deed lamentable.
"Hov awfulr' repeated Angela. "Ii
it is half as cold here in winter as it is
hot in summer, shall die"
No answer from Mabelle, who sat at
the comfortable, her rapid fingers deft-
ly manipulating a straw hat and some
black gauze-an employment tending
to produce sickness of the fingers in
that temperature, and who did not com
plain of the heat, nor of anything else.
Her sweet face was paler than it had
been; her eyes somewhat dark and
heavy; while in her whole attitude
there was dropping listlessness, telling
of WEAKNESS.
when l think of the rectory, ant
Nenside, and the gardens, this is intol
cradle, and l could scream' pursued
Miss Fairfax, who had way of empha
sizing the last words of her remarks
''No doubt it is pleasant at Nensid,
now" her sister acquiesced.
pleasant. | should think so. Oh
this is miserable life that j lead! How
| hate and loathe it! Drudgery ant
slavery all day and all the week-ant
for what? A pittance! That THAT
Fairfax should ever come to such
pass!"
"Dear Angela. people have been very
kind to us. am sure we seem to hav
lots of friends, and look how man,
pupils you have already"
''Vulgar wretches Shop-keeper'
children, the Dissenters' children, AM
all kinds of horrid peoples children.
II q lot II oh al
garity in them.
"You are hopelessly devoted to wha
is low and horrid."
'Indeedr' said Mabelle, raising he
head with flashing eyes, and a height
ened color, and lips parted to utter som
comment upon this gracious remark
Suddenly she closed her lips, pressin
them together, and bending again t
her work, maintained long silence, afte
that one irrepressible "Indeedr'
SAT what time does this wonderfl
entertainment begin?" was Angela
next inquiry.
"Half-past ten they were to call fo
us, and it is half-past nine now"
"Half-past tenl Imagine setting o
on day like this to a picnic A ban
Holudy, 100! an oho to"' "il oui
out, and we shall look exactly like
party of cheap trippers. For my par
| can't see the pleasure of such exped
} tons"
"Why go, if you think it will tire you
and that you won't enjoy itp"
'How ridiculous you are! OF cours
must 90. What could do here all day
There will be two or three people in aC
} dition to our two selves. How sick pee
} pie do get of each others society, to
! surep"
Thanks for the compliment,
"Well, you must own, Mabelle, yo
are hardly society for me-you--"
mo, l suppose not. One may /
useful as milliner without being e,
actly company for ones customers.
: ''Oh, as If meant that! What no
. ,sI 10 Va, l-pnxy Wv Ia.