The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-03-22

seated herself beside Luise Berghaus
under a spreading beech-tree, apart
from the rest. but Luise was called by
Thekla. in an unusually sharp and acrid
tone. TO come and assist in the spread
inc forth of the comestibles, and thus
the Young girl was left alone, her deep,
sad young eyes fixed, with their wistful
oaze, upon the dark belt OF hrs at the
edge of the wood.
Suddenly shadow came between her
and the trees, and looking up, she saw
Philip Massey.
"How are you to-day-you look
tired?" said he, casting himself down
beside her, and fixing his eyes upon her
face. over which ran arapid, rosy flush.
Philips own face was changed; it
looked thin and worn about the mouth
there was kind of nervous line, and
restless, wis full CLEAN in the great dark
eyes. Those eyes were fixed upon Ma
bellies face with so intent stare that
at last she said, hastily: whats the
matter? Why do you look at me so
Strangely"
IL was looking to see if you were in
the least like your sister Do you know,
| cannot trace the faintest resem-
b!ance."
"Can not you?" said Mabelle, family,
as her eyes sank uueasily beneath his,
and she felt her heart thrOb. Oh, if
there were but something she could
say-some word of warning she could
give him! Surely, surely it must be
right to do so. And yet to vilify ones
own sister, ones only friend and pro-
tector, and to no purpose. Philip was
in no mood to believe anything against
Angela, though an angel from Heaven
descended to reveal it to him.
No." he repeated; you are utterly
different. One would never suppose
you were sisters"
people say that l am like our
mother, and Angela like papa" said
Mabelle.
"Do theyP But she has been a
mother to you, has she notP"
"Yes-that is, l have had no other
mother"
"Ah! That mean your sisters re-
lationship to you accounts for many
things said Philip. do you like
coming into the woodsP" he added.
sometimes; not to-day"
mo! WhyP'
1--WE don't seem united. 1t is not a
pleasant party. No one is enjoying it, :"
replied Mabelle, vaguely, feeling
Philips eyes haunting her; miserable,
oppressed helpless.
"Do you think your sister would sing
if you asked her?' said Philip. ~
think it would be so delightful. out here
in the pinewood; and her voice is so
lovely. am sure she could"
'I--don't-know," said Mabelle,
slowly.
IF you were to ask..her," he urged.
"I-why should she sing for my ask
lngP"
because yott-catr DO }liA,' bring with
her, She says so. She told lne so. .
can refuse her nothing-my little Ma
BELLE those were her words"
Mabelle's lips tightened; her face
flushed violently; tears of shame
anger, humiliation, rushed to her eyes
"Won't you ask herPn he pursued
"After lunch" said Mabelle, gently.
"Well when you think best" he re
piled, reluctantly, and he remained il
his place beside Mabellc till the mea
was over.
1t was not an inspiriting repast
Grace Massey drew Luse Berghaus t,
her, and they sat together gossipins
about their different teachers and pro
fessors at school and college. In vain
Hermann tried to join in the converse
ton. He was sent away Iebuffed anC
dsconsolate Thekla Berghaus, con
trary to her usual frank. genial way o
doing her best to entertain the who'll
party, was flirting openly and exclu
sively with the most inane of her broth
er's friends, talking wild and flippan
nonsense, for which she would proba
bly, blush when she recalled it to he
mind during the night watches, ant
laughing now and then at, not with, he
companion Philip and Mabelle were sid
by side under the beech tree; silent, both
he engrossed in observing Angela, sh,
with heart as heavy as lead, and witt
tears flooding her eyes, so that sh
scarcely dared lift them. Angela wa
the only one of the party who appeare'
to enjoy it thoroughly.
Hermann BerghaGs, rebuffed b.
Grace, had sought consolation with Mis-
Fairfax, and she was amusing herself
and very we'll content in the conscious
ness that she absorbed the attention O
two men of the party, while third on
saw nothing of all that surrounded him
except herself, and wished Tor nothin,
but a glance from her eyes or a wor
from her lips.
p. "Well-he shall have it-some time,
she decided within herself
And this lunch was consumed. ]
was like ashes, bitter to the taste c
some of the party; and thus the after
noon hours dragged on. Mabelle KEEP
her promise; sac asked Angela to sing
Angela proved gracious, and compile
with the request. They all had tea q
an old black-and-white farmhouse in
field, and when dusk was falling, an