The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-12-13

say to IL dottore.
"Who il the DOCTOR / can write 20
him or see hirI.'
"Did say ii dottore? 1t Ms a slip.
No, you must not write. l Will ask
him aud he must decide"
You will write at onca?"
at once" Teresa, with linger-
| ing glance at the money, turned to leave
me.
"You had better take these two
notes." said, handing them to her.
She buttoned them in the bosom of
her dress with feverish delight.
18th me, Teresa" l said, coaxing-
| ly, tell me it you think If thu Sig
norina-Pauline -cares at all for mep"
"Who knows" answered the old
woman, testify; II do not know-but
again | say to you she is not for love or
marriage"
Not for love or marriagel laughed
aloud as l thought of the old womans
absurd and oft-repeated assertion. If
on the earth there was one woman
more than another made for love and
marriage it was my beautiful Pauline.
/ wondered what Teresa could mean;
then remembering the iervor with which
she prayed in San Giovanni | decided
that, being an ardent Roman Catholic,
she wished Pauline to take the veil.
This theory would explain everything.
Now that l had bought Teresa l
looked forward to the enjoyment of
Pauline's society without espionage or
interruption. The old woman had
taken my money, and no doubt would
do her best to earn more. If [ could
persuade the girl to let me pass several
hours of each day in her company l
need fear no hinderance from Teresa.
The bribe had been accepted, and. al
though blushed at the expedient to
which had been compelled to resort,
it had been successful
was obliged to defer any further at
tempt at love-making until the next
evening, as an important piece of bust
ness had to be attended to in the morn
ing 1t kept me away from home for
, several hours, and when at last l re-
: turned to Mazda vale l was thunder
struck to hear that my fellow dodgers
had left the house. The landlady had
no idea whittier they had gone. Teresa,
who it appears always acted as purse
, bearer, had paid her dues and had de-
parted with her young mistress. There
, was nothing more to tell.
! threw myself into my chair. cursing
Italian guile; yet, as 1 thought of
: Italian cupidity. not altogether hope
/ less. Perhaps Teresa would write or
l come to me. I had not forgotten the
eager looks she cast upon my money.
: But day alter day passed without letter
} or message.
, l spent those days, for the most part.
wandering about the streets in the vain
5 hope of encountering the fugitives. 1t
/ was only after this second loss that i
really knew the extent of my passion.
/ can not describe the longing had to
see that fair face once more. Yet
feared the love was all on my side. II
l Pauline had felt even passing interest
in me she could scarcely have left in
!? this secret and myster Gus manner. Hell
heart was get to be won, and | knew
: that unless l won it no woman's love
q would to me be worth having
/ should have returned to my old lodg
ing in Walpole street had it not beer
+? that l feared to quit Mazda vale, lest
Teresa, if she should be faithful to hel
engagements, might miss me. So lin
0 gered on there until ten days went SLOW
ly by; then, just as was beginning tC
e despair, letter came.
1t was written in delicate, pointed
/, Italian style, and signed Manuel Ceneri
U 1t simply said that the writer would
a have the honor of calling upon me abou
noon to day.
!, Nothing was limited at as to the objec
of the visit; but | knew it could b'
/ connected with only one thing-the de
sire of my heart. Teresa, after all, hat
not played me false. Pauline would b.
y mine. waited with feverish impatienc
L until this unknown Manuel Coner
should make his appearance.
i A few minutes after twelve he wa
l. announced and shown into my room.
/. recognized HIM at once. He was tn
g mddle-aged man with rather roun
l. shoulders, who had talked to Teres
e under the shade of San Giovanni at tn
z rim. Doubtless he was Ill dottore
oxen of by the old woman as bein
y the arbiter of Pauline's fate.
S He bowed politely as lie entered, cas-
n one quick look at me as if trying to gath
er what he could from my personal aF
pearance, then seated himself in tn
d chair Offered him.
g II make no apology for calling" h
e said; you will, no doubt, guess why
1t come His English was fluent, but tn
foreign accent very marked.
s 81 hope l guess correctly" replied
4 81 am Manuel Ceneri. am docto
I by profession. My sister was Nj &
Of March's mother. | haze come froI
" Geneva on Your account.
Then you know what the wish-th
" great wish of my life is?'
N "Yes, l know. You want to MARI
* my niece. Now. Mr., Vaughan. hay
in many reasons for wishing my niece I
m remain single, but yo proposal hs
induced nue. to reconsider the matter.
" Pauline might have been hale
=