The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-12-20

responsible for the difficulty | expert
enced in max ng her talk to me, even in
inducing 7aer to answer my questicns2
/ made every excuse for her. She was
tired; she was upset; she could think Of
nothing else save the rash and sudden
step taken to-day--more rash for her
than for meas |, at least, knew that |
loved her. At last i. too, sank into
silence, and miles and hours went by,
whilst the bride and bridegroom sat
side by side without exchanging a word.
much less caress. 1t was strange
situation-a strange Journey
And on and on the train rushed north
WARDEN and on until the dusk began
To creep over the flying country; and 1
sat and looked at TIE listless but beauti-
full girl at my side, and wondered what
our future life would be; but | did not
despair. although the rattle of the train
as it whirred along seemed to resolve
itself into dreamy rhythm. and reiter-
ated without ceas ng old Teresa sullen
words: "She is not for love or marriage
not for love or marriage"
Darker and darker il grew outside.
and as the carriage light fell ON the
pure, white face OF the girl beside me;
as [ watched its never changing ex-
preston, its beautiful but never varying
pallor, strange fear came over me--a
fear lest she was wrapped in an armor
OF ice which no love would ever thaw.
Then tired, weary and almost dispirited
| sank into kind of sleep. The last
thing could remember before my eyes
closed was that, in spite of my resolu-
ton, / took that white. well shaped,
unresisting hand in my own, and slept
still holding it.
Sleep! Yes, it was sleep, if sleep
means anything but rest and peace.
Never, since the night | heard it, had
that woman's stiled moaning come
back to me SO clearly; never had nv
dreams so nearly approached the real
ity of the terror which the blind man
had felt years ago. Right t ankful l
was when tie haunting cry rose shriller
and shrller, and, at last, eliminated by
resolving itself into the shrieking
whistle, which told me we were near to
Edinburgh. L loosed my wife's hand
and recalled my senses. That dream
must have been vivid one, for it left
me with the beads of perspiration clam
my on my brow.
Never having been 10 Edinburgh, and
wishing to see something OF the city, l
had proposed staying there for two or
three days. During the journey had
suggested this to my wife. She had
agreed to it as though place or time
was matter of little moment to her.
Nothing, it seemed to me, awoke her
interest!
We drove to The hotel and supped to-
gether. From our manner we might,
at the most, have been friends. Our
intercourse, for the time, being confined
to the usual civilities shown by gen.
tleman toward a lady in whose society
he is thrown. Pauline thanked me foI
any lit lie attention to her comfort, and
that was all. The journey had been 8
long and trying one-she looked wear
led out.
"You are tired. Padiin9e," said
''would you like to go to your roomP''
II am very tired" She spoke al
most plaintively.
Goodnight, then / said; "to
morrow you will f ell better, and VIZ
will look at the lions of the place"
She rose; we shook hands, and sale
good night Pauline retired to he
apartment, whilst l went out for ,
ramble through the gas-lighted streets
and with sad heart recalled tn,
events of the day.
Husband and wife! The bite
mockery of tie words! For in every
thing except the legal bond Paulin,
and were as faI apart as we were OF
that day when | first saw her ut Turin
Yet this morning we had vowed to low,
and cherish each other until death di,
us part. Why had been rash enough
to take Ceneri at his word? Why no
have waited until l had ascertaine,
that the girl could love Inc, or at leas
ascertaned that she had the power 0
, loving at ALP The apathy and ute
: ind ference she displayed fell like
chill upon my heart. / had done
, foolish ing-a thing that could neve
be undone. / must bear the conse
, quences. Still l would hope hope
: particularly, for what tomorrow Nigh
bring forth.
/ walked about for long time
Then [ returned to the hotel an
: sought my own apartment. twas on
: of the suite OF rooms l had engaged
, and next to my wife's. | dismissed
as we'll as | could, all hopes and fear
until the morning came, and tired wit
the days events, at last slept.
My bride and I did not visit til
Lakes as had planned. In two days
time had learned the whole truth
) learned all l could know-all that
. might ever know about Pauline. TIL
r meaning of the old woman's repeate
| phrase, "she is not for love or ma
age" was mani ested to me. Tn
7 reason why DR. Ceneri had stipulate
| that Pauline husband should be col
) tent to taxa her without iniuiring in