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

squeezing themselves into already over.
lowing carriages, Philip, turning to
Angela, said:
Suppose you take my arm; there is
such crush. And if we wait quietly
we shall have much better chance
than by rushing about as they are do
ing"
Oh, anything not to be crushed by
all the peoplei'' said Miss Fairfax.
sweetly, and she had accepted his prof
fered arm, and they had stood aside,
waiting while the additional carriage
was put on, Philip conscious of a wild
wish that the train would quietly go on,
and leave them to find their way home
ogether-anyhow.
He could think of nothing more de-
lightful than to find himself left alone
with Angela, with no definite prospect
OF being separated. But that was
chimerical idea not likely to be realized,
and accordingly it was only the next
best contingency which arrived they
went in the same train with the rest of
the party, but alone.
At first there was entire silence be-
tween them, as the train went slowly,
after the manner of excursion trains,
between the dim and duskv fields and
dull white roads, which seemed to cir
Gle dreamily by That silence was first
broken by Angela, who said, pensively:
What heavenly day it has been"
s. Do you think so? Are you not
fatiguedP | thought you looked tired. ="
- am never tired of Nature and the
! country. Give me the sea or the trees,
and | ask nothing but to look at them
and be happy"
% How dreadful town life must seem
to your said Philip, with rather a sick
ly smile.
No lads first love was ever more
humble and desperate than this of Phil
Up Massey. The whole thing must in
evitably have been ludicrous-his blind,
wild, uncompromising worship, and
her cool, egotistical, unlovely. because
sordid, coquetry-had it not been for
the one element on his side, of passion
ate earnestness. of loyal good faith, and
pure-hearted. sngle-mindcd alteration.
This was what gave its tragic element
to the affair. Philip worshiped his god
dess most reverently, thinking her high
above himself and every other creature;
being perfectly willing to forsake faith
er and mother, brother and sister, and
cleave forever to her only-while she
Poor little Mabelle's bitter signs were
not without Just cause and foundation
"a town life must always be a sacri
flee, | suppose, after our beautiful home
at Nensiue, but ----"
'But do you think it could ever b,
tolerable 20 your"
There might be conditions under
which-oh, Mr.. Massey!'
A long and pensive glance was onl,
half over when Philip interrupted it b,
taking her hand.
"Miss Fairfax-Angela!'' he began
/ and. after g pause he went en-, as sshlii
had intended he should, with the stor,
of his love, his alteration; his utter un
worthiness and presumption. and al
the rest of it; but the speech ended, a
all such speeches do end, with a ferven
prayer that she would overlook the un
worthiness and try to love him ever 8
little-in ever so long time, and there
by make him happy from that momen
for all time.
II! Oh, you astonish mel" said she
and did not blush as her eyes met hi
while she spoke.
, Perhaps l startled you-spoke to-
soon.-you were unprepared,' he STAN
. mered.
1.-The idea of anything he could sa,
startling me-" thought Angela, wit
| supreme disdain
''But, oh, if you could only say tina
{ am not utterly indifferent to you
, 81 can not deny it, said she, with
long look, and smile that faded almos
before it began.
t "And may /"
stop! 1 can not tell you that l Low
you, but"
II never expected, never thought, @
r hoped such thing. But may | hop
, Angela, that some time"
''Hushl Do not be so excited Philip
} Yes, can not tell you not to hope.
! i will think of it"
) "You are an angel!n was all ths
5 Philip could say, kissing her hand. wit
I a fervent look of devotion that ha
something of reverence in it-a look j
' which a nobler woman might hav
I nobly rejoiced, but which caused Al
gela to think how very desperately h
was in love with her, as she answere
{ with smile.
q A smile was her only reply to almos
every form of address, question, avoW
, al every shape of praise, blame, re
/ proach. Unkind and envious fellow
women, like Grace Massey and Thekl
, Berghaus, have been known to say ths
this form of answer, constantly rc
{ peated, waxed monotonous; but ho'
4 can such q smile wax monotonou'
: floating over lovely face, and seemin
4 to be caused by unknown depths {
: feeling, family lighting a pair of d
i vine eyes.
t The story goes that certain Mate
a Purissima," one of the n ost celebrate
4 pictures of celebrated old master, ha