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

except Tor comparatively recent events,
she seemed to have none. The power
of reasoning. weighing and drawing de-
duct ons seemed beyond her grasp. She
appeared unable to recognize the inn
portance or bearing of occurrences TAX
| ing place round her. Sorrow aud de-
| light were emotions she was incapable
OF feeling. Nothing appeared to move
her. Unless her attention was called
to them she noticed neither persons nor
places. She lived as by instinct--rose,
ate, drank and lay down to rest as one
not knowing why she did So Sch
questions or remarks as came within
the limited range of her capacity she
replied to-those outside it passed un-
needed, or else the shy troubled eyes
sought for moment the questioner's
face, and left him as mystified as l had
been when trst | noticed that curious
inquiring look.
Yet she was not mad. A person
might have met her out in company,
and after spending hours in her society
mi ! hit have carried away no worse i'm
preston than that she was shy and
reticent. Whenever she did speak her
words were as those of perfectly sane
woman; but as rule her voice was
only heard when the ordinary necessi-
ties of life demanded, or in reply to
some simple question. Perhaps, l
should not be far wrong in comparing
her mind to that of a child-but, alasl
it was child's mind in q woman's
body-and that woman was my wife
Life to her, so far as i could see, held
neither mental pleasure nor pain. Con-
sidered physically, found that she was
more influenced by heat and cold than
by any other agents. The sun would
tempt her out of doors, or the cold
wind would drive her in. She was by
no means unhappy. She seemed quite
content to sit by my side, or to walk or
drive with me for hours without speak
ing Her whole existence was q mega
tive one.
And she was sweet and docile. She
followed every suggestion of mine, fell
in with every plan, was ready to go
here, there, or everywhere, as 1 wished;
but her compliance and obedience were
as those of a slave to new master. 1t
seemed 10 me that all her life she must
have been accustomed to obey some
one. 1t was this habit which had so
misled me-had almost made me think
that Pauline loved me, or she would not
have consented to that hasty marriage.
Now, / knew that her ready obedience
to her nnele's command was really due
to the inability OF her mind to offer re-
sistence, and its powerlessness to COM
prehend the true meaning OF the step
she was taking.
Such was Pauline, my wife, A
woman in her beauty and grace Of per-
SON; child in her clouded and un-
formed or stunted mind! And |, her
husband, a strong man craving for love,
might win from her, perchance, at
last, what might be compared to the
affection. of a child to its parent, or a
dog to his master.
As the truth, the whole truth, came
home to me, | am not ashamed to say
that l lay down and wept in bitter
grief
loved her even now knew ALL
would not even have undone the mar
: rage. She was my wife--the only
. woman had ever cared for. would
fu fill my vow-would love her and
| cherish her. Her life, at least, should
r be made as happy as my care could
a make it. But all the same vowed
would have fitting reckoning with thai
9 glib Italian doctor.
Him, elt it was necessary should
see at once From him l would wiring
all particulars. | would learn if Pauline
o had always been the same-if thers
\ was any hope that time and patient
treatment would work an Improvement
g | would learn, moreover, the OBJ .ect o.
4 his concealment. | would, | swore
h drag the nth from him, or it SHOULD
4 cost HIM dear. Until / stood a.e L
4 face with Ceneri should find no peace
4 | told Pauline it was necessary w,
i should return to London Ia mediately
r She betrayed no surprise; ia sed no oh
a lection. She made her preparations a
n once, and was ready to accompany III,
r when willed it. This was anothe
: thing about her which puzzled me. 81
far as things mechnnica went, she wa
1 as other people. In her toilet, even il
her preparations for Quincy, sh
!. needed no assistance. All Ter action
!. were those of perfectly sane person
d it was only when the mind was calle'
q upon to show itself that the defcienc,
/, became at all apparent
|. IL was gray morning when we reached
= Easton Station. We had Travelled al
h night. | smiled bitterly as | steppe,
on to the platform smiled st the con
q trast between my thoughts of to da
!; and those of a few mornings ago whel
handed the wife 1 had So st angel,
7 won into the train, and told myself, a
"a / followed her. that life of perfec
a happiness was now about to begin.
= And yet how fair the girl looked a
"a she stood by my side on that wide plat
i form How strangely that air of re
:, pose. that sweet, reaned, calm face
. that general appearance OF ind ference
:, contrasted with the busy scene arounl