The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-02-23
MADE OR MARRIED.
ny JESSIE FoTHERGIuL,
Author Of "One of Three" "Prob ntion," 'Ths
Wcllfelds," Etc
CHAPTER II.-CoNTINUEp.


1t must be owned, with every neces-
sary apology for the fact, that Philip
Massey had up to that time only app
peared as a very commonplace char
acter. During his ten years manage
ment of his own affairs, he had done
nothing in the very least remarkable.
He had not gone to the bad, nor had he
become in any way decidedly good. He
had managed to keep out of debt, save
little incidental debts now and then,
which had never seriously embarrassed
him. His amusements had been of the
kind common to most OF the young men
he knew. They all made q point of
paying frequent visits to the different
Irkford theaters, and passing their val
liable criticisms on the various plays
and pantomimes performed there; they
also patronized different sorts of con-
certs and entertainments, being direct
ed in their choice by the bent of their
minds and surroundings. On Saturday
afternoons. when they came home early
from business, they were usually in the
habit of playing football in winter, and
cricket in summer. They were out in
large bodies to play against rival clubs;
they adorned their persons for these
sports in striped Jerseys of startling hue;
and they adorned their clubs with names
as far-fetched and bizarre as the colors
of the costumes in which their souls de-
lighted. Their legs they were wont to
encase in stockings still more remark
able than the jerseys; and thus equipped,
strong in numbers, they might be seen
by proud parents and delighted pub
lie parading the streets to and from
their respective cricket or football
grounds.
1t sounds q commonplace, everyday
kind of career, almost vulgar in its
commonplaceness but it becomes less
. uninteresting when one thinks of the
possibilities hidden behind all those
young faces-the possibilities contained
in all those young potentialities
which might remain dormant to the
very last--or in whose full strength
might be called forth, and their full re-
suits displayed. ''Life is not an idle
ORE" we are told,
"But iron dug from central gloom,
And heated hot with burning fears
And dipped in baths of Kissing tears,
And battered with the strokes of doom
To shape and use"
But it may take a less tremendous
process than this to mold young man S
character, and prove whether good OF
bad predominates in him, whether the
affections or properties which attend
him in his lies course shall have made
or marred him in the end.
1t was at one of the aforementioned
cricket or football clubs with the mys-
tic titles scorpions" "Gnats," "Free
Wanderers, or the like, that three OF
four years ago, Philip Massey had met
Hermann Berghaus. German by name,
and born of German parents. Hermann
had never been in his fatherland. His
father was merchant of Irkford, one
of the weather. merchants; his wife was
a charming woman, and their house.
always Hospitality open to Hermann S
friends" was pleasant one TO go to.
The youth himself was the only son OF
the house, and was blessed with three
sisters who were inclined to spoil him.
Without any very deep or devoted
friendship, Philip and young Berghaus
had always been cordial allies, fol
Hermann, younger by several years than
his friend, felt the influence which Philip
Massey, despite his commonplace ante
cedents and career, very generally eXer
cised over his acquaintance; it would
nave Deen ultlcult TO say IN WnaU TIE
attraction consisted, for his manner was
simple and without any particular
suayity or polish; perhaps the rather
grave simplicity had something to dc
with the charm, simplicity being rareI
now than it once was. He passed among
his friends for very good fellow. diff
cult to stir up, but occasionally saying
dry, humorous things with an undis
turbed gravity which made one invol
UNFAIRLY laugh, and again making
sharp, sarcastic speeches in a lazy
voice, which might be supposed to leave
disagreeable sensations in the bosoms O
those against whom they were directed
Perhaps also part of the charm may
have lain in his appearance, for he was
distinctly handsome, with dark face
and warm southern coloring, showing