The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-05-10

too"
Miss Massey's eyes flashed as she |
rose, drawing herself up, and looking
rather superblv down upon her slighter
and more gentle friend.
"Oh, Grace" began Mabolle, to
whose eyes the tears had rushed,
chow"
But Grace had swept out of the room,
leaving behind her u general impression
OF dark eyes flashing wrathfuly, of a
heightned color, and malign, disdain-
full smile.
Mabelle finished addressing her letter,
stamped it, and said to herself, in re-
Elective undertone:
ITS of no use. | am little fool, ]
suppose, since he never seems to notice
me, even; but if he were not reminded
of something disagreeable by the very
sight of me he would speak, am sure.
He is net handkerchief and he has
kind word for everybody but me. 1t is
very fine for Grace to talk; he would say
anything to please her. Is it likely he
would own that he wished l would get
away and leave them alone? Grace
will have to be angry if she likes, but
my letter must GO"
! With this she found herself, to her
own great surprise and displeasure, cry
ing; but, quickly drying her tears, took
up her broad hat and her letter and
went down stairs.
As Grace had said, there were several
letters on the table, and Mabelle laid
hers with the rest, and then took her
way out of doors, through the garden,
and across the fields to the cliff, there
to sit and seek relief to her troubled
feelings.
II really am an unlucky girl" she
meditated. "Why was | here when he
came home? | have been in a fever
ever since. He must think me q horrid
little intrusive thing to be in the way at
such time; and he looks at me so
coldly and absently, as if he did not see
me-iust as he might look at fly on
the window, or spider on the wall.
He has evidently quite forgotten how
very kind he used once to be, but have
not but even if | do deserve it, can't
bear it. Grace might be more consid-
crate. When she comes and towers
over me like she did just now, and
flashes her great eyes upon me, she
looks so exactly like him that l could
almost"
A rush past her of some moving body
drew her attention to the form of DR..
johnson, who, with an unseemly haste
very rare with him, whirled by, arrest
ing himself by a backward spring just
in time to save himself from being
dashed over the cliff to certain death,
and then transferred his attentions tc
her as if in a paroXysm of affection.
my dear Dr. Johnson" she had be-
gun, in the tone of one who would rea-
son with an impetuous person, g be a
little less violent, or -"
"Let him alone He'll take care not
to risk his precious life. He is like his
immortal namesake, too fond of the
good things of the kitchen to prema-
turely cut himself off in his enjoyment
of Them" said voice behind her--a
voice which caused Mabelle to start vio-
lently and make palpable movement
OF dismay as she beheld Philip, alone,
except for DIR. johnson, standing above
her. and looking down from what
seemed to Mabelle an immense height,
for he stood upon little knoll of grass,
and she was sitting in the bottom of
small hollow between two ridges.
"Do l disturb you?" he asked, throw
ing away his cigar, and-was it posi-
bleP-seating himself beside her.
"N--no; l am not going TO stay here
long" answered Mabelle, inwardly
wondering when adversely would cease
to prosecute her; wondering, too, still
more, what strange chance had sent
Philip there.
mot stay long! You have only just
come. have youp' he asked, looking at
her intently and with imperturbable
gravity.
'No-well- -"
"About three minutes" he inter-
posed; "because | saw you go while
Grace was shaking me out of my chair
and telling me to 90 after you"
Telling you to come after men'
calculated Mabelle, on whose Mortified
mind the truth now burst in its entirety.
Grace had, indeed, put her scheme of
revenge into operation with the prompt
itude and skill of great General.
Eyes, she has sent me after you, "
said Philip, TRANQUILITY, while he rested
? his chin on one hand and stroked back
the ears of DR.. johnson with the other,
a process which caused that intelligent
animal to put forth his tongue farther
than ever and to grin hideous grin OF
? ineffable satisfaction.
''She said she had quarreled with you,
and that you had been unkind-no, you
had been very nasty that was the form
3 of expression she used"
/ "Oh, dear!' was all Mabelle could
t calculate.
, ''She says you want to go away" he
J continued and if he had taken no notice
: of her before, Mabelle could no longer
Y accuse him of maintaining that line OF
conduct He was observing her innocent
1 ", and the fact did not intend to reassure
| her either in mind or manner.