The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-05-03


so / have plenty of time 10 stay n
month, and be gone away for ever so
long before he comes. OF course,
can never come here when he is at
home; the very sight of me would make
him furious, / should think"
Here she sighed and half closed her
eyes, while her thoughts wandered away
upon other tracks, and DIR. johnson sat
beside her, blinking at the ruins of the
abbey with his tongue out, and occa-
sioAally turning his head and glancing
at her over his shoulder with a half
smile, as who would say: ave are well
Off together"
Thus she had remained for some time,
with her eyes now open, now shut, with
the faint breeze fitfully touching her
cheek, and the deep, mysterious muir
muir of the ocean below, like a bass
chorus to the joyful song OF nature.
"You might have called me when you
went out" cried the voice of Grace, ana
Mabelle started, wide awake now, and
sat up.
al would not have Weakened you for
the world from such refreshing slum-
ber," she said, laughing.
tons of my dog to such an extent that
he always follows you now, and never
me. DIR. johnson, sir, come here!"
said his mistress, seating herself and
holding out her hand to him.
Dr. johnson looked from one to the
other, shullled foolishly about on his
launches, and remained where he was
with deprecating grin.
"I'm going to tell Hermann that he
must not expect you to be at liberty in
the afternoon, as you take slight sleep
them" pursued Mabelle.
Hermann, indeedr' remarked Grace.
1t may here be expla ned that Miss
Massey had completed her college
course. passed her examinations with
high honors, and been declared compe-
tent in knowledge to form the minds of
any young ladies in Great Britain and
Ireland; had returned home, express
| ing stern and unalterable resolutions to
devote herself to life of study, of max
ing herself q career in some form or
! other, and showing the admiring world
what woman can do; had gone to Wis
it her friends the Berghauses in Irkford,
and after a prolonged stay had returned
to Foulha, en-, escorted by Hermann,
engaged TO be married to him. and
looking rather foolish when questioned
on the sub Jet of her 'career." Though
it is very certain that had circumstances
not destined her for the career of wife
and mother, this young lady might
have filled with honor many another
post.
1t was 10 an approaching visit of Her.
mann that Mabelle alluded on the pres
ent occasion.
| OF Mabelle's own life, it is only neces-
sary here TO say a few words. Three
years ago, in her illness and sore dis
tress, at the time when Angela had put
the crown to her iniquities by marrying
Mr.. Fordyce, Mabelle had so wound
J herself about the heart and the atf'ec-
| tions of Grace Massey that the latter
could not desert her, despite her strong
conviction on the subject of her SISTERS
conduct. On Angela's return from her
wedding tour, she had, with her hus-
! band, taken up her residence in one of
the desirable mansions frequently men,
| toned during the course of this vera
cious mar alive, and there she had re-
ceived what her soul or what she was
pleased to consider her soul --desi ed,
that is to say, carriages and horses,
massive jewelry, and silk attire; luxury
and ease to her he rt's content, and
slave y Herewith. M. Fordyce viewed
many subjects in a light other than that
IN which ely appeared to his wife s
eyes. He was rather fond of her; but
there were moments in which he won
dered why he had been so led away by
the sentimental glances of Angela Fair
fax as to make her Angela Fordyce.
Neve rtheless, his will was stronger than
hers, his scheme OF life was rounded
and complete, and at forty-seven men
do not easily begin to run in new
grooves; they are more apt to think
that younger and more pliabe charac-
tiers should enter their grooves and
abide therein for the rest of their DAYS.
He DID not care for gay or varied
life; indeed, he was ather austere in his
notions upon such points.
! Angela had found soon that life
might be at once very luxurious, and
both intensely dull and bitterly com
mon-place and vulgar. Such was the
life she had sold herself in o. it was q
bondage which did not grow more en-
durable with time, and the presence
of her sister, which she had at first
considered merely matter of form.
since Mabelle could not be lie alone out
in the cold, presently became great
necess ty to her. There was nothin
vulgar or Commonplace about Ma
belle. She seemed to cherish no resent
ment toward her sister; she obediently
went and took up her residence in the
dull, grand house where Angela lived
with MIR. Fordyce. They never quar-
relied, or rather they had not quar-
relied since one occasion on which An
gela, with the dullness of feeling com
mon to natures like hers, had tried tC
lead the conversation to the sub .ect o.