The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-05-24
CHAPTER XIV.
AN ACCOUNT CLOSED.

After supper they went wandering
again in the garden by moonlight, and
the moths and bats were fitting and
circling round the light dresses of the
girls Not much was said. Grace had
passed her arm through Philips, and
taken Mabelle's hand, and said
What shall l do when you both
leave meP"
After which there was silence, till
Mrs Massey's voice called to Grace,
and she left them.
:" l must 60, too, said Mabelle, re-
solved at once to take the initiative,
and display some firmness of character.
Go--whyP"
oh, my packing, you know"
"Packing! AT least you have time to
stroll to the cliff, and look at the Ger
man Ocean by moonlight. Who knows
when, we shall have another chance?
Come!"
He opened the wicket in time for DR..
Johnson, who had appeared upon the
scene, to march unceremoniously be-
fore them, and lead the way to the
cliff
"He knows, you see," said Philip.
clasping his hands behind him as he
paced beside the silent Mabelle.
They did not speak until, suddenly,
the great expanse of heaving waters was
spread beneath their eyes, with long,
silvery track of moonlight down ia
Cold path of duty, leading TO the sky
The sky was cloudless, deep blues the
stars were clear. the moon radiant, the
air like balm.
"How beautiful said Mabelle, soft
ly; but Philip, instead of answering her
remark, said:
Mabelle, why don't you wish to
travel with me tomorrow"
Il
"Is my company very distasteful to
you?"
"What a question! 1t was only
"Only what?"
angela will meet me at Irkford,
and she does not know you are going
there
''Is that all? She will be quite equal
to the occasion, | am sure; and, | sol
EMMY assure you, | have the best hopes
for my own presence of mind. Don't
distress yourself on that account"
al shall not-.that is, | should not, il
-Mabelle, told you month ago that
| was a married man after-after that
episode you can not forget-and so, in
way, was. l know how it spoiled
me. | know my nature got a WARP
then, and will never be quite smooth
again, and | know l am more adapted
to brighten girl by my brusquerie thar
to win her love by my amiability, .
and have no right to ask any woman
to bear with me, and love me in spite
of my roughness, as my dear Grace has
done, God bless her! but it seems thai
trouble three years ago did not secure
me against ever falling in love again.
mot with men exclaimed Mabelle
involuntarily recoiling, and putting VI
her two hands, you do not say it wa
with me?n
"But ! do say it is with you, M
BELIZE" said Philip, capturing her hand
and clasping his arm around her, "anC
wonder what just cause or impedimen
there should be to my loving you.
say that / love you now, very different
ly from-but Wen not speak of that
Only | would never have told you had
not fancied that you would help me t.
wipe out this old account, Mabelle, AM
help me to become q better man than
have Deen since that day-you remem
Der. | have often felt Uicked when
t have thought of it; l thought yo
| would perhaps go on making repara
r tion-will you?"
Mabelle's struggle between tears an
z smiles ended in a convulsive laugh
which would not stop.
, Philip, deriving hope from this, an
perhaps pleased with his own ingeniou
/ way of recommending himself as suit