The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-05-31

true, as that mariner in "Billee Tailor.
who was "bitten by crocodile" and /
SWALLOWED by whale" ''all on ac- |
count of Eliza" but she had been /
scorched by throes of fever brought on |
by over work and exposure to cold, to /
say nothing of mental troubles, care |
and sorrow of various kinds, all on ac-
count of Dick. But ii you imagine for
a moment that she wavered, or loved |
him less, you know little of true |
womans heart. Undoubtedly, Hannah |
was illogical enough to cling all the
more tenderly to him with each misior-
tune. Her old-fashioned, unenlightened
mind argued that when the world bat
tered the poor fellow most heartlessly
then he had most need of the devotion
of his wife, and the best right to it.
Only farmer daughter, and brought
up in the agricultural districts, she
knew little of that selfish philosophy
which would have advised Eer to take
the child and leave Dick to his fate,
thus causing herself to be included in
the prosperous ma GRITTY. Hannah had
always from a child mended the broken
| legs of forlorn birds, and nursed the
weak lambkins back to life and vigor;
usually to have the latter taken from
| her and sold as soon as they grew frolic-
some and had attained condition under
her sheltering care.
And thus it was that she stood in
front of her small frame house, with the
heavy water-pail by her side, and was
wistfully watching the wild geese fly
over wretched settlement away up in
the Wisconsin pine forests. 1t had been
a trying winter for the little family, for
Dick, the husband and father, had been
i'll for nearly month during the coolest
weather, and, rs their home was mort
gagged, it had taxed Hannah's strength
to the utmost 10 provide the few COM
forts he required, and save small sum
toward the first payment Of the mort
gage, which came due in the spring,
but she was a brave little woman, and
worked on faithfully, taking in washing
or sewing for the mill-hands and lum-
bermen, so that by the first of April she
had saved nearly enough money to
make the first payment on the home.
Only this morning she had been quite
cheerful over the prospect, until let
ter had been brought to her from her
native village in Illinois. 1t came from
former lover, who was now engaged
to be married to her sister Ruth. Frank
Dennison was wealthy young mer-
chant, who had once sought Hannah
McLean's hand in marriage. When
she refused him and married Dick Bar
ry her father had refused to speak to
her, or see her. Dennison had heard
OF Hannah's poverty, and how hard she
toiled and now had written a letter of
friendly advice, suggesting to her that
would be well for her tn leave her
husband and come home for time at
least. He was cautious in the wording
of his letter, yet the tone of it panied
her. She read it carefully and then
put it away out of sight, in her work
box. She was angry at its patronizing
tone, and womanlike wished to spare
Dick the unpleasant feelings the read
ing of it would occasion his proud ret
ure. Therefore she intended to treat it
with quiet contempt and to speak of it
to no one.
That evening when he came home
she left him with the child, while she
stepped into neighbours upon an er-
rand. Dick went to the work-box to
find pencil to cast up his accounts
with his employer, as he had been at
work for several days. Seeing Den
nison's letter lying there he, of course,
| read it, and wondered why Hannah had
, not told him of it before. He was in
, dignant at its tone. But the chief pain
came from a suspicion that his wife
l had been influenced by it and intended
, to act upon its advice, else why should
3 she have kept it from himP He knew
all her loyalty, her goodness, but his
l lack of faith was in himself, in his pow
3 er to keep her love since he had failed
Q to make the happy, comfortable home
Q for her that he had intended to when
: they were married, yet he was full,
e conscious that buried beneath a mass OF
n faults and weaknesses there was man
: illness, ay, power of self-sacrifce fol
e those he loved that Dennison, prosper
: Gus and pompous, was utterly incapable
! of even comprehending.
r This was new blow, and Just as he
< began to take fresh heart in the spring
i weather and was maturing plan which
|, babe fair to succeed-a plan that woulC
enable him to take Hannah away anC
n place her in pretty cottage amidst thu
|. flowers and trees of some genial eli
Y mate-he meant to surprise her witt
$ this. 1t depended upon the answer hi
5 employer, capitalist and owner of
?. ranch in California, would give hin
Y within the next three days, and now
> perhaps, she was coldly thinking o
e leaving him.
o She came in looking quite Cheerful
o and smiling kindly, He had folded tn
3. letter. placing it carefully lack in tn
IF box. Richard sat with bowed head
7, scarcely looking up as she came in, an,
<. Hannah rocked little Jack to sleeI
k looking wisttully at her husband.
,r "You are ill. l am afraid you ar
/ working too hard before your strengt
re has returned. That attack of pneu
monia has left you weak" she said