The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-03-15

relation and then another. till, at last, |
an old friend of their fathers got An
gela the post of music governess at the
High School, and several private pupils
as well. If she will persevere she may
get on very we'll"
"What a change from her former
lifer' murmured Philip, mournfully.
Naturally" replied Thekla, in the
same matter of-fact tone; a" but she is
very fortunate in being so soon and so
advantageously provided for. And Ma
belle, her sister, goes to school. She is
a sweet little creature; really little
angel of brightness and gentleness, and
yet so clever and sprightly. L quite
dote upon her."
"But Miss Fairfax" began Philip.
ayes, Miss Fairfax; what were you
going to say about her?''
"No doubt her sister is a charming
young girl, but she will never approach
Miss Fairfax in-in anything.
angela is woman; Mabelle is
girl. One can't compare Them" was
all Thekla would say. ave have known
them for long time. Papa used to go
and fish at Nenside, and that was how
we first knew them. l only found out
blc ObltI udJ budO thCI WOlO AOlO, ~
near us, and you, too"
And with your usual goodness you
| took compassion on them as you have
done on me and Grace" said Philip,
| light of unaffected admiration and can
did goodwill in his eyes as they rested
upon Thekla's face.
"Oh, nonsense. Do you think Grace
would really like to know her?"
~ am absolutely certain of it."
Every good! She shall, then. Do
you know, Mr.. Massey, that we have
been talking so long here in the hall
that the quadrille is overp"
Impossible!'' said Philip, looking
up, and too preoccupied to observe the
long searching look with which Thelka
! favored him.
Her face grew colder as the look grew
longer. 1t was with rather hard little
smile that she listened as he muttered
an excuse about being engaged for the
next dance-Miss Fairfax-look for her
and so left her.
Angela was still seated on the same
settee as before. and beside her Mr..
Fordyce, the man who had been look
ing at them and whom they had been
talking about Miss Fairfax was in the
act of bestowing one of her long, mex
plicable glances upon her companion,
when she caught sight of Philip ap-
preaching, and the glance continued to
travel upward until it met his, and re-
manned there inquiringly, as if she won
dered what brought him to her again.
"Our dance, Ibelieve, Miss Fairfax"
said Philip, ignoring Mr.. Fordyce as
completely as if he had had no exist
ence
"Oursr' she repeated, with start.
Ibid 1 say j would dance? / must
have forgotten.
But she rose, took Philips arm. and
was going, turning round first to Mr..
Fordyce to ask, in low, gentle voice,
for her fan, which he held in his hand.
He gave it to her; and perhaps a
sweet glance might have its glamour
for the elderly Mr.. Fordyce as veil as
for Philip Massey. The latter led his
partner to the ballroom, where the
waltz was just beginning.
After it was over, Thekla, as good as
her word, took the opportunity OF max
ing the Fairfaxes and Grace Massey ac-
quainted Philip, standing by, anx-
iously watched the proceedings, par
ticularly the demeanor of his sister
Grace. Grace, as must have been APP
parent already, was of particularly
candid disposition, and Philip, observ-
ing her, and knowing her different ex-
pressions, felt thrill of bitter disap-
pointment as he saw the cold, unre-
sponsive look which crossed her face as
Angela Fairfax, with one of her long
, est, most languishing chances, and hei
most honeyed smile, spoke some words
which Philip did not hear, and held ou
her hand with what seemed to him al
exquisite, timid grace.
, What could Grace mean? Philip die
not notice that, though Thekla spok,
: pleasant words, her voice was hard
that, though her lips smiled her eyes
were blue as steel and cold as ice. II,
{ was most interested in the demeanor o
his sister and Angela, and his eve
y travelled from the one face to the other
> and then settled finally upon that O
r Angela again, and remained there, til
: he found sigh breaking from his lip
unawares, while his heart beat, and h,
v thought-could think nothing else
q "How beautiful she isl how beautiful
. The rest of the evening he spent il
4 watching Miss misunderstanding to he
< while she sang. Whatever her nativ
talent or taste in the matter of music
n Angela Fairfax had been too well laugh
h to sing rubbish. Her voice was an ex
o ceptionally fine one, and vocal music
like instrumental, has this popularity
/. that, provided time and tune and tn
!. conventional modulations of tone b.
!. kept, an enthusiastic listener can Away
u find passion, expression, depth-all tina
# he feels in his own heart-in the sounds
v So it was with Philip that night
t While she sang he almost closed hi
J. eyes, and listened in a kind of rapture
/, When twas over he opened them agai
f and saw that she was surrounded b
nnita n little knot of adnairnrs ,uh,