The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-11-29

destroyed myself. She started in search
of me. and at once recognizing the inn
possibility OF finding me without assist
ance, turned to that first and last re-
source of an English-woman in such q
difficulty the police Having told her
tale at the nearest station, and by en-
treaties, and by enlarging on my in
trinity, made known the urgency of
the case, and secured sympathy, tele-
graphic messages were sent to other po-
lice stations asking if any one answer
ing to my description had been found.
Priscilla waited upon thorns until about
five o clock in the morning, when a re-
ply came from the other end of the
town. 1t stated that n young man who
appeared TO be blind, and who was GER
tainly drunk and incapable, had Just
been brought in.
Priscilla flew to the rescue. She
found me lying senseless, and destined,
upon my recovery. to be brought be-
fore the magistrate. A doctor was soon
procured, who testified to my innocence
SO far as alcohol was concerned. The
energetic Priscilla, after placing me
safely in cab, gave the officers bit
OF her mind as to the discomforts under
which she had found me laboring. She
| then departed triumphantly with her
unconscious charge, and laid him on
| the bed ne had so rashly quilted.
| / am grieved to be compelled to gath.
er from her words that, in spite of the
| indignation she displayed toward the
| policemen, her estimate OF my condi-
| ton was the same as theirs. She was
particularly grateful to the doctor,
whom, / fear, she looked upon as a
clever, complaisant practitioner, who
| had eXfricated gentleman from a
scrape by well-timed but untruthful
explanation.
"But l never knew body stop in
sensible so long after it. Don't ee
do it again, Master Gilbert" she con-
Guided
| 1 did not combat her suspicious.
Priscilla was scarcely the one to whom
| wished to coniide the adventures of
the night. BY far the simplest way
was to say nothing. to leave her to draw
her own, and perhaps not unnatural
conclusions.
II won't do it again." said. "Now
get me some breakfast. Tea and toast
anything"
She went to do my bidding. 1t was
not that / was hungry l wanted to be
alone for few minutes to think--or
think as well as my aching head would
allow.
| recalled everything that had hap
pened since l left the door of my house.
The entranced walk, the drunken guide,
the song l had heard, and afterward
those horrible. eloquent sounds and
touches. Everything was clear and
/ to thn n,oia IN
was forced upon me; after that nv
mind was q blank. Priscillas tale
showed me that during that blank /
must have been transported several
miles aud deposited in the thoroughfare
where L was found by the policeman.
l saw through the crafty scheme. l
had been dropped, insensiblc, far away
from scene of the crime at which had
been present. How wild and improb-
able my tale would seem. Would any
one believe itp
Then | remembered my horror at
what felt streaming over my hand as
! lay pinned down upon the fallen man.
| called Priscilla.
Look" / said, holding my right
hand toward her, sis it clean--waS il
clean when you found me?'
"Clean-la, no, Master Gilbertr
"What was on it?" asked excitedly.
"All covered with mud, just as il
you'd been dabbling in the gutter. The
first thing did when l got you home
was to wash your poor hands and face
| hoped it would bring you round-it
generally does, you know"
"But my coat sleeve my shirt sleeve
The right-hand side. See if anything i.
on them"
Priscilla laughed. you haven't 60
ne'er right-hand sleeve left. They
were cut or torn off above the elbow
Your arm was naked"
Every scrap of circumstantial evidenc,
which would confirm my tale was van
ishing away. There would be nothing
r to support it except the assertion of
blind man, who left his house in tn,
dead of night, secretly, and who wa
found, several hours afterward, mile
away, in such a state that the guardian
of the pu lie morals were compelled t.
! take charge of him.
| Yet l could not remain silent with tn
knowledge of such crime weighing Of
| my mind. The next day | had eutirel,
t recovered from the effects of the opiate
and after consideration sent for m
: solicitor. He was confidential friend
t and l resolved to be guided by his nd
r vice. In very short time found
q was hopeless to think of carrying con
viction to his mind. He listened grave
i ", giving vent to "Well. wellr' "Bles
my SOUL" "Shockingm and other sc
/. expressions of surprise, but knew h
Q was only humoring me. and looked upo
D the whole thing as delusion. hav
t no doubt that Priscilla hac. been talkin!
/. to him and telling him all she knew
a His incredulity annoyed me, so | toll
liz. AnnAil,r L chn1,lL Gnu M, M n,o Z. h,,,