The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-03-07

mine. Here l sat for hours talking to
Pauline, and here in my dreams / had
poured forth the words of love | longed
to speak-and here I was to say good
bye forever.
My frame of mind was sad one
when reached the Clearing. l threw
myself down on the sloping ground and
turned my eyes up the path by which
she must come. A fallen trunk at my
back formed a rest for my head-the
trees around were rustling in the soft
breeze-the monotonous rush of the
stream below was soothing and lulling
"a few white clouds sailed slowly
across the sky. 1t was a drowsy,
dreamy, beautiful morning. had
scarcely slept for the last two or three
nights. Pauline fingered. Is it any
wonder that my eyes closed and for
awhile all sorrow and disappointment
were chased away by the sleep so
sorely needed?
Was it sleepp Yes, because one must
sleep in order to dream. All! if that
dream were reality life would be worth
having. l dreamed that my wife was
beside me, that she took my hand and
pressed her lips to it passionately, that
her cheek was almost touching mine,
that l could feel her soft, sweet breath.
SO real did it seem that | turned on my
hard rustic pillow toward the dream,
and then of course it vanished.
Iopened my eyes. In front of me
stood Pauline. Those grand dark eyes
of hers no longer yelled by the lashes,
but open and looking into mine. l saw
them but for second, but that was
long enough for the look had sur
prised to send the blood throbbing
through my veins-to make me spring
to my feet-to embolden me to take her
suddenly and swiftly in my arms--to
cover her sweet face with kisses, eacu-
lating the only words that one can find
at such a time: II love you! love you!
/ love you'll
For no man yet has seen in a
woman's eyes the look | saw in Paul
ines unless that woman loves him
above all the world.
Pauline! Paulinep' ! cried; " do
you love me?"
A trembling which I knew was OF
Joy passed over her.
"Do l love you! love your she
said, and hid her blushing face on my
shoulder. The words, the action, was
enough, but presently she raised her
head and pressed her lips to mine.
II love you-yes, l love you, my
husband!'
"When did you know? When did
you remember
For a moment she answered not. She
broke from my embrace; then, opening
the bosom of her dress, drew forth q
blue ribbon which hung round he.
neck. Upon it were threaded the two
rings. They seemed to sparkle with
joy in the bright sun.
She detached them and held them
toward me. "Gilbert, my. love, my
husband, if you will that shall be
your wife, if you think me worthy o
it, take them and place them where
they should be-"
And then once more, with many {
kiss, many vow, | placed the ring,
upon her finger and knew that my
troubles were at an end.
But when did you know-when die
the memory come backp"
Dearest" she whispered, and hel
voice sounded like music. Il knew il
when l saw you standing on the river
bank. 1t came to me all at once. Til
then all was dark. l saw your face ant
knew everything
"Why did you not tell meP"
She hung her head. II wanted t.
find out if you loved me. Why shoulC
you do SOP If you did not we coulC
part, and 1 would set you free if posi-
BILE. But not now, Gilbert; you viii
never get rid of me now"
Her thoughts had been the same a
mine. No wonder l had misunderstood,
her. The idea of her waiting to see if
loved her seemed so preposterous!
"You would have saved me days o
grief if had known you cared for me
Why did you take off the rings, Pau
ine?"
ebay after day passed and you sal
nothing. Then / took them off. The
have been next my heart ever since
waiting for you to give back when yo
chose"
kissed the hand on which they shon,
"Then all is clear to you now, my ow
wifeP"
"Not quite all, but enough. TIL
truth, the love, the devotion--all thi
my husband, l can remember-all this
will repay, if my love can do it."
Our wooing may close with thel
/ words-let all the rest be sacred. TT
l trees around alone know what passe
between us, Us their kindly shade fe
: on us where we sat and interchange
our words of love whilst hour aft
hour of our second and real weddin
: day slipped by. At last we rose, b.
! fingered yet awhile, as though 10th
leave the spot where happiness ha
! come to us. We looked round one
more and bid farewell to hill and vale
, and stream; we gazed long in each OF
7 ers's eyes, our lips met in a PASSIONS