The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-05-23

"Dont Miss Hester me. You and |
mother ought to be ashamed of your
selves. A poor girl never has a chance,
in this world, anyhow" and the young
lady burst into tears.
CHAPTER II.
"This beats any affair I ever heard |
Of" unused Mr.. Lucas, as he walked
toward home. II don't know how l
am going to get out of it, either, for the
old lady is as mule-headed as a pig or
as pig-headed as a mule, don't know
which. l don't exactly understand
Hester's actions. | thought that l
would be doing her service by making
vigorous denial, but hang the luck, it
seems that she did not want me to deny
it."
Stephen Lucas, one of the most pros
porous planters in Southern Arkansaw
owned beautiful residence near the
Ouachita River. He was bachelor.
Those who knew him said that he had
never been in love with any one, and
that he was too honorable to marry
without love. Anywhere, preceded by a.
certain class of literature, he would have
been accepted as typical Southern gen
tleman even though he did not say sab,
in place of sir. He was something more
than local celebrity. In duel he had
severely wounded an overbearing bully;
but his most chivalrous act occurred
shortly after the war began Lucas was
Captain of company in an Arkansaw
regiment. One day, in little town
that had remained loyal, United
States flag was hoisted. The flag was
torn down. A soldier ran forward and
began to trample it under foot.
Hold, you infamous scoundrelI'
shouted Lucas. Put your foot again
on that flag and | will shoot hole
through your Internal heart. You may
shoot at that flag but Ill be cursed if
you shall put your foot on it!'
When General Hindman heard of this
action, he sent for Lucas and said to
him:
Captain, you acted rightly. The
bravest man on my staff, Robert G.
Newton, together with myself, revere
the old flag. Circumstances have COM
PEELED us to fire upon it, but no circum-
stances shall compel us to allow brute
to place his heel upon it,"
Such reputation lived through the
smoke of battle. 1t blossomed when
peace came and even men who had
been most bitter could not help but adj
mire Lucas. The hero thought of this
as he sat on his veranda, watching, afar
| off, the mule teams moving across the
fields.
81 am in a position now where it is
impossible to play the patriot" he said
to himself ''Old Mrs. Beasely would
not hesitate to strike me with horse
whip. Even though / yield, what then
is to become of the girl? That she does
not want to marry me is very evident;
and, | can not allow her mother to COM
pei an alliance so distatefui."
CHAPTER III.
chester" said Mrs. Beasely, when
Mr.. Lucas had gone, ''why do you take
so keen delight in humiliating your
poor old mother.
Il do not wish to humiliate you,
mother, and you ought to know that
do not. "
You did so, my daughter. y
"Why, mother, you are surely be-
side yourself. | have known Mr.. Lu
cas- all my life and have never had 3
thought of marrying him; and l know
that he has never had a thought o
marrying me-"
." Hester, let me give you warning
Don't dispute my word. He asked mt
for you"
" But, mother, could not help that
He should have first asked my consent,
/" 1t seems that your consent was tao
lily given, for when | spoke to you con
corning the matter, you said that mar
riage with Mr. Lucas would be delight
full"
why, mother, you are crazy!"
, =" Hester, as told YOU before, | hav,
not laid the weight of my hand on yol
} since you were a child, but I'll declar
: to goodness that if you persist in dis
+ putting my word and attempting to max
out that l am not in my right mind,
will box your ears. " r-
, Miss Hester began to shed tears. GO
l dom know why you should want me t
G marry" she said, al am sure that hav
h never given you any trouble "
r " Hester, all girls must marry.
: q" So must all people die, but it i
not intended that they shall die unit
/ their time comes"
/ Marriage is a condition of life
g my child. Ali conditions of life ar
brought about by human agencies.
!, shall soon have another conference
L with Mr.. Lucas, and you must prepar
o yourself for"
The worst" suggested Miss Hester
y mo, for the bestn
d I'VE are always prepared for tn
best, mother. 1t is the worst that re
v quires additional preparation"
Now, daughter, tell me the truth
Don't you love Mr.. Lucas?"
o mo. | DON'T