The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-02-28

drove together. We read and sketched
but as vet we had not talked of love;
though all the while my wedding-ring
was on her finger.
1t required all my authority to pre-
vent Priscilla telling Pauline the truth.
On this point l was firm. Unless the
past came back of its own accord, |
would hear her say she loved me be-
fore my lips revealed it to her. Per-
haps it was the idea which at times
came to me, that Pauline remembered
more than she would own to, kept me
steadfast in this resolution.
1t was curious the way in which she
at once fell into friendly, unconstrained
intercourse with me. We might have
known each other from childhood, so
perfectly natural and unembarrassed
was her manner when we were to-
gether. She made no demur when |
begged her to call me by my Christian
name, nor did she object to my making
use of her own. Had she done so, |
can not think in what form | should
have addressed her. Although l had
instructed Priscilla to call her Miss
March, the old woman stoutly objected
to this, and compounded matters by
speaking to and of her as Miss Paul
| inc.
The days slipped blythe happiest
days my life had as yet known. Morn,
noon and eve we were together; and |
fear were objects of great curiosity to
our neighbors, who no doubt wondered
what relations existed between me and
the beautiful girl ct whose side l ever
was.
soon found that Pauline's natural
disposition was gay and bright. 1t was
too soon yet to expect it to reassert
itself, yet was not without hopes that
before long that look, telling of sad
memories, which so often crossed her
face, would fade away forever. Now
and again pleased smile lit up her face
and merry words slipped from her lips.
Although when reason first returned to
her it seemed as if her brothers death
had occurred but the day before, / felt
sure that, after while, she understood
that years had passed since the fatal
night. These years were to her wrapped
in a mist; they seemed as dreams She
was trying to recall them, beginning at
the beginning; and need not say with
what alacrity ] lent my aid.
BY common consent we avoided the
future; but of the past, or all the past
in which | was not concerned, we spoke
freely. All the events of her early years
she now remembered perfectly; she
could account for everything up to the
time when her brother was struck down
after that came mistiness; from which
she emerged to find herself in a strange
room, ill, and being nursed by strange
nurse.
Several days passed before Pauline
questioned me as to the part | had
played in her clouded life. One even
ing we stood on the top of thickly
wooded hill, from which we could just
, catch glimpse of the sea, now red
dened by glorious sunset. We had
been silent for some time, and who can
say that our thoughts were not more in
unison than any words we could have
spoken whilst our strange and uncer.
tain relations continued. l looked al
, the western sky until the glowing tints
, began to fade, and turning to my com
panion found her dark eyes gazing al
me with almost painful earnestness.
Tell me-" she said, ''tell me what
: shall find when that lost time come:
, back to mep"
/ Her fingers, as she spoke, were play
| ing with her wedding-ring. She still
wore it, and the diamond keeper l haC
| placed above it; but she had not as We
= asked me why it was on her hand.
"Will it come back, Pauline, do yol
r Think" l asked
r 81 hope so-or stay; should / hop,
: so? Tell me, will it bring me joy o
9 sorrowP"
t "Who can say-the two are Away
l mingled. D."
She sighed and turned her eyes t.
/ the ground. Presently she raised then
: to mine.
Tell me-" she said, show and wheI
l did you come into my life-why did
t dream of you?"
i "You saw me so often when you wer
}, ILL.,"
l "Why did l wake and find your oil
e servant taking care of me?"
e Your uncle gave you into my charge
e l promised to watch over you during hi
Q absence"
l "And he will never return. He
e punished for his crime-for standing b
n when the poor boy was murdered.
+ She pressed her hands to her eyes, a
l. if to shut out the light.
y pauline, i" 1 said, wishing to chang
|, the current of her thoughts, "tell m
, how you saw me in dreams; what yo
II dreamed of me?"
t. She shuddered. 81 dreamed that yo
were standing by me-in the very ROOF
% that you saw the deed. Yet | kne'
n that it could not be So"
r "And them"
oe Il saw your face many timeS-it WI
% always travelling, travelling throug
tie clouds. saw your lips move, and yo
,e seemed to say, Il am going to learn IL
1t truth'-so l waited patiently ill you r