The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-06-20

faced questioner, entirely unawed by
the grandeur of Eyergreens, or the dig
nitv of its mistress.
Henrietta Winchester, answered
that body, as concisely and solemnly as
if she were in court.
"Such long name! Must call you
all thatP" queried the child.
You can say Miss Henrietta. Then
more gently as she noted the pale face
and general air of delicacy about the
boy: care you tired from your ride?"
mot from the ride in the carriage
oh, that was beautiful said the boy,
heartily. "But I'm hungry"
The house-maid now appeared, and
to her care the child was committed.
with orders to prepare certain small
bedroom in the servants apartments;
and also to give the little boy plenty of
milk for his supper.
"Strange that Mr.. Dale should so
misunderstood mel said Miss Win
chester to herself, as she continued to
walk in the fast shadowing twilight
ut was quite enough to nave the use of
my carriage; doubtless the linen covers
will have to be taken of, children soil
things so. This seems to be rather
clean, decent looking child; but | shall
not keep him here all the week" And
with this final decision Miss Winchester
went into the house.
She always read prayers after tea.
At Evergreens all was done decently
and in order. The cook, housemaid
and John entered the dining-room in
the usual staid procession, and with
them little Edgar. The servants took
their places, and Lizzie motioned the
child to sit beside her. But seeing a
vacant chair near Miss Winchester,
with quiet composure the boy crossed
the room and sat down beside his host
ess. The servants rolled their eyes at
each other. Miss Winchester gave no
sign, but as she read the usual chapter
and evening prayers she felt strangely
conscious of those clear, unabashed
eyes and the quaint, childish dignity of
the small form near her.
The servants went out silently, but
the boy fingered at the door, and in his
frank way said:
Goodnight"
Goodnight, Edgar, " answered Miss
Henrietta, with the tiniest bit of smile.
Yet she looked after the little figure in
the worn knickerbockers, following
Lizzie with an evident reluctance in its
step.
"What queer little man," she
thought, feeling more gratifed than she
would have acknowledged at the simple
goodnight 'He is evidently used to
better surroundings than most children
of his class"
Instead of arranging when she SHOULD
return the boy to Mr.. Dale's hands
Miss Winchester found herself wonder
ing while she dressed, the next morn
ing, how her small guest had spent tn,
night; if Lizzie had thought to close {;
certain window which created adraugh
in the little side chamber. The sounC
of the gentle, unaffected goodnight
fingered pleasantly in her ear, and, I'm
consciously, she was looking forward
to the little fellows good morning.
Deep down in the heart of this reserved
self-suificent woman, who lived he
life alone at Evergreens and was prout
of her independence of society, was
spring of true, womanly tenderness
after all; thickly covered, and nearl
choked, it is true, by daily additions Q
pride and selishness. A little child
hand, guided by the Spirit of Divin
love, was shaking the barriers stron
with the HABITS of years; a little child
voice was stealing into empty heart
chambers and awaking sweet echoe
there.
1t was almost with an air of expeC
tation that Miss Winchester stepped OF
on the piazza upon which her break
fast-roOm opened. A small bowe
figure sat on the lower steps, sobbin
softly, and wiping away the tears wit
first one brown hand, then the other, i
a helpless, piteous way.
"Why, child, what is the matter?
said Miss Winchester, in genuine col
Germ.
The little boy choked back his sob
and in shaky voice, very unlike tn
ringing tones of the evening befor,
said:
IF YOU please, Miss Henrietta, wi
you-let- me go-away? dom t
like being--your- guest - as - the
gentleman said-and- and want
see-my mother" And here the tea
had their way again and streamed dow
the little pale cheeks
Has any one been unkind to your
mo, ma'am. The big fat woma
gave me real nice things to eat, and Il
other was good to me, But they ain
nice, and they don't talk nice, and a,
me questions that sound like makir
fun of me, and my mother says that
rude"
The lady's face flushed, and her ey
, almost fell before the fearful ones LITE
to hers.
: Tell me something about yor
mother Or do you mind my que
tionsPn
J "Oh no, ma am said the DO
brightly, while the tears yet hung
his lashes. You are lady, and don