The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-05-15

OOuSlu NTlIlROOko never ue6u
know it," said she, as if apologizing to
his vaccnt chair. "And these bed
room carpets are perfectly-AsCtuI"
with a very big A, indeed). I'm
beat them myself with a little twig
from the Balm of Gilead tree" said
Classy, land that can't wear them
out"
She had not half finished whitewash-
ing the kitchen ceiling, however, when
Cora startled her with a cry of sur
prise.
"Oh, Classy, Casey" cried the girl,
"see here! See what l have found!"
"a ghostP" cried Classy, skillfully
drawing the wet brush in straight,
sweeping lines across the ceiling. "Or
q mouse, or black beetle?"
"Not one of the three" retorted
Cora, making her breathless appear
ance at the head of the stairs. "Three
five-hundred-dollar bills, in an enve-
lope, laid fiat under the oil-cloth in
front of Cousin Grimgooke's washing
stand. Oh, Classy, what. shall we do
with them? 1 feel as if had been
stealing"
"Do with themP" repeated Classy,
who was the valiant one of the family.
"Why, put them in your pocket, of
course, and replace them exactly
where you found them when the carpet
goes down again"
"But how do you suppose they came
thereP"
cousin Grimgooke put them there,
of course. It's one of his magpies'
nests. And that was the reason, don t
you see, that he was so unwilling for
us to take up the carpets" -.
al wish we hadn't disobeyed him, "
said Cora, with a quivering lip.
"Why, what little goose you are! "
said Classy, with a superior air. Zone
can't live always in the dirt, can
oneP"
And Cora finally came round to her
sisters way of thinking.
The two girls made haste with their
undertaking, and had the house all
thoroughly cleaned by Saturday night,
just about the time that old Uncle Silas
Peabody came by, selling CLANS.
Don't want any, ehP" said he.
oval, I've had dreadful bad luck to-
day. Haint no money to buy a lodg-
ing, S'pose you wouldn't like to LEI
me sleep in your barn?"
"Certainly we should not" said
Classy, with decision.
cousin Grimgooke would never al
low such a thing" protested Cora
turning pale.
oval. wal" said Uncle Silas, "there
amt no harm done Iguess I can just
stub on a spell furder. "
But he did not "stub" further thar
the barn, apparently, for there he wa;
found, half an hour later, asleep in
the hay, with half-smoked pipe lying
beside him, and the entire premises in
light blaze. The neighbor who made
the discovery lost no time in summon
ing help; but there was no steam fire
department in Wiggletown, and within
two hours both house and barn were
in ashes, Uncle Sile carried off to thu
nearest hospital, and Cora and Cass.
: wringing their hands at neighbor'
window as they gazed at the ruins.
And the embers were yet smoking
: when Mr.. Grimgooke came hurryinl
| up from the railway station.
"Is it true2" he said. us my hous
, burned DOWN."
And he was as pale as marble as h
| stood there, gazing on the remains o
what had once been Home"
, 1tno,,it - 10
Squire Burrell. They're insured, bot
t house and barn. And the Revive
A Company's always as good as it
= word"
' Don't look so sad, Cousin Grim
COOKE" coaxed Classy, creeping up
l his side.
81 hope, cousin, you don't blam
u.s." sobbed poor Cora.
n "No, gals, no." said the old mar
t with a culver of his lip. "Nobod
could ha' prevented it, least of all tw
i slips of gals like you. Butt wish L
| told you-my little savings was hi
!! away in my rQoms-all in bills. An
J. it cuts me to the heart to think thu
9 what / worked so hard to save wS
Il burned up in two or three spurts
flame, with no one to save it.
n He groaned deeply, and pressed h
y hand to his eyes. Cora came close
him.
:. Cousin" she said, in a whispe
B. "was it in three five-hundred- dolli
o bills? Under the oil-cloth in front
your washing-stand?"
: The started back.
d "How did you knowP" said he.
because they are here in N
r. pocket" said Cora. "We found the
n when-when we were cleaning hous
y We were waiting to replace ther
when the fire broke out"
= Mr.. Grimgooke uttered a cry of jo
J. "Gimme kiss, little gall" said h
d "For if ever you did me a good tur
l. you've done it now"
r. And when Cora told the story of Il
family house-cleaning, Mr.. Grimgool
Re laughed heartily.
< "Well, I'll never object to carp
n beating again!" said he. "And I
lt tell YOU what: TIL divide one of d