The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-11-06

watch, hardly seeing the hands. He
was thinking of Pauline Valrey, not OF
his lawyer, with whom he had an en-
gagement that afternoon. What would
she do, now that her lover was dis
graced? He pitied the man before
him, and he could not bear to look
again at Hugh's white face.
81 am sorry, Langmuir," he said,
"but there is nothing to be done. To
punish you would not bring back the
money, even if you had taken twenty
times a thousand dollars. These things
are best hushed up. OF course the men
in the Office will know, or suspect at
any rate, but it can be kept quiet. Per-
haps you had better 60"
'1f you want me" said Hugh, ''You
can find me. Anyway, l have told you.
He drew deep sigh. 'Td like to pay
the money back he added. 81 was
crazy when l took it." He laid his
hand on the door knob, and then turned
and looked Prosper full in the face.
"Goodby," he said.
His tone startled Prosper. Don't
loose your head, Langmuir," he ex-
! Cldliubu, DOu u
He was speaking to the empty air,
for Hugh had passed out of the office.
He took his hat and coat and went into
the street, making his way home
mechanically, and let himself into the
house with his latchkey. No one saw
or heard him, and he stole softly up to
his room. He felt such great relief that
the worst was over, that he was con-
scious of a sensation akin to happiness.
He sat down by the table and wrote a
letter to Pauline, telling her the whole
story in as few words as he could, and
then he stopped to think. At last, he
simply signed his name to the comics
sion, addressed the letter, and carried it
out to the letter-box on the corner. he
saw the postman coming up the street,
saw him unlock the box and slip his
letter along with rest into the bag. She
would get It that evening, He smiled.
He believed that she would cling to him
in spite of every thing. Slowly he
walked 10 the house, past it, on toward
the East river, stroling about aimlessly
until twilight Mrs. Terry heard him
come in, and she met him in the hall.
"Hugh, - she said "do you know this
is Paulne's birthday"
, "Whv, 1 had forgotten it, but she is
coming here, isn't sheP Mr. Kane told
me. D, it was secret, l was to be sur
prised. Well no matter, I'll make be.
: lleve be surprised"
Mrs. Terry thrust a note into his
J hand, "Read it" she said, and he read
it, You see what she says, cried Mrs
Terry in anger, land she promised she q
be here, and | went and made a cake
and got candies to stick around it, the
, more fool mel might have known shC
didn't care any thing about US She
/, deceiyng you and me and every body
"She promised to be hereP' he said.
} Eyes, and she was so pleased, anc
YOU WASH to know; and there Mr.. Kane
has gone and got some flowers for her
5 o, could shake her, Hugh"
} No, Pauline is with Miss Berryan anC
Prosper at the Academy, DelmonIco's 5,
anywhere but in the grimy boarding
house celebrating her birthday. AnC
Hugh goes to seek her, to look once
more at her flower-lke face before doing
, what? Fate, however, ordains il
otherwise, for Hugh meets with an acc
, dent as he leaves the opera-house, anC
is taken almost lifeless to Mrs. Terry S
: where Pauline is summoned as she fin
} ishes read NC Hugh's despairing letter
| The awakening the repentance, the re-
l wing love which has never really died
bring Pauline swiftly to her senses, anc
) it is at Hugh's bedside that the truth Of
1 it all dawns on them both.
Yes he said, I'VE must keep to.
/ geiher, come what may"
They looked at each other as they
stood there. 1t was here that they had
first come face to face; here that they
t had first exchanged glance and a
5 smile. 1t seemed so long ago; they ha
! grown so old and careworn since. Then
the future had held forth promises, and
now those promises had changed to re-
e grets. They went into the house, up
. the stairs, and in the dusky hall where
e the had so often paused for fond
e goodnight, Hugh took her hand il
both of his.
g Shall it be tomorrow" he said
She put her arms around his neck anC
: laid her face upon his breast.
Yes, but it might have been so dlf
S ferent but for me. Boston SundGl
Herald.
II Health and Work,