The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-01-09


some day should know all, and would
then see that her burden was greater
than mine, and acknowledge that she
had acted for the best. was thunder
struck by this ambiguous letter, and
stunned with the grief it bore. sat
for hours, endeavoring to unravel the
tangled skein, imagining everything
indulging in all sorts of conjectures and
mental vagaries. l wrote letter after
letter, but all were returned unopened,
and finally came to the conclusion
that had been cleverly victimized by
coquette. 1t was bitter-as bitter as
worm-wood. After all my dreams and
fancies, my romantic ideas, my charm
ing love speeches, and my tender letter,
to admit that it had all been q mockery
and a deluded fool
Shortly afterwards Twas seized with
fever and confined to my bed for
several weeks. Upon my recovery |
packed up my traps and came East. l
went to her home in Philadelphia, that
l might meet her face to face, and de-
mand an explanation; but the house
was closed and inquiry disclosed the
fact that the family had gone abroad, to
return no one knew when. Disheart-
ened by this decided to accept cor
respondents commission to the West
Indies and Mexico. when my father
died, leaving me this and other prop
erty. l then resolved to come here and
live away from the world In queer
society, 1 admit, but infinitely superior
to that shallow-minded, false-hearted,
slangerous and negative mass of hui
mainly the word calls society /
disliked it always. l abhorred it then, as
l do now. 1t seemed false and hollow
before. knew it to be empty then.
My business is all in the hands of an
agent. The world knows that l exist,
because the itch for scribbling has not
left me. Few know where am, and
there are not many who would suppose
for an instant that plain Dick Benham,
Bohemian, is Richard Benham, owner
of the Benham block, etc. That is my
story. A trife sad, perhaps, doubtless
tiresome. There has been no sequel,
there may never be. The years have
failed to bring it, and have lost all
hope"
At this juncture tired knock was
heard at the door, and in response to an
invitation to enter, the door was OPEN
ed just enough to admit the diminutive
form of a tattered urchin.
please sir" said this strange and un-
couth visitor, tearfully and hurriedly,
addressing Dick, would We be so kind
as to come to our room, if it is no trOu'
bleP Mither's in an awful strait"
"Why, certainly" said gen erous
hearted Dick, in his kindly manner
adding aside in an answer to my in
curing look, "poor creatures, / try t
alleviate their sufferings rs much as
can, much to the disgust of my agent;
but they seem doomed to poverty ant
misfortune. But come, Lyn, our youns
friends growing impatient"
Through cherries, dimly-hghted cor
ridors, and up dark stairways, w
CROPPED our way, until we reached tn
upper story of the tenement, and wer
ushered into poorly-lighted and poor
ly-furnished room by our tattered guide
In the semi-darkness we found poo
woman with babe at her breast and
child of three clinging to her sleeve
crouching before a sorry stove that con
tanned small fire, wholly insufficient
for comfort. In dilapidated rocker
near the one small window the place a.
forded, sat a well-dressed lady, who's
face we could not see, and by her side
staid appearing parsonage stood q
erect as pine. Her servant, no doub
Before us was thin, bent and wizene
specimen of humanity, with an evil fac
and cruel eye, who rubbed his bon
hands together with a cracking SCUM
and said harshly, as we entered;
"No use, no use. You must get OF
of this, and tonight at that. I've give
you weeks time; more than you d
served, and now, unless the money
forthcoming at once, out you 60"
"What, into such night as this!" e1
claimed Dick.
Eyes, into such night as this, If it
| any of your business said the othC
sharply; and could see that Die
cherished strong inclination to kiC
him.
IF you can, and will wait until NOR
ing, will pay her rent Unfortunate
| left my purse at home" said the lac
! of the rocker in a low, sweet voic
Dick started and nervously clutching n
arm, looking eagerly at her, striving
catch glimpse of her face.
mo" snarled the collector, ISL
e goes tonight, and it will be good ri
dance"
? "She stays, you flint-he arted wretc
land if you dare to eject her I'll thro
}, you down stairs, " Numbered Dick, b
d form trembling and his blue eyes BLAIR
Y with anger.
!, The lady in the rocker turned sudde
e ly, and could see, through the glool
d that hers was beautiful face, but 81
If and careworn.
a The collector stared at him in dun
surprise. "Brave words, brave wore
d my fine gentleman" said he with
a sneer, perhaps you don'tknow who
" am"
= Eyes, 1 know you well, Silas Uphal
1t miser, coward and scoundrel, who liy
,, by the falls and misfortunes; W
l,,,ll.oc l. .,-o,,,o,, o,,I ~ =,