The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-03-27

in heavy slumber new plan flashed
across his mind. He noiselessly and
quickly placed the lights in remote
corner of the room, and drew the house
keys from the pocket of the sleeping
man. He listened q moment; there
was not sound in the house. Hasten
ing to the hall, he found lying there the
great travelling coat and hat placed in
readiness for his father, and had put
these on just as the noise of the moving
carriage reached his ears. 1t required
but moment to unlock the great hall
door, and in another moment, aided by
the obscurity, he had relocked it and
jumped into the coach undecided by
the waiting coachman. The man shut
the door without a word, having evil
IDENTITY received instructions in the aft
ernoon and drove away. 1t had all hap
pened in ten minutes. He was free
man, and driving to the house of his be-
loved ,...
Godfrey's emotion rs the coach
stopped before Mistress Dwight's door
may be imagined Ellen was prepared
and came out speedily, accompanied by
a servant who, throwing dim illumi-
nation from his lantern into the inte-
rior, enabled her to take a seat at the
remotest angle from the supposed
colonel The carriage moved off God
frey said not a word during some min
utes, though every breath in the dark,
close warmth of the interior, where she
breathed also, was like a perfume from
heaven. The wheels ratified outside
with dull noise; he looked into the OBJ
security without to satisfy himself that
they were following the Calvert Hill
road. At the next instant Ellen spoke.
What means this strange night
journey, Colonel Carter, if that is you
sitting there in the dark 50 silentlyP"
she asked.
at means wedding, Ellen, if thou
art willing"
Godfrey here too?'' she cried.
None but l alone, he said; and in
a moment she was in his arms.
1t makes me young again, thinking
on thesetwo lovers so joyously reunited,
even in the teeth of destiny (but perhaps
by the furtherance of a yet deeper des
tiny nor need |, having shown then
so well advanced in their good fortune
follow them further along their jour
ney. Not until the end did their driver
discover his mistake, and they were
then at the minister's door on Calvert
Hill. ~.
Parson MacFinster was much taker
[ aback when he found who awaited hin
in his parlor.
81 have come to tell thee, Parsor
MacFinster, that my father made a mis-
take, said Godfrey, without waste o
words; "and see here, have brought {
double purse of gold to convice thee o
, it. -.. .... 9s... .....I ..-
"a double purse of gold is grea
: help to conviction" answered the par
: son, recovering his countenance; "anC
since the proyerb says all is fair in low,
! and war-and this seems to partak,
r somewhat of BOTH am your obedien
: servant, at your service, D
, Then marry me speedily" sait
Godfrey, 'to this young lady, Mistres
Ellen Edgeworth, and thank God she j
/ a more willing bride than one or tw'
that report says have come here" Cos.
Months afterward Colonel Anthem,
Carter forgave his son, and the famil,
> were reunited at Christmas dinner
/, where fair Ellen behaved in such ad
1 mirabe spirit toward the colonel tina
3 his forgiveness at once ceased to b.
: perfunctory, and became genuine. HI
Z kissed her heartily, saying he liked he
: better as a daughter than as q wife
f and from that day they were boo
: friends. Al.
And the Inexplicable Messenger ]
: is here, hanging over the desk at whic
q | write. Colonel Carriers sword-can
/ has descended to me, his granddaughter
q with one thin little love-note actually i
+ place in that narrow cavity where tn
9 sword enters-the same note that hav
a copied. Slipping outinto the hall wher
o the cane stood, perhaps hundred year
@ ago this very night, fair Ellen or gallar
! Godfrey would withdraw one littl
@ missive and substitute another, the
n hasten back with bated breath into tn
i lighted room, thus making the unsul
# pecting colonelsin his daily visits carrie
l. of the very mail he was so solicitous {
h intercepting.-Xenos Clark, IN Harper
e WeeEIy.