The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-08-28

ride through the forest road to church,
and return. Walter noticed her re-
served manner and misinterpreted it.
"She, too, mistrusts me-" he said to
himself, as he sat upon his favorite
block behind the barn. "They all sus-
pect me; they all think me thief;
they all think me a murderer Pinkey
mistrusts me with the rest. Oh! what
have | done to deserve this?" he
groaned.
As he sat there he wondered if the
great and good Father, who watches
over all, had forsaken him. That
saintcd mother, who now slept in her
grave, had taught him when.a child to
: call on the Lord in his hour of trouble
and He would not forsake him. Walters
heart was full and he prayed to God to
have mercy on him and bring him out
| pure through this fiery ordeal. All was
dark; no star could be seen in the hOri
zon. Walter moved and acted like one
in dream.
One afternoon Pinkey Miles put on
! her calico sun-bonnet, which made her
Sweet face and dark eyes more beauti
full than ever, and went across the field
to the hut of her Uncle Daniel Hodge,
who was in reality a pensioner on Mr..
Miles bounty. She found Uncle Dan
lei and Aunt Margaret in the kitchen,
the good old man sitting in his favorite
| armchair with his stout cane in his
hand. Aunt Margaret was pairing APP
pies, her round pink face showing but
few wrinkles, and the neat old-fash-
toned cap making the good old woman
look pretty.
Good mornin', good mornin',
Pinkey; bless your soul, come in and
have a.seat," said Uncle Dan as she
came to the door.
"Why, Pinkey," said the old lady,
show glad am to see ye; do come in
and have a seat You must be tired
crossin' the fields"
80, no, Aunt Margaret, am not, "
Binkey answered, a smile on her beau
tiful face. "a walk across the field,
which can't be more than mile at
most, doesn't weary me.
"Well, well, set down anyhow, and
tell me all the news. What's the latest
from BuShVilleP'
There is nothing, Uncle Dan" said
Pinkey
"How's Mr.. Brown gettip'e"
"Better; we all think he'll be able &c
90 about soon," said Pinkcy, her eyes
dropping sadly at the mention of the
wounded Californian's name.
''Hev they never found the man
what did it?" asked Aunt Margaret.
mo"
"That does all seem strange, some
how" said Uncle Dan, shaking hi,
head, knowingly. 81 can't understand
it all, but it will come out all right
Z reckon"
''Are they still trying to find the
7 men?n asked Aunt Margaret.
81 presume they are. The sheriff il
at our house consulting with father anC
$ Mr.. Brown every few days" saiC
Pinkey. As she spoke her beautiful
l dark eyes were bent upon the floor.
"Hev We heard what the people have
been saying about yer handP" askeC
Aunt Margaret.
"WhoP" asked Pinkey, as her hear
S gave a great leap. She unsuccessful,
i feigned ignorance.
T "Why, Walter Brownfeld."
t mo" she answered, yet her con
S science smote her. She almost felt a
: if she had spoken falsely, She knew
d not why. The rumor was in the all
s she knew it, yet it had failed to reac
her ear in any distinct form.
e "What about him?" asked Uncl
r Dan.
Y "They say as how he did it," an
l. swered Aunt Margaret.
e did whatP" And Uncle Dan spok
l. harshly. He was not cross to Aun
o Margaret. But he just betrayed tn
), least anxiety to know what some on
n had said, with the preconceived ide
e of denying it.
d "Why, that he knocked the stranger
l. Mr.. Brown, down, with the intentio
e of robbing him.
W Uncle Dan sprang to his feet an
h brought his cane down on the hoo
10 with whack, that threatened to eithC
n break it or drive it through.
n Don't repeat that again, mother,
l. he said. "lts all false. know it
r. false, and it's almost same as lynn
d repeat what lynn tongue has sale
Of Walter Brownfeld is a gentleman, an
d the equal of anybody in the land.
h cloud hangs over him now, | feel it,
1t know it, and so does he, but l predit
D. that he will rise above this adyersit,
s. and come out as gold that has passe
ID through the fiery furnace. "
10 Pinkey looked at Uncle Daniel. {
he how she thanked him for those word
m How she wished she could proclaim h
prediction from the house-tops, to a
ID the world! 1t was what she herse
to felt, but dared not utter.
ii Uncle Daniel had unknowingly e
I'd pressed her very thoughts; as 81
IN turned her large beautiful eyes upo
rt the old man, the unbidden tea
re flowed down her cheeks. Au
be Margaret was alarmed, and ask
as what was the matter, but this was
joyous grieftoo sacred to be shared,