The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-04-03


who, because he can't get a loving
glance from pair of bright eyes,
threatens vengeance upon the pretty
orphan and sick mother and so forth.
That's the diagnosis, ehP' said the doc
tor, with mischievous smile. "Come,
come! in these days that sort of wOoing
isn't the thing. There's no romance
in that as Tom Hood says. But your
letter was addressed in a masculine
hand. Haven't you big brother, now,
who can set things rightP"
mo, doctor" this time with fiery
blush. "It-you see-well, mother can
not write without difficulty, and she had
friend of ours write for her"
"Ah, yes, / see. Nothing more
proper. And now l am awfully inquisi-
tive, but l always insist upon learning
all the symptoms. In this case allow
me my prerogative as a doctor. In
short, who is your young friend?"
81 did not say he was young, doctor.
Really YOU are too bad. He-well, his
name is John Redwood, and he owns a
small farm near ours. He is not
wealthy, but"
"But will be if he keeps on in the in
dustrious way he has started, of course;
that is what you were going to say"
broke in the listener. "Of course, he
could not raise the money, and equally,
of course, you could not ask him to do
So"
Certainly, we could not think of such
thing replied the schoolmistress,
Both sat silent for few minutes. The
doctor finally spoke in his CHEEKY way.
"Well, my dear, I've been in a brown
study-though this is an uncommonly
bright one to-day and | think we will
dismiss the subject for the present.
Only let me say this, think see a way
out of the woods. Now here is bun
die of | don't know what, odds and
ends, suppose. You will find, think,
some Congressional autographs among
them, some old deeds, perhaps, and l
don't know what not.
perhaps shall find some nuggets
for you," said the schoolmistress, as she
began asserting the papers.
Annie Lyster was the teacher of the
village school IT, Oldfeld, deli ghtful
Connecticut hill town, and had become
so great favorite with the eccentric,
kind-hearted doctor, that it was now
the regular thing for her to spend her
Saturdays and Sundays at his home-a
welcome relief from her boarding place.
The doctor had given up active practice,
and enjoyed life of leisure at his
quaint country mansion, indulging his
antiquarian and literary tastes. The
bright young school mistress was a
ready assistant, delighting to be Of SER
vice to her kindly host. She found this
morning, in the miscellaneous lot of
letters and documents a rich mine.
There was page of John Randolph S
plain and precise hand, carefully pune
tuated, part of an article which he had
published in the National HateiHgencer;
then some ancient copies of deeds, OF
small value as autographs, even a note
in the dainty hand of Edward Everett,
accepting an invitation to dine; there
was letter from Edward Stanley tc
Henry A. Wise, asking advice about q
deed. This she had to read to the doc,
tor, who looked up from his manuscript
simply to say: "Good auto-indeX it, y
and resumed his quill. She took up g
sheet, glanced at it, her eyes widened
anI she gave an exclamation of sur
prise.
The doctor resignedly laid down Iii,
pen Found a gem?" he asked.
''Not exactly; but isn't it strangel
Here's a letter addressed to COlone
Holmes, of Rockbury. He was the
father of Mr.. Holmes. who holds tn,
fatal mortgage"
"Eh!" calculated the doctor and thel
after moments reflection he said
/ "Not so strange after all. You Sc,
there is or rather was, doctor up Their
whom | knew years ago, and is dea(
now, | believe-Dr. Merrell-perhap,
| you remember him. We keptup DIES
ultory sort of correspondence. HI
7 knew my passion for old furniture
[ and few years ago he sent me an ole
} secretary which he picked up some
' where. There were some old paper
t in it, which | must have put in tina
+ bundle of odds and ends"
She handed him slip of paper whicl
Q he glanced at and then studied attenti
D vely,
g Miss Lyster," said he in a bushes
a tone. She was all attention. "Whel
did your father die?"
d -Four years ago, Sir, in August"
2 "You said your mother thought tina
J, mortgage had been paid?"
e That is what we supposed, but h
S was never very communicative to u
Il upon business affairs. p"
|! "Well, ! believe twas paid. Didvo
n read this paper carefully? OF cours
II you did not. This is a receipt fror
o Israel Holmes-that's your 'Colont
Holmes | suppose-to Abram Lyste
e for the sum of $500, signed Aug. 4, is
u What could it have been for except tha
mortgageP This is important news, III
n dear. If your tyrannical money-lende
IL were aware of the existence of this littl
slip of paper he would not be so fierce
,e Now let him go ahead"
n 81 can not think that he knows of i