The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-09-04

verge OF despair. There was even
pleasure in the sadness that burdened
his soul.
While standing thus he heard faint
rustic in the path behind him, and
turning quickly about, he was aston
ished to find himself face to face with
Pinkey Miles. She uttered a low cry
and was in the act of turning to fly,
"Pinkey, Pinkey- Miss Miles, do
not be alarmed, it is l." said Walter,
in low, earnest voice.
"Why are you herePn she asked,
after moments silence.
i staid near here last night, Pinkey
excuse me for unwonted familiarity
i mean Miss Miles, and came here
to see the sun rise, and have a look at
the old place once more, before leay-
ing it perhaps forever. | did not eX-
pect to meet any of the family, much
less yourself"
Pinkey's dark eyes were downcast,
and an expression of the deepest sad
ness stole over her face, and u mo-
ments silence ensued.
Forgive me, Miss Miles, for tres
passing on your fathers grounds; !
had no evil intentions, and assure you
this will be the last time"
care you going away from Bush
ville?' Pinkey at length asked, with
just a little anxiety in her tone.
Il shall soon, Miss Miles. | have
suffered more in Preston Flat than /
ever thought human could endure; it
seems that here | have no friends. NV
every act and thought are miscon-
strued, and am regarded with suspi-
cion by all. Were | the greatest Grim
inal on earth, people would not regard
me with more suspicion, | know,
Pinkey-fO forgive me for calling you ry
that name-but l know you have heard
these rumors. They are false; l sweaE
to you by all my hopes of Heaven thai
they are false. | care not what Others
may believe of me am innocent
Il know it, the girl said, hardly able
to repress her rising tears.
THANK Heaven for that! o, that
your father could only believe it, too.
HE would but for one thing, Wal.
ter" said Pinkey.
"What is that" asked the youth,
eagerly. If | only knew | might
convince him of my innocence"
at is one circumstance, and only
one by which you are suspected by fa.
Their. On the night of the attack on
Mr., Brown, when father rescued him
he inquired for you, and brother JOIN
and Ben as soon as he came home
You were not here, and came in al
hour or so after the wounded mans ar
rival. That was late at night, and W.
all supposed you in bed.n
"Pinkey, | will tell you and mus
ask your pardon as l do so, If cal
convince you of my innocence l car,
not what the world may think. l coulC
not sleep that night-my soul seemet
on fire. The cause was yourself, ant
the utter hopelessness of my ever be
ing worthy of you. | arose ant
slipped down the stairway unseen, an,
almost unconsciously | followed th
forest road to the school-house, alon
which we-or WAS so happy return
ing from church. Each tree and shru'
there seemed dear to nae. | lingere
long by the way. My thoughts wer
of you, and Heavens, ii | could hay
died that night, how much better j
would have been. How much miser
!. l would have been spared.
The reader may smile at Walter, ye
how many have had experiences sim
liar to this. Many are the long lone
some walks taken by the lover, dow
wooded paths, perhaps grown dear b.
tender associations. In after life sue
things are regarded as among the fol
lies of youth; yet at the time they ar
realities, giving the most intense pleas
urc or pain.
Walter paused a moment after hay
ing concluded the above, striving f
, meet the eyes of the timid girl befoi
2 him; he said:
'Pinkey, what ! have told you is tn
, truth. | never intended to tell an
, mortal of that nights walk; ] wou
not tell another even if | should han
| for crime | never committed. Nor
dear to me than life itself are homo
{ and the knowledge that you believ
me innocent. The time will come, an
5 soon, too, when the world will know
t am innocent; but | will perhaps not b
| alive then. | want to know now
5 Pinkey, do you believe me innocent?
Il do she answered, with emodo
and earnestness. 81 know you nj
e only to be innocent of crime, bI
? manly and honorable
/ Thank you! Now farewell, pc
= haps forevorw He took her little hanC
G which trembled. within his own a mC
/. ment Pinkey's head was turned ava!
1 for she dared not let him see the tea
c in her eyes.
1 When next she looked Walter W.
e gone. He had disappeared in the 70
1 est and was hurrying away to Busl
vile. Brushing the tears aside, PinkC
# went across the field to Uncle Daniel
/ house, whittier she was going when 81
met Walter
|. [To BE Continued
t, Divorces in France.