The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-01-09
HEARTS OF GOLD.
Made for Each Other, They Were
United at Last.

fancy that I can see him now almost
as plainly as did when he told me the
story five long years ago. He lounged
in the depths of a large easy chair before
the CRATE, his arm resting carelessly up
on table covered with letters, the fin
gers of his right hand wandering nerv-
Ously through Insight hair, as he pushed
1t upward and away from his high and
intellectual forehead. The freight lent
charm to the room, imparting a glow
to his kindly and not unhandsome face,
and his eyes, the very embodiment of
dreaminess, reflected the light.
twas cold night, piercing cold, one
Of the bleakest of the season, in fact. A
terrible storm was raging outside, rat
ting doors and windows, and sending
keen draughts of cold air through every
available crevice. The street lamps
threw out titful CLEANS, Pickering in the
night wind, as if there was no encour-
agement, whatever, in Illuminating the
almost deserted thoroughfares, when
the mercury sought the bulb of the Their
mometer, and the winter blast shrieked
and hOwled and moaned as it swept by.
Dick Benham's coy apartments in the
second story of downtown block, of
which he was owner, were then fa-
Vorite haunt of mine, and on this par
ticular night had dropped in toNenjoy
q game of euchre and social chat, al
ways including the inevitable social
smoke. found him seated at the table,
reading over some old letters and con-
signing not few of them to the flames.
He was not himself, but moody, reserved
and abstracted; so much so that after a
painful silence of fully fifteen minutes
duration l tidgeted about, kicked the
tongs vicously, and muttered something
to the effect that he was confoundedly
entertaining.
pardon me, I.yn, old fellow" said he,
rousing himself. II was thinking deep
ly, and forgot everything"
'1ndeed! Thinking of what, prayp
"0f story, an DER true tale-too
true, in fact" he replied, with hall
sigh.
Good l cried briskly, "tell it me,
mine host. You are always capital
story teller. and Ihave the enviable fame
of being Il good listener"
"You viii find it tame and wearisome
fear" he said, smiling at my manner
but l insisted and lighting cigar he
settled himself in his chair again, and
looked thoughtfully into the fire. His face
grew darker, and his brows knit them
selves into Il frown.
ut is not a long story, " he said, a
length, "but its depth is Unreasonable
Those letters contain aportion of it, ant
l am gradually reducing them to ashes
that itmay be easier to forget. All, If W,
poor mortals could only forget as readi
ly as we forgive, there would be more
sunshine in our lives 1t was abou
four years ago that l met Alice Lake
while l was up in the Adirondacks
writing and sketching for the maya
zines. | had been accustomed to lool
at women through ultra-critical eyes,
and maintained supreme indifference
toward the fair sex in general. Blu
when Imet her, my armor of indiffer
ence was pierced; my critical eyes de
fed, and 1 found that l had met
woman who could be all in all to me
She was handsome, refined, sensibl
and womanly, woman with mind
in fact, all that could ask; and havin
found my ideal, yielded and pal
court to her. l was always at her side
Almost devoted cavalier, and delighte
in sketching her fair face. Indeed, m
employers began to complain mildly
saying that my sketches of types of tn
opposite sex were well executed an
natural, but had a tiresome degree
sameness- advising me to hunt up
new model by way of change.
"Well, proposed, was accepted, an
she named the day. A year seemed
long time, but l consoled myself
thinking of the happiness awaiting me-
poor fool About this time | was sci
on junketing tour through Colorad
Z Wyoming and the Yellowstone countr,
The postal service suffered at our hand
you NAV be sure, and spent many
happy hour by the camp fire. after
day of extensive rambling, reading al
re-reading her dear letters, and fame
ing that could see her dear face in Il
embers, But one day a letter cam
bearing an entirely unexpected bUrde
Of sorrow. 1t contained my ring and
brief note 10 the effect that after matu