The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-10-23

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sumed his chair by the table, opened
his book at the card, and read on in ST.
lence for an hour. Then he inserted
the card between the leaves where he
had left of, closed and put away his
book and prepared for lecture. As
Percy passed out into the little entry,
Edward laughed, slipped the card a
few pages toward the front for the sec
ond time, and was rewarded by his con-
federates' applauding smiles.
This went on for weeks. Edwards
amazement deepened, and Walter and
Will looked at him, at each other, and
at Percy in plying incredulity. The
question began to assail them all as to
whether they had any right to continue
such farce. Finally, VIII broke the
spell by asking:
'Percy, how do you like reading
anatomy"
'Its very nice, )" drawled Percy; "but
don't you think it's-a~ IeetIe-mO"otO-
n0uSP"
AS the story-writers say, 1--WE draw
vail over the climax" that is,
we would, if this were the end But,
when the fit of hysterical laughter
greeting this speech had subsidized
boys do laugh Historically sometimes
Walter challenged the victim thus:
IN bet you don't know the name of
a single bone you've read about"
IN bet do!' declared Percy, vehe-
mently.
name it, then"
"The-Peter-y -goidr' enunciated Per-
cy, decidedly, with the accent on the y.
"The-what?' cried the mystified
trio.
''The-Peter-y-goid!' repeated Percy,
firmly.
What does he meanp" queried viii,
turning to Edward.
"Tll show vou," blurted out poor
Percy, his pink face growing positively
red, as he snatched the big book from
the table and tore it open. "There!m
he exclaimed in triumph, as he pointed
to single word in italics.
"Pterygoid.'
(Which, for the information of I'M
learned readers, l will state should be
pronounced terygoid, with the accent
on the ter. The name is applied to a
part of one of the bones of the skulD.
Climax! This time we do "draw q
vail"
Percy was, then, hopelesSly stupid, a
natural-born "luny." That fact had
been demonstrated henceforth it was
quite allowable to make his harmless
life just as miserable as possible. Recog-
nized sovereignty soon became actual,
and actual sovereignty was shared with
Edward by Walter and Will, for Percy
proved a docile fag to all. He BACKED
boots and run errands to perfection.
True, all commands were disguised by
such sugar coatings as please" or
That's a good fellow" but they were
none the less commands. Edward was
happy The atmosphere suited him ex-
actly. He could live with real boys, and
at the same time receive the ministra-
tons which he had Lag been used to
from girls.
And what of these girls, his sisters,
all these monthsP Oh, they thought OF
him often. The pretty keepsakes, the
attectionate letters, passing from the old
farmhouse to the city, amply proved
that. But Edward took these testimo.
mails of his sisters regard just as he had
taken all previous ones, as mere mat
ter of course. One evening a letter
came from Lucy, which was destined
to make a sensation. 1t appeared that
she was going to be married, and fol
love. She had imbibed some beautiful
and, to her, new ideas, and had begun
to realize the true dignity of the human
soul. And kindly, sweetly, tenderly
she endeavored to help her brother
toward something of a similar realiza-
ton. 1t was just such a letter, from 6
good woman, as any honorable man
ought TO prize more than a casket o.
rare jewels.
Now, what do you suppose Edward
did with that letter? Why he called
his three chums around the table, anC
when they were seated, proceeded de-
lberately to read it aloud to them. MOI
apprecatively, not reverently, not hum
bly,, as though he were scarce worthy
of such disinterested affection-not gen
erously, as though his companions, like
himself, were boys who were away from
their sisters, and needed all the hell
that good woman could give
them. Far from it. He read tina
sacred letter as though he welC
reciting some ridiculous travesty-
read it as good ioke-anC
wound up with a laugh boisterously
loud, and the remark:
isis is getting sentimental; she mus
have been reading novels. Wonder
she forgot to wash the dshes!'
Edward looked at Walter and VIII anC
saw upon their faces what he had eX
pected, smiles of approval. OF course
they would agree with their superior
friend. But nothing short of the super
natural could have prepared him TO,
Percy's aspect, Itwas terrible to behold
The boy had sprung to his feet, anC
now, drawn to his full height, stood
confronting Edward, like an aveng
ing fate His white hair, will
his abnormally red face, involv
UNFAIRLY suggested to all, a beacon ligh