The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-01-23

| DO LnlS ReHIciuhu is an dcQualnL-
ance of yours, is hep"
The newcomer blushed crimson. 81
Il have seen him, she answered, eva
sively.
Then perhaps you'll explain him,
said Dick. still indignant, ''for he goes
beyond me. Is he always as startling
and dramatic in his style as he is to-
night?"
II don't know" getting still more
covered with confusion under their
gaze. I've never-never met him,
but believe he-he lives opposite"
''Ahal Lives opposite, does he?
begin to smell MICE" said slangy
Dick. "Well, Miss Bell, judging from
the murder-and-shadow business Just
now, can't say think he's very de-
sirable acquaintance for damsel all
forlorn."
"Oh, Belt I do hope you haven't
been doing anything imprudent, alone
by yourself here" murmured the other
girl, with an elder-sisterly readiness to
distrust the wisdom of her junior.
"Ofcour haven't Clara" retorted
Bell, flash of anger in her blue eyes
showing that she was not at all celestial.
Wyllis was finding the situation I'M
bearable. He felt like fool, and feared
he must look like one. And this in the
presence of the divinity whom he had
for weeks been adoring! He clasped his
hat convulsively and struck into the con-
versation.
"Allow me to explain! II think
can make it all clear"
II wish you would, then, for give
it up" said Dick. "Wait minute,
though! If you're sure you're not
wrong anyway" and he looked signifi-
cant, suppose you just sit down while
you tell us the conundrum. Might as
well take it easy, ehP Don't be afraid,
girls, in stage aside, I'm between
him and you"
Wyllis, for all his evil temper, glared
at the irrepresssble Dick, but accepted
his invitation, and began an explana-
ton which was interrupted by frequent
peals of laughter from that young man.
$50 you thought l wanted to murder
herP" he exclaimed. II say, Clara, if
that's the way our spooning looks to
outsiders"
But here Clara swept down upon him
wrathfully and reduced him to silence
When the story was finished and they
had exchanged cards Dick said thought
fully: "Are you anything to Eugene
WylliS, of Philadelphia; l see you spell
your name the same way with y"
YES" said Wyllis, eagerly, II have
cousin Eugene Wyllis in Philadelphia
He is in the grain business.
That's the man. Why, l know him
very well. Let's see, now" continued
Dick, suggestively, ''if you know any
other friends of miner"
"Who are some of your friends?"
asked Wyllis, overjoyed at this unex-
pected opening of better knowledge
of the Shadow.
Dick began to run over some names
of acquaintance common to himself
and Eugene Wyllis, and at the third
Arthur Wyllis stopped him.
tom Rutherford and l are old
chums," he said. Here is letter l got
from him yesterday. Read it-no,
really, / insist as favor to me-"
mo, no; that would be carrying the
joke little too far, " said Dick, returning
the letter, but not before his quick eye
had discerned both address and sigma
ture. "Well, Mr.. Wyllis," he went on,
humorously, I" references exchanged,
as the advertisements say. My names
Richard Ellery, Familiarity called Dick;
my occupation that of commission mer-
chant As for my charms of mind and
person, your cousin or Tom Rutherford
will describe them to you in the glowing
colors modesty forbids me use. This, ="
waving his hand, showman-wise, sis
Miss Clara Deane, with whom ] hope
some day to form matrimonial ALI
ance, the same young lady you fancied
l wanted tn muir. But never mind
that now! And ELSEWHERE are you,
BellP-this is our little sister Isabel, who
has been living here for the last three
months, cultivating a fancied talent for
music, as you may perceive by her piano
there. But I forgot, the pianos sensi-
tive subject for you, too"
II think, Dick" put in Isabel Deane,
with some haste, "while you are ex-
planning things you might as well ex-
plain to me how you appeared here so
suddenly, like"
"Like the handsome prince in the
fairy taleP"
mo, more like the horrid clown in
the pantomime!'
my dear child" responded Dick,
loftily ignoring the retort, ''the question
you propose would be an affair of time
and difficulty. We should have to in
quire into the first causes of things, the
principles of steam and motion, as well
as the springs that move the human
mind"
"Oh! Dick, how can you be so tire
somep" interrupted Clara, laughing.
"Why can't you tell her that when
you knew was going to visit her you
made up your mind to take me by
surprised"
Their bantering talk formed a sort Of
running commentary, explaining all the