The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-03-27
SO INEXPlICABLE.
The Messenger" Which Favored a
Loving Couple.

Sitting in my fireside chair, have
often told the story of the '1nexplicable
Messenger for the benefit of some Wis
itor, while my grandchildren listened
to its well-known mysteries with an in
terest that seemed hardly lessened by
familiarity. To-day some touch of youth
coming to old age warns my heart to
the world, and l feel like giving my tale
to awider circle. E#.tt
My great-uncle, Colonel Anthony
Carter, during the later years of last
century occupied the house in which l
now live. p was then one of the
most active in commerce Of second-rank
provincial cities. The house stood in the
aristocratic quarter of the town, and
was built in the mansion style, light vel
low in color, with four very fat white
pilasters up the front and white balus-
Trade around the edge Of the roof, from
whose center rose one great square
chimney. A considerable yard snr-
rounded it, and other mansions of like
sedate elegance stood neighbors to it
along the same select street. lww go
My great-uncle, in brief, was a chief
nabob of the town. He had seen the
world, and meant to enjoy life in solid
fashion; he was especially set in the
pursuit of any object upon which his
desire had fixed, being a man whose
temper could bear no constraint or
thwarting. Formany years he had been a
widower, and almost the only one of his
4 desires left ungratitied=@for he had pub
lie station and honor as well as private
wealth-was the desire for very hand
some young wife, clever, well-bred,
possessed Of property, of good family
name, % member in his church, and in
every way worthy Aof the station in
which he should place her. All these
qualifications he insisted on; he would
have nothing less In the ordinary
course of events the.chances were almost
infinite against obtaining such a prize,
but the fortune that had favored him in
3. other things seemed to bless him here
In one Of the neighboring mansions
:. dwelt Mistress Mary Dwight, with her
niece, Ellen Edgeworth, and upon this
niece Colonel Carter had fixed his eyes.
He, had watched her through the last
years of girlhood. until now she stood
before him charming young, woman.
Lovely Ellen beauty was of that quail
ity which can not submit.to the conyen-
tional comparison, with flowers. She
was all spirited vivacity, and her adj
mirers seemed to see the blood circulate
q in her veins When the old man COM
plimented her on the street, she did not
hang blushingl face, but answered
wittily back with brave, merry, but, oh,
how lovely eyes and well uplifted head
To every manly and worthy heart that
saw her she was challenge to win her
for those were days of honest gallantry
now must tell you fair Ellen Edge.
worth's secret A month before Colo
mel Carter began his courtship she haG
met her fate and fallen desperately il
love in three days with a Young gentle
man whom She had known in child
hood, but who had just returned from 8
longYoyage, after years of absence. ]
deem that dangerous moment wher
young children brought up familiarly
together as children meet after separa
ton to recognize in each other tn,
change to womanhood and manhood
Ellen's lover was almost worthy of hi
Incompatible good fortune. In person
he was no other than Coloner Carter
only son, a young man whose vein
held much of his fathers lively blood
so that You see my tale contains all tn,
elements of q troublesome domesti
tragedy. But can promise thatn blooC
was spilled, and that the Inexplicabl
Messenger was neither kidnaper no
sheriff. Godfrey Carter was youn!
person of temperament as spirited a
fair Ellen's, 1t is needless, then, TO sa
that the love which had budded, bios
somed and confessed itself in so brief
time was no tr nquil affection, but al
absorbing passion that dominated thei
free young natures like a wizards mas
ter spell. Il t.t-....,y1
OF all this the red-faced, determine
colonel knew nothing until the da
when he announced authoritatively t
his son his intended marriage to Mis-
Edgeworth. by her aunt's permission
Then young Godfrey, though a dutifu
son, spoke bravely up and told his Sc
cret, begging his father 10 think twic
before laying siege to a lady twent
wears his Junior who had already give
her heart away. and that to his ow
son. These iniudicious words stirre
the colonel to the foundations. "Loo