The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-03-27

me in the face, STRIP he cried, after the |
first exchange of words. II am in the
prime of life, and have never yet been
thwarted in purpose, and mean to
make that girl my wife. Find some
other sweetheart. / forbid you ever
meeting her again"
1t is not difficult to imagine that with
such elements in conflict the situation
in the two mansions soon grew very
tense; for elders in those days welded
an authority over youthful people that
they no longer possess. Miss Ellen was
compelled to receive the colonel's visit
every evening in her aunt's presence,
the colonel arriving in dress of ire
proachable splendor, carrying sword
cane, his constant companion on the
street, and wearing new cooked hat
that he rested on his knees while he
talked within. But he had his match in
black-eyed, rosy-cheeked Ellen, whose
spirit only grew the keener and more
buoyant under restraint, so that the
strong blooded colonel felt every nerve
tingling with desire to conquer her.
AS they sat decorously in the best room,
engaged with cards or with cake and
wine, this self-possesed, merry maiden,
without violating the code of politeness
one iot, made her sutton feel that she
was fenced about with shining swords
of wit, each one sheathed in gay
laugh. Her manner made little of his
condemnation of his sons attachment,
which he had bluntly expressed to her,
calling him "orash young lad who
stepped before his elders.n An I'M
daunted faith in the star of true love
laughed in her eyes, which showed a
constant carelessness of his authoritive
presence that pigued and challenged
the colonel more than aught else.
Thus Colonel Carter visited Mistress
Dwight and her niece daily for the space
of a month, the two lovers meanwhile
being prohibited meeting. AT the end
of second month they were not al
lowed to leave their own homes, where
trusty servants kept them under sur
veillance. 1t had come about in this
way. The colonel was counting on the
entire separation of the lovers for ex-
tinguishng the slight fancy, as he
deemed it, betweent them, when through
the faithlessness of servant he learned
that they had been exchanging notes as
often as twice day through the entire
, period of prohibition. The tone of the
particular note intercepted spurred the
inflamed colonel to instant action, as in
learning from it the obstinacy of his
sons PASSIONS he discovered how much
engaged was his own heart
But though confined to their homes,
though unable to communicate with one
soul outside, Godfrey and Ellen still
transmitted by the Inexplicable Messen.
ger their daily notes, ardent with such
words as love in constraint may pen.
Quick-eyed Ellen had discovered this
messenger, and given the hint to God
frey before their communication through
servants was cut off-a contingency hall
anticipated by them. Here is one of the
letters: g "a fat o.
"MY BELovED Your words, far dearer tC
me now than my own life, were brought yes
| terday by our ti1isty messenger; to-day he re
turns this from thine Ellen. Do not speak
Godfrey, OF our confinement: would wait &
lifetime for thee and count 1t little. You ask
what fare have / in passing the time but
truly 1t brings bushes to my cheek to think
how time passes, given all without wasted
minute to one constant, precious thought
and yet ] am aba he'd to tell thee this, bu
take sweet pleasure in robbiDg my owr
heart of its defenses. j breathe every breath
Godfrey, in thought of you Oh, what con
quered beatrice am /! And Vet / doubt il
your faith L thinks me u tanned spirit; for last
+ evening, when he came as customary on love
: intent, ard the WINE being set out, he shot tho
customary compliment ut me, l replied with
. | that laugh
[ such gallant words testified to manu- years II
! practice, and asked whether he thought the
ladies in the Brazils handsome when he Jour
neyed, there in his youth. But he bore ii est
"A hints toward his age bravely, and l admired
4 him forhis pluck, being your father, though
a cruel one, now. Dear Godfrey, with Il thou
2 sand embraces, Your faithful ELLEN"
: After a certain lapse of time the OBJ
2 duracy of the lovers began to perpleS
: the colonel and hsa ally, Mistress
t Dwight--a righteous old maid who
| thought young people born into the
, world solely for purposes of discipline
b! and abnegation. l do not know wha
t turn affairs might have taken if pryins
:; Mistress Dwight had not one day dis
. covered one of Ellen's letters, writer
: but not yet posted-the very one have
: Just given containing mention of tn,
/ "trusty messenger. - The scene wher
D she displayed her discovery to the col
= onel and when Miss Ellen was late
: called in for admonition in his presenc,
a was worthy of a Sheridan. Never be
| fore was the fair girl so brave, so gay
n SO careless; never the colonel so test,
Y and determined; never the aunt so prim
: A dozen times the aunt cried "Fie fie!'
e to the niece; who would bind herself t.
. no engagement against writing, bu
5 promised that they should hear when
n ever letter came, adding that itwoul,
S assUredly be daily. ..I
IS This promise, indeed, was kept
|; Every evening came the colonel dow
e street, cooked hat on head and cane il
C hand; and every evening Miss Ellie
d threw back her head with mischievou
e glance to tell him that she had bee
II pleased in learning of his son Godfrey
G welfare that day, and trusted that tn
IS colonel shared in it. Often she adde
y some trifle of news from the othe
5 household to complete the colonel
a POIGNANT assurance that the corresnor