The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-01-03
THE EDICT OF FATE.

The library in Mr.. Trevelyan's ele-
CANT country residence was one of the
pleasantest apartments imaginable, and
on that bright summer morning SEEM
ed the embodiment of GOODNESS, shade
and fragrance-from the dark green
carpet that covered the floor like sheet
of emerald velvet, the lighter green silk
curtains and damask furniture, to the
cleaning marble statuettes, the white
and gold calf-bound volumes in rows of
shelves from floor TO ceiling. -
Outside the sun shone, and the birds
were holding perfect carnival of song
in the warm, fragrant air.
Every thing seemed so pure, so peace
full, so strangely at variance with Mr..
Trevelyan's angry, clouded face, as he
stood, straight and naughty, with one
hand on the green cloth of the central
table, and his eyes looking down on
Raymond Santelle's faee-a face perfect
in its bold, manly outlines.
{" 1t is the most outrageous breach of
gentlemanly honor / ever had the mis-
fortune to know, and | am the more as
tonished, Mr.. Santelle, that | had al
ways, previously, held you to be suita-
bic man to occupy the position of tutor
to my sons. but this total disregard of
every law of etiquette, honor, decency-
If may be allowed so strong an express.
sion-this open-faced, presumptuous at
tempt at Irritation with a guest of Mrs.
Trevelyan's isis Extensively disgusting
to me.n
The ye1ng mans eyes bfazed as he
listened patiently to the quiet, intense
insult, and you could see how tremen-
dous was the force with which he kept
himself in check-you saw it so plainly
by the tenseness of every muscle in his
1.-THE, handsome frame, by the compress
sion of his lips under his dropping am
Der mustache, and in the intense, fright
fully calm tones of his voice as he an
swered, with his blue eyes never finch
ing from the cold, gray ones opposite
him'
/" You have made most unwarranta-
BILE assertion, sir, which, for Miss Veldt's
sake, regret-which, for my own, ]
care as little as | regard the truthful
ness of it, as -
Mr.. Trevelyan interrupted him by q
sudden blow of his fist on the table.
" You dare tell me-you, a hired
teacher in this house, that | am liar
that Miss -
Santelle did not make the smallest at
tempt to interrupt the tide of passion,
but there was something in his eyes that
made the gentleman pause suddenly,
and then Santelle went on, quietly as be-
fore, with that unnatural quiet that pre-
cedes terrible tenpests.
d" There is no occasion to introduce
the lsdy's name again; | simply say ]
have never paid her any attention be-
vond what is due 10 a lady from a gen.
tleman; that should pay an Empress
of the blood royal if the occasion re-
quired it, or any other woman. You
have seen fit to miseonstrue. and from
the moment you brand me as unfit fol-
the position of tutor to Your sons, how
ever false the accusation was, YOU ceas-
ed to be my employer. Mr.. Trevelyan,
there is no need 10 prolong this inter-
view"
He bowed with the cold, polished ease
of a society usaged man, and went leis-
urely from the library to his room, with
that same compression of his handsome
lips, but with the fire in his blue ewes
giving place to bitter, dreary woe.
-. To think she is the first woman ]
ever met who could quicken my pulses
by a glance of her bright, beautiful eyes
and l am insulted because l dare con-