The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-06-10

! host, few minutes after he had gone,
as he stepped into the perfectly appoint
| ed coupe. which he ordered to be driven
to Lord Heighleigh's.
" Mr.. Howardyn said the old Peer,
bowling stiilly, as he looked inquiringly
from the card he held in his hand TO the
face of his unknown visitor.
" Yes, my lord. A friend-if ] may
say so of your SON."
"Whichp" was the question-put in
a tone which did not imply that he adj
mitted the passport
Captain Montague"
" All! you have come as his pleader?
He has not the courage himself to tell
what l know already"
Z" may say at once, if YOU allude to
what happened on Friday night, that he
has already arranged the matter"
1.-The dckensr' said the astonished
father. "Who has been fool enough to
let him have such sum?'
al havem is the calm answer.
The old man starts, looks at his visitor
keenly, sees that there is more to follow,
and motions him to seat. You don't
look like the traditional spider" His
visitor bows irOnical thanks you
are, of course, up to all the tricks of the
trade. You must know that my son has
absolutely nothing, and will have moth
ing but a small annuity"
He has reversion," is the short
but significant answer.
"To what?'
g Your title and magnificent rent
roll" ..I .....
You must first dispose of his elder
brother" sarcastically replied the
father.
81 have; at least as far as the second
item goes"
"What! Agincourt has sold his right
of succession? IMPOSSIBLE
"'Tis true, nevertheless. The quiet
est men are often the deepest. You
have always kept him too snort. He
got into an eXtravagant set at Christ
Church. He did not care to tell you.
Renewals at ruinous rates and increased
wants brought him to me. In word,
L hold the reversions of both Your
sons.
"Good Godr' and for moment the
ashy face and tremulous hips looked as
if the sudden shock would make the re-
versions a speedy certainty; but with an
, effort, which the other wondered at and
envied, Lord Heighleigh Gained himself
and said: If this be so, presume that
you have some further object than its
revelation in coming to me thus?'
81 have" ...-.... ..
The old peer bowed. .-l...
| Some twenty. years ago | was
tempted to deceive one who might have
: loved me for my own sake. Ii | may
say so, did not look what was and
am Travelling in Germany, met her;
she was at the baths with an old lady.
After brief coJrtship | married her.
l They imagined i was hgh-born, like
3 themselves. My pride and my love COM
+ bined oddly to forbid their knowing the
, truth, which, however, came out sud
denly and accidentally one day when
we were still abroad. From that hour
my poor wife dropped, and barely sur
q; vived the birth of her daughter As
= the only reparation in my power, !
' vowed that her child should be spared
, the knowledge which had killed her, and
4 as soon as possible ! took the little one
to her mothers relatives, who were not
( too rich or too proud to receive her on
5 the condition that she should be kept in
+ ignorance of her paternity. My first
t thought is that child's happiness
5 know, how it matters not, that your son,
| Theodore, has it more in his hands than
l either of them may fancy If be right
t will you sanction their unionP"
Q Great heavens, sir!' cried the in.
dignant father, springing impetuously
to his feet. "'' r.
Zone moment, my lord calmly in
: terposed the other, as Lord Heighlegh
5 strobe towards the bell; ~ came tor
: peace, not war. You had better listen. -
4 And there was something in his tone
g which made the old man hesitate and
5 say: "Well! what then?' ~.
u 81 hold his written promise to marry
5 my daughter"
! f"Then, sir, you can call upon him
> to fulfill the conditions OF his bargain
without my aid Good morning" And,
. with a frigid courtesy which speaks
e volumes, Tins father bows his visitor
from the room.
y Arrived at a house in Park Lane, Mr.
J. Howard is shown into a room, where
n he is not keptlong waiting ere an elderly
gentleman greets him with cordially
not, perhaps, unsoothing after his late
!, interview. ..s..
q "Sir Philip he says presently
a "what | have for some time foreseer
+ and somewhat. dreaded has come tc
r pass. | have tried to do without youi
promised assistance, but pride is stub
: born thing, as / have found to my cost
Will you explain to Lord Heighleigf
: that my daughter is your neice, whom
+ he knows and likes well; that she is anC
shall remain ignorant of relationship,
4 and that the reversions purchased are
o but part of what will gladly give tt
. secure her happinessP"