The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1883-10-06
OUR NEW MANAGER.
From Chambers Journal
CHAPTER III.-CoNTINUED.

"Mr. Pikey' echoed the elder lady.
al thought that he ~
$50 did we," cried Marian, anticipat-
ing the remark. 'But oh! he is so
wicked and so cruel. You know how
he helped my father to enlarge his
business, and you know how he came
over after that concert. WE'LL he new
er would settle the terms upon which
my father was to have all this timber.
and so forth; he always turned every
discussion off with Jest, so that father
believed he could settle on his own
terms. Then he came over to our house
three or four times a week, almost eve-'
ny day, indeed; and now all at once he
demands large payments from us, and
says he must employ a solicitor. If he
does, it will quite ruin us, as father has
sold all these goods on long credit.
We expect to have a suit served on us
at once, perhaps this very day. unless
unless here the girl wept so bitterly
that she was obliged to pause. Mrs.
Vallens did not speak; but her stern
frown and tightly closed lips seemed
to tell that she already guessed the sto-
ry she was about to unless
will give up Philip, and marry him."
said the girl at last. "Philip knows of
it in some way from the people at the
office, and he is half frantic One of
the principal men advised him to leave,
as he was sure Mr.. Pike was bent upon
his ruin"
"But Philip will never give you up,
L am sure" began the elder lady; she
had better resign"
''He would resign tomorrow" ex-
claimed the girl; 'he so breads and de-
tests this man. But what is my father
to doP'
Mrs. Vallens tried to soothe the ex-
cited girl, though unable herself to sug-
.gest any real consolation, especially as
further questions showed, so far as
Marian understood the business, that
her fathers position was extremely
hazardous. The lady had decision
enough, however, to advise the girl not
to sacrifice herself on any account, be-
lieving, as she told her, that her father
would regret it as much as herself in
time to come.
Marian promised to adopt this advice,
which was, of course, in accordance
with her own wishes; but her friend
could see that this resolve was qualified
cessory to the distress and downfall of
her father.
After this conversation Marian de-
clared she must 60 home, having prom
ised to return early.
''You can not think of returning at
present, my dear!' exclaimed Mrs.
Vallens. Listen, how the wind shakes
the windows, and how the rain is
taating against them! 1t is quite dark
row, so you will gain nothing by
kUrrying."
But this would not satisfy Marian;
sne had promised to go home, and so
earnest was she that Mrs. Vallens
dreaded to excite her further, and so
was fain to allow her to set forth.
Mrs. Vallens accompanied Marian to
the front door. which she opened. The
night was nearly dark; not quite so
black as it would become in short
half-hour, but the two ladies could only
just distinguish the dull gray road and
the outlines of the trees as they were
bent by the blast, which raved past in
furious gusts. They could not see the
rain, but they could hear it.
1T is fearful night, my child, "
said Mrs. Vallens; "and you will.
All! there is carriagel" AS she spoke
a vehicle turned an angle of the road
and approached the cottage, evidently
on its way TO Bithfeld.
Mrs. Vallens waved her hand and
called to the driver. Her call was
probably not heard in the bowling of
The wind but there was light behind