The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1883-08-04

people TAX atore servants as II they was
sticks. knowed all about how she'd
made It up with her beau to marry
him If he'd let her adopt the child.
"Mrs. France went away as soon as
they got it all fixed, and kept the baby
for the matter of month or two, till the
weddin' was over. Then | went down
to New York, and fixed it with the Ger
man girl to take baby aboard ship and
give her to Mrs. 0liphant. me a per-
tendin' to leave on the train, but really
goin' down to the wharf in cab to see
that it was all done right.
II never knowed ANYTHING more
about them till week ago, and then a
lawyer chap came askin' lots mare
questions nor you have, and found they
were back with the baby growed up to
be young lady, and Tue had hard
life of it, and thought mebbe I'd get
something by writin' to Miss Rose"
Mrs. Hickett stopped, with cloud on
her face. She felt that she had been
oRr-reached by the "lawyer chap"
cheated out of the full worth of the
secret she held.
There was still one thing more on the
young mans mind
"What became of Mrs. France?n
81 never knowed, and | don't know
now. But someway | rather think that
the lawyer do. He had so much to say,
wanting to know if l minded how she
looked, if thought I'd know her if I'd
see her now, if ever thought she went
away with the ELEPHANTS, what she
done, and what she said and how she
acted, more'n can mind to tell you. I
asked him plump out if she were livin'
yet, and he said to the best of his knowl-
elge and belief she were. But he
wouldn't say no more"
1t was enough. Living or dead, it
was all one to him. He went out into
the garish sunshine with an intolerance
for the brightness which filled the world.
He had hours to wait, and he passed
them in the streets, walking as if he
wanted to get away from himself.
When the afternoon train arrived at
Shofeden, he alighted among the pas
sengers, and as he was leaving the plat
form, found himself face to face with
Mrs. Oliphant.
Yelled, and plainly dressed, she had
left the cottage unperceived and walked
through the hot glare over the dusty
road to the village station. She had
seen Launt before he caught sight OF
her, and one long. earnest look had told
her what she feared to know.
81 thought you would come by this
fl ain, Mr.. harrington. Can | see you
for five minutes before you 90? We
will be quite alone if we walk down to
the beach. There is no use asking il
Mrs. Hickett spoke-I see that she did.
| have only to ask, what do you intend
to do?"
"What can 1 do but break Dana's
heart and mine. God help us bothy"
g 1t is what l expected of you," she
said, bitterly. "You would have died
for her, you would have moved Heaven
and earth to take her when we opposed
your suit, and you leave her because
the sins Of the parents must be visited
upon her, though they may not touch
you. have but one thing to ask, that
you do not see her again. 1t would
make your parting no easier; you could
hardly fail to drop some hint of the rea-
son prompting your acts; you could not
satisfy her without it, and it is not nee
essary to tell you now how we have
tried to shield her. The least you can
do in PREPARATION to her is what ask -
Not to see Dana again! Not to explain
his conduct! And yet-and yet-there
was truth in what she said. How could
he give any explanation short of the
true one which would not make him APP.
pear despicable in her eyes?
Il agree to what you require" he
said, after pause, "hard as it is.
promise to leave the cottage without see
ing Dana, but | must have an interview
with Mr.. Oliphant and make my expla-
nation to him."
"You must not" The sudden in.
tensity of that declaration startled him
"You must say nothing whatever tc
him. Such explanations as are TO be
made, 1 will make. Believe me, it i.
not to spare myself | ask this, but to
spare my husband"
There was unutterable mournfulness
in her voice as she pronounced those
last words, and suspicion awoke in
Launt's mind. What if she were de-
ceiving him after alp What if, to shield
some sin of her own youth, she were
ruthlessly sacrificing Dana and himself:
"Mrs. Oliphant!' he spoke abruptly.
"You are enough like Dana to be heI
own mother. Miss Powers says you
are her mother. am not good at read
ing mysteries, yet | can not fail to see
that there is something in all this which
you have concealed from your husband.
What is it? have the right to ask, for
nothing short of Dana being that wom-
ans daughter nothing short of the
blood she caused to tlow-shall stand
between us.
She flung back her veil and faced
him; for the first time he saw the snowy
hair which the thick veil had concealed.
=. Ynn are riUht Thern is snmnthinn