The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1883-06-09

She tried to warn him against Ten
dyke, but having laid that one dread of |
past rivalry to rest, his frank nature
would not take the alarm. 4,
..What nervous mortal you are
growing to be, Niignon!'' he said one
day. 'sYou make me anxious for your
health. wonder if | am keeping You
shut up too closeP If it wasn't for that
absurd prejudice you have taken against 1
Tendyke, I'd bring him around to tea
with me. You've no idea what an
amusing fellow he can be when he
tries
\ ."Do, if YOU like she answered, 4
without any show Of interest. but when
he had gone, she started up to walk the
room, half wild with the dread which
weighed so heavily upon her.
She could stand it no longer. Better
to know the worst, if the worst must
come; but there was another struggle
going on in Mignon's breast. People
had called her Gree when she had hated
her own charms and disdained to use
them; but now, wild thoughts of befool-
ing Varick floated through her brain.
If she could make him think she was
hesitating, yielding-if she could make
him Uait-surely, surely, there were
episodes in that dark life of his which
might be turned to account to rid her
of this implacable foe.
Yet when she stood face to face with
him that day, her heart sank; one flash
of his masterful eyes. and it seemed to
her that he must read her himsy pur-
pose through and through. She had
not a smile to offer toward the oonsum-
| Of hot aud hon
| of jealousy stirred in Rodney's mind.
He thought she was bored by his part
| ner's presence, and took the burden of
the conversation upon himself. 1t
turned, as it generally does turn between
men, into business channels. They
were discussing the advisability of
taking up some heavy warrants which
had been offered them. AFh 20
| eve would have to call in all our
tenaporary loans" said Tendyl<e, Sand
it would lock up our capital for years,
but it is a safe Investment, and better
to my mind than hazarding the same
amount in more risky enterprises"
''You see, NIignon,n put in her hus-
band, ''Tendyke is even more careful
than / am regarding risks. My wife
has none of the progressive spirit of the
age, Pm afraid, and she. approves the
steady gait we have been going"
80 you keep yourself posted regard
ing the affairs of the bank, Mrs
FranceP" asked Tendyke, smilingly.
a yes" she answered, and there was
defiance which. he understood in the
quiet words. II have a sort of pre-
sentiment that it is an unlucky venture
for us, and want to be prepared for
the crash when it comes.n
LUCKY that don't believe in pre-
sentiments laughed Rodney. Mig
non has it settled that l am fore
T head with "A billy and pitched out
through that back window of the bank
into the river ! try to convince her
that you are the one in danger, sleeping
in the building as you do. 1t might be
more burglar-poof than it is, but have
confidence in the strength of the vault to
withstand any attacks which MAY be
J made ON it." 6s8B
NIignon, Watching him furtively, saw
sudden CLEAN cross the face of hel
enemy, whether fierce or knocking she
2 could not tel.g' She was watching fol
an opportunity of speaking to him
alone, but it did not come. TendykC
5 rose to 90 early, and Rodney, 'discoyer
| ing that he had an errand ON the street
went out with him; but two minutes
, afterward the parler door opened anC
I the former reappeared. y b ''t.P
| "Did | leave my memorandum book
3 Mrs. France P-your husband was look
: ing at it, Now, Mignon, be quick will
/ what you want to say in dropping
, ho a,occo1 bo tO ha1
l side. tstt}h
= "Come and see me when Rodney il
D not at home. / dare not awake hi
suspicious by going to you Oh, Varick
4 / think even you would pity me if yol
| knew how very, very unhappy | am. ,
1t was not the way she had meant t.
5 appeal to him, but the truth was NOR,
effective than any art she could hav'
{ used. He could not fancy any yer,
: powerful resistance from the droopin.
D girl, whose deep, sad eyes fell ava,
from him with such hopeless look.
t "Shew on'tpeach to France 1.-The on
4 thing l was afraid of, he said to him
D self. Aloud: "Wait. This business O
Ecalling. in ourffunds will keep us boil
; busy for the next four weeks. Dom
| bring ruin down on your head soone
I than necessary, Belle June. 1t will
' come soon enough of itself"
: She did not at all understand tn,
Il hooking smile which accompanied hi
words, She started up and laid he
hand on his arm to detain him.
Q i y '',Yarick, will nothing tempt you t,
: spare usp Think well before you re
I fuse-nothing at alp 1 am too desper
0 ate to scruple at anything less-less-
than whit Won SIX -