The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1883-02-03

silence TO the hall. The Squire met
us at the door, shook my hand cordially
and introduced me to my companion.
My companions name / found was
Randolph. | went into the 'Squire's
library, and after we had smoked
cigar l asked the Squire who and
what Randolph was. He told me
that he was lawyer. He had lived
most Of his life at Cleveland, Ohio, but
on some count he hal left that
place and wanted TO settle in our
village. He had brought letter of in
PRODUCTION TO the Squire and was a
guest in the house until he could make
final arrangements for the purchase of
home OF his own. | then told the
IS uire what had seen the night be-
fore. He laughed at my fears and
jestingly told told me that l was little
daft. l answered him with very
serious face and told him Randolph was
the man l had seen and that the dog
was the same one, too We then went
| into dinner. About twenty or thirty
| gentlemen assembled around the table.
! When the wine and cigars were brought
! in, wit, humor and general merriment
4 took possession of all except Randolph
/ and L. He was morose and taciturn. |
was frightened and disturbed by the
events which had happened. The
wine was taking effect, and a continu-
Gus roar of laughter went up from the
table. Randolph was silent, so was l.
The dead man (for such l believed he
was) suddenly looking up, beckoned to
me and gave me to understand that he
wished to see me after dinner. didn't
/ 10 Of ho,
with a corpse, but consented. 1t was
dark when we babe our genial host
goodnight. Randolph touched me on
the arm as | turned to go and sIid he
would walk down to the village with me
on his way to his tavern. | could not
object, but cold ehills crept over
me at the thought of walking alone 1T
night with murdered man. We started
down the path with that fiendish dog
following at our heels. Aswe neared the
bottom of the hill, the moon rose. The
moonlight gradually spread over the
valley. The snow-covered houses be-
low us, the glorious night and the
strange appearance of the earth under
the CHASTITY light of the moon, in addi-
ton to the companionship of man
whom | had seen murdered, conduced
me to screw my courage up. stopped,
turned to my companion and with a
quaking hand laid upon his shoulder
questioned him as to his life and the
reasons why he had left large city to
bury himself in this out-of- the way
village. Mr.. haywood" he said 81
was a successful lawyer in Cleveland
/ was rich. l had made name among
my colleagues. / had wife, beauti
full, lovely girl. My wifes brother il
the cause of my refuge in this place
He was a clerk in banking house
Like a great many men, he began t.
gamble. He became a defaulter. /,
to hide his shame and for my wife s
sake, paid the amount he had stolen
She was ignorant of her brother theft
The brother returned my kindness ont
day by stealing from me. | sent hin
away in anger. Before he left the
room he insulted me. | struck him
My wife took her brothers part and de
serted me on &C cunt of my cruelty t.
him, as she believed. That man ha
attempted three times to take my life
| was obliged to leave Cleveland anC
seek refuge from his murderous hand
My heart was broken by my wife's de
sertion of me, and l only hope for
peaceful death by coming here"
could contain myself no longer.
told Randolph what had seen the nigh
before. He became pale as death ant
with trembling voice said; Il hav,
received a warning, too. God forbit
that | will have to leave this havel
which have sought for" BY this tim
we had reached my door His taveri
was across the square. | babe hin
goodnight and went in.
had hardly Teen in minute when
heard three or four loud screams o
| agony and fear. | rushed out OF door
[ just in time to see Mr., Randolph throw
, up his hands in the air. reel and fal
, helpless in the snow, his dog crouchin
: by his side licking his wounds. A knit
t laid in the snow, glistening in the moon
light A man was running up the roa
and rapidly disappearing. All ha
, happened as l have related. Light
AIRED in the village. windows went u
, with bang, and in few moments a
/ excited crowd had collected around tn
body and it was borne to the tavern
, The murderer was afterwards found an
proved to be the brother of Randolph
wife. He had traced Randolph fror
, pla to place and at last killed him
3 He was convicted and prosecuted b
+ me. His execution took place ten year
t ago. Was it not strange storyp-h
B. Alien, IN ~ Y. World.