The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1883-07-21

and for me. if i don't have all the sins
of the decalogue laid to my charge, I'll
be wonderfully disappointed. She is a
mishief-maker, If there ever was one.
You'll regret tiff yoe eyer LET her in the
i Launt was dining, that5day at the cot
tage q 10 'FaNf kkFt &.kfk J
'fHow my grandmother would hate
herr, said he. .''She is avery uplifted
sort of old lady, is the madame, and she
is coming. too Did I tell you. Dana,
that expect her within the weekp'' boo.
$50 soon?' from Mrs. Oliphant
"Well, Harrington, we have kept you
at distance, but that is to be all ended
when Madame Harrington comes. She
is to be our guest, and you can give up
your stuffy room at the hotel and come
over TO the cottage. Let our family
party be complete"
An eager flush rose into Launt' S
cheeks. f EffF SEA
Do you mean TO say, sir, that my
probation is really overp"
provided your relative makes no OBJ
lection on her side. 80
GAS if she couldr' Launt's ewes
rested fondly upon the object of his
choice. One look into that dusk, bright
face, he thought, would conquer the
most obdurate heart. Madame Earring
ton had her pride, which might recoil a
little at the thought of anameless bride,
should that secret be told to her, but
that she could make any serious obiec-
tons was the furthest thing from his
mind.
The week sped. The visitors arrived,
and the one great issue at stake was
brought up by Launt as he drove with
his relative from the village station.
81 have been made to wait interim
nably, and now it all depends upon a
word from you. Do give it soon,
mother mine,' he pleaded.
There were decisive lines in Madame
harrington old, withered face, and
they did not soften, though she smiled
back. upon him fondly. He was the
idol of her heart he filed to her the
place of, the son she had lost; but mad
ame's rancor was aroused against these
Oliphants, whog did not know good
thing when they had it. 1t offended
her to think that they had hesitated at
all.
!" You have waited so long that you
must have patience to wait little
longer she said 81 shall not deliver
a hasty Judgment upon the pretty face
which has taken you captive, Launt |
shall know her better in weeks time
than you know her, be very sure, and in
a week you shall have my answer
The stately old lady, however, took
Dana into her arms and kissed her quite
tenderly. There were faults in her past
which she did not care to repeat. If
Launt. loved this girl and she were
worthy of him, he should marry her;
failing to yield that much to her own
son had brought upon her all the woes
of her life. or .iNDy rfDT ,lt .
4 Yet when Launt presented himself
before -her-for.- his answer, when the
week had passed, granite. itself was no
harder than Madame Farfington.
"YonAawai my. consent, you say?
Well, my consent can never be given.
We will see now how far your duty will
carry you. demand that you give the
girl up, that you put her out of your
thoughts and your life together.r EE &
Laupt was simply dumbfounded. He
had not expected this; she had seemed,
during that week, Won completely over
to his cause; but there was unmistaka-
bic fire flashing in the keen old eyes,
unmistakable passion quivering in her
voice. He had, been absent all that
day, he had come to her Immediately
| upon his return, and he felt intuitively
that something had occurred in that in
terval to prejudice her against his suit.
somebody has been telling you the
story of her adoption" he said at
was Miss Alicia Power, of course, since
| it is evident that the worst side of the
matter has been given you, and you
have taken her insnuations as gospel
truth"
at was the girl herself She knew,
it appears, that you held ii as Sc
cret too sacred to impart to me. VIVA;
Miss Alicia had TO say only goes to show
how perfectly preposterous is the story
''Miss Alicia be hangedr' cried Launt,
wrathfully. ''As if / have not borne
enough without having her to mix in
the muddle-a painted, made-up GREAT
ure, as deceitful within as she is false
externally" ,.r~yr. ri.
Yon are hard on Miss Power said
Madame Harrington, dryly. "How, then,
doyou Justify Mrs. Oliphant in dyeing
her hairan,
Launt opened his eyes. This seemed
to him a leap to theludicrous. 1t struck
upon his humorous sensibilities and he
burst out laughing. q Ff sEAs
elias it really come to that? And is
that the mole-hill out of which you have
made mountain? | beg your pardon,
but if Mrs, Oliphant dyes she does it SO
admirably that have never suspected
the fact" .t.I L,1 t