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

of her husbands white, Wrathful lace
cleaning against the darkness,
screamed, and fell in a dead faint to
f'i ne Ho0i' go elf-l Da.a a5
CHAPTER VI.
WHAT FOLLOWED.
All Riverton was convulsed by the
news of that DARK deed. The wild con-
lectures afoat scarcely touched upon
the truth as to what had led up to this
tragedy Rodney had been perverting
the funds of the bank from their legiti-,
mate use; he had deiied the wise c0un-
sells of the elder partner. and they had
quarreled, with this awful result. Such
was the theory which gained readiest
acceptance, and there was no contradic-
ton made. 3A.i4ri.l .ertFse
He appeared before Magistrate at
an early hour of the morning and gave
himself up as the slayer of John Ten
dyke. rH aloiai DO 4aam.
No one except himself knew of
Mignon's presence upon the scene of
the tragedy, and he had taken care
! that no shadow of blame could attach
to her. No one but himself knew all
! the occurrences of that dark night.
People said that he had gone, red-hand-
ed, from that deed of guilt to his wife's
chamber, and all but murdered her by
avowing ii. At any rate, when his own
household was aroused and physician
sent for, Mignon was found in her own
bed in an unconscious state, from which
l all efforts failed to arouse her. When
that deep stupor gave way at last, it
was to the mutterings of delirium, and
4 the doctor himself carried the news to
Rodney France in his cell at the county
jail, that his wife was laboring under a
violent attack of fever. If"
Il have taken it upon myself to in
stall nurse, and give orders for time, :"
he said, "but if l may suggest, would it
not be well to send for her friends?
She needs some one to stand by her at
this very trying season.
you are right" Rodney answered,
after moments thought. Il will
write a telegram to her father and in
trust it to your kindness to send. Poor
Mignonp' he sighed, to himself. ''He
is not the protector j would choose for
her if there was any one else"
The message was sent and in due
! time Mr. Tredegar Almont made his APP,
pearance upon the scene, and was adj
mlIteu 10 an interview WllH his SOn-lU-
law the day after his arrival ri
You made a mistake in not putting
in your defense at the hearing he said,
as soon as the first greeting was over.
Its bad iob-a deucedly pad job
at the best: but now that am here, we
will be able to put better face to /;
than it wears at present. M i.r.
"Why do you say that? What dc
you know about it?" asked Rodney, al
most fiercely. '.u.1. '.4nah
:" BE tranquil, my friend. and / will
tell you,n responded Almont, as uncon-
cerned as if the life of the man before
him were not the issue at stake. "
know what it appears you have not
chosen to divulge-that your partner,
: Tendyke, and my late partner, Varick,
were one and the same man. | can
reasonably suppose that the cause as
signed for this tragedy was not the true
cause; when that is made known there
4 will be, inevitably, some revulsion OF
popular feeling in your favor A letter
which | received from my daughter
some two weeks ago can be introduced
as effective evidence"
| "a lettern'
"She wrote, believe, without YOU
cognizance. She knew that Varick was
; bent upon mischief. She had hopes O
: checkmating him by bringing the law Il
bear upon some of his past acts, bu
: Varick was always too slippery to give
the law any strong hold on him.
: didn't see that could do her any good
+ and so didn't charge myself with an!
5 trouble in the affair."
5 ''Let me see the letter"
Mr. Almont was not wholly satisfied
e with his son-in-law's aspect, cain
Q though twas.
fro BE CONTINUED.