The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1883-06-02
CHAPTER DISCONTINUED.

CHESS Foe etc., etc.
CHAPTER II.-CoNTINUED.
'He says thousand times worse"
broke, with, painful Indignation, from
the elder man. -'sBut no need to repeat
what he says; you know it all, unless it
is that She broke her plighted troth to a
man as bad as herself, when ysome i'm
comprehensive whimssimpelled her to-
turn your infatuation to sticliA account.
1t is fact so well known, Killuth says,
that sporting men there are laying bets
two to one that Varick will have her
back within year. God grant that he
may, say L, from the depth of my
heart. Surely, Rodney, your own self
respect will demand that you put that
woman away and procure a divorce
from her at once" 800
Rodney had listened sullenly, with
downcast eyes. He had expected some
whispers to follow to his far Northern
home, but not the whole, barren truth
more than the truth, he believed. I'D
"Mr Sangerford," he cried, holly,
''you insult me by making me listen to
such unfounded tales. l believe in my
wife as thoroughly as, if she had been
brought up in Fifth avenue palace,
and was ignorant, as IN swear she is
innocent, of every faint Of voluntary
wrong. l did notscoine here to-day to-
argue this matteg or to Justify the Step
| have taken, but to transact the bust
ness which remains between u.s." ~ =
This was a mere matter of form con-
nected with the rendering of Rodney's
accounts. into. his own hands,, TWAS
soon over Then. as the svoun9 man
rose togo, an embarrassedf flush came
into-fischeeks: ~ ~ -s 80 10 ~ a.
''Mrs and Miss Sangerford are wellP"
he asked. q may have ,forfeitedyall
claim upon their kindness, but4but my
interest and gratitude must'remain-"
''They are not in the city, said the
merchant, curtly. "If that is all, good
morning,"
And Rodney went out, feeling as he
had not felt Nbefore, fthat he, too, had
severed all links between past and pres
ent.
This was Mignon's first day alone
since her marriage. 1t had seemed to
her that it would be long, long day.
but the morning slipped away as she
sat at the piano, playing soft melodies
that were in accord with her dreamy
thoughts The long windows were wide
open; only the filmy lace draperies
waved between her and the sunny slope
that stretched down to the river. ~
And they. wonder that i. should
choose his" She said to herself, as her
hands fell away from the keys, land
some contrast between this simple cot
tage and her late luxurious home struck
her.
Very pastoral, very charming! A
rustic Eden, complete, now, since the
trail of the serpent is over it all"
She whitened, as she turned slowly. to
confront the intruder A tiny sail-boat
that had been skimniingithe river since
early dawn had been anchored below at
at the wharf. just outside the window
was a'tall man,awith silkygblack hair
curling about his swarthy, handsome
face, with black eyes. sweeping the
small parlor, settling in a look, half
masterful, half ferocious, upon her re-
sisting face. He sat down on the low
window-sill, easily reached from with
out, and dropped his hat to. the. floor.
"Varick AL IN a
"Sweet welcome in that tone,'' said
Varick, throwing his head back with a
laugh. "Come over here to me, my
Princess" holding out his hands.
Quivering from head to foot, she
arose, but MOTTO obey. ~
The time has gone by when you
could command me,'' she Said, calmly,
in spite of the agitation that was shak-
ing her. Your power overme,A such
as it was, i. broken. Youlcan do your
self no good by coming here; me nc
HARM
''And she is quaking1ilxe a frightened
bird while She says it, cried Varick
with another laugh. "Areyou coming
La JuneP What, you will notP Then,
sweetest Mignon, let me tell you that
have backed myself for fifty thousand
dollars to bring you again to my feet.
Il am not afraid of you"
Nor burst from him in a savage
tone. "You and your precious father