The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1883-09-08
CHAPTER XXI.

AN OLDER STORY.
As Gordon Marquis had gone once,
Launt harrington went now, straight to
AleXia for information of Dana.
Miss BraXton consented to see him,
and made her appearance, very icy,
very constrained, very much inclined to
visit his past dereliction most severely
upon his offending head, but relenting
after she had looked into his haggard,
miserable face, and heard the iustifica-
ton which she did not in the least
understand. A secret had separated
them, which was cleared away now,
and if she could and would direct him
to Dana, he would be grateful all his
life. Miss Braxton could; whether she
would-ah! that was question. y
'You see," said Lex, "Dana mightn't
like it. And if she don't care, why,
he mightn't like it. l wouldn't in his
place.
Hep WhoP' asked Launt, with a
sudden pang.
Gordon Marquis, to be sure. Be-
cause you went off and left her is no
reason why all the rest of the world
should do the same. believe he thinks
all the more of her since she has been
in trouble; and he befriended Aunt
Rose-or do you know about thatp"
81 know nothing" replied Launt,
blush pallor coming about his lips.
g Be kind enough to tell me, will you
not?"
y Lex did. She dwelt upon Gordon's
faithful friendship, and upon the serv-
ices he had rendered Mrs. Oliphant,
upon his devotion to Dana and the lat
ter's gratitude.
ANY one with half an eye can see
what it's all coming to-" concluded
Lex, "and as to letting you 90 and
raise a muss between them, l don
know that L have any right"
II will not ask it of you," Launt an
swered, rising. 81 will go to him my
SELF
Go to the rival who had won or would
win what he had lost! There were Bit
terness and humiliation in the thought,
but it would be easier to learn the truth
from him than from Dana herself
On the following day he presented
himself at the New York studio. Mr.
Marquis was not there His pictures
were, suggested the art-student who
had been left in charge of the rooms,
and who fancied possible patron in the
caller. There's his Modern Gree
just done, which he has entered for the
academy, that great many are coming
to look at, and here's In Fog which
is sold and companion piece ordered
If you are wanting anything in this line,
sir, don't think Marquis can be sur
passed"
81 am not wanting anything" Mr.
harrington explained, and the otficious-
ness of the student very naturally sub
sided. 1t was rather a grievance to
him that the visitor should avail HIM
self of the permission given to examine
the pictures. "a Modern Gree! ="
Launt caught his breath at that. 1t
was the picture of a fashionably-dress
girl standing on the sea-shore with the
soft light of evening falling over her
upon the dimpling water and yellow
sands, and touching more family the
masculine figure which was striding
away in the distance, with head bent
down. You knew instinctively that he
had put the all-important question, and
had for his answer, "NO." There was
no shadow of sorrow or regret upon the
face of the modern Gree. The bright
eyes were full of exultant light, soft
smile fingered on the perfect lips; you
knew at once that she was thinking of
some one else who filled her whole
heart-some one who had driven away
every remembrance of the disap-
pointed individual who had put
his fate to the touch and lost
! all. No lovely monster, this" with
face Seraphic fair and heart of stone'
but bright and pretty girl, who is
careless of the love which is offered her,
because she already has what she prizes
more. And the girl is Dana Dana as
he has seen her hundred times with
that very love-light shining up at him
! from her matchless eyes. She had
looked like this at Shoreden, before sor-
row touched her. Could it be that she
looked like it still, and that the look
was for anotherp The mans face was
turned away, but the figure looked
strongly like his own.
"Can you tell me where Mr.. Marquis
may be foundp"
The student threw a streak of car
mine into an amber cloud, and then
looked up.
''He might be found at Riverton, per.
haps. He takes the one o'clock train
there"
AT Riverton! Launt knew the name
His 41ind instantly connected that trag-
edy of the past which had occurred
there with possibility of the present
He glanced at his watch. 1t was quar-
! ter to one, hardly time to catch the