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

what he said. The next moment she
was caught and drawn close, held there
as if he would never let her go again.
my darling, forgive me, forgive mel
1t was all mistake, Dana; great and
terrible mistake. And to think that it
nearly parted us. Nothing shall ever
do that again, nothing, if you can for
give me now'
Nothing? She made vain struggle
to free herself Was there not dark
shadow of shame and guilt between, to
part them forever But Launt held her
fast
Murder had been done, but no kindred
blood cried out to him for vengeance.
If they were to be judged by the crimes
of others, would not that of his father
the crime of self-murder-we as
heavily as the homicidal deed TO which
frenzied woman had been provoked?
He heard all that story from her later.
He had only one answer for her as he
stopped down, and for the first time,
kissed her lips.
"You are mine, Dana, and nothing on
earth shall part us again"
That settled it. When April came in
there was the quietest of weddings, and
Mr.. and Mrs. Harrington departed for
the South, where their future home
would be. AT the very last, before
leaving, Dana took the necessary legal
steps which put her in possession of the
money her father had left-this by her
mothers request, made in writing, at a
time when she did not expect to see her
daughter again. Quest put in his
claim, and received the reward which
the trustees had offered for the discov-
cry of the heir, but it was mere baga-
telle compared to the price which he
had received from Mrs. Oliphant.
Madame Harrington received the
young pair very kindly, all things con-
sidered. To say that she approved of
the marriage would be going too far;
the prejudice of lifetime was not to be
removed in moment, but she hid her
disapprobation and took Launt' wife in
her embrace, making the best of what
could not be helped. She would have
done more, had it been necessary, to
have kept her boy; she had nearly lost
him, and that lesson was enough to last
out her life.
"a Modern Gree" was shown at the
academy that year. The public was
pleased with it; the young artist was
advanced step in popular favor; orders
came to him in increasing numbers, and
for the next three years Gordon Mar
quis made rapid strides upon the road
to fame.
At the end of that time came letter
from Lex
my DEAR DANA" it read. "Did you think
| irrn fYntf In nd, ola
maidenhood? began to have fears that such
was the case myself, but / am going in for
double-blessedness and domestic felicity at
last. Who is the victim. do you ask? An old
flame of yours, my dear; quite celebrated
person and the catch of the season to-day,
ana isn't It wonderful ! had quite little
wonder IL you suspected how madly jealous
was when l refused to send your Launceot
to you because L thought my Gordon wanted
you? Well, it's all past now. if it has taken
him three years TO get over what he had near
ly accomplished in three months before, for
he has told me that he had almost made up his
mind to marry me then, if I'd have him Of
course" etc, etc, on to the finale, which was
an invitation to the wedding.
The wedding came off duly, most
sumptuous affair, where the bride was
magnificent in brocade and white roses,
and the groom insignificant as he al
ways is on that most suspicious occa-
sion of his life.
Launt and Dana were there, quite as
happy as in the first days of their post
nuptial bliss, and with them came a
small Launt of the third generation, in
long white robes and his nurses arms.
. And if anything can make a man
| look more idiotic than wedding, it's a
"a circumstance of that kind" says
Gordon, and any lingering uneasiness
which may have stirred in Lexis heart
dies out as she looks up into his blue,
laughing eyes.
THE END.