The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1883-09-01

Madame had conquered scores or hearts,
turned scores of heads; had young men,
clever men-men of wealth and posi-
ton on the list of her admirers to this
very day; but if she had any thought of
conquering Launt she must have given
it up long ago. Through the glitter of
lights, the perfume of flowers, the
laughter and talk going on all about
him, came the vision of pale, haunt
ing face which followed him forever,
sleeping or waking, whether alone or
in a crowd.
He had tried to forget her. He had
plunged into this gay, enticing, envied-
by-many experience, and found in it
nothing but weariness-weariness most
complete.
Mon ami, what is this hear? What
wild scheme is leading you to make
votive offering of your:elfP Surely,
science has enough devotees without
you. There are plenty of men who
leave every hope behind them to go
on those dreadful missions. Are you
irrevocably bent upon that act of mad
ness, my friendP"
81 am decided"
"And he says it as if fate itself
couldn't shake him hairs BREADTH
exclaimed madame, smiling her bright
est into Launts gloomy face. land
yet l would lay him wager that he
does not go. Will you take me up, my
LauncelotP Offer me that new bracelet
l want against anything you choose to
name that you do not change your mind
before morning"
81 am not betting man, madame"
They had returned to the drawing
room. Madame had kept Launt at her
side while she disposed of her guests
for their mutual entertainment and
pleasure. Some one was singing; the
rest were talking, or walking or playing
cards. All were flirting, as matter of
course. That was a characteristic of
the society in which Madame Florine
delighted. If she found amusement in
cornering the malapropos young man,
who had the exceedingly bad taste to
carry his broken heart in full view, no.
body there was disposed to find fault
with her. In general she was only too
formidable a rival for even the youngest
and brightest.
you will not 60, mon ami she re-
peated, looking up at him with her sac
charine smile. mo, not though you
are this moment the most hopeless and
miserable man upon earth. Or if you
do, it will not be because Mignon AL
mont did you such deadly wrong that
it builds up an impossible barrier be-
tween you and her daughter. ..
Launt started irrepressibly. A dark
flush, an indignant CLEAN, shot athwart
his face.
Keep your temper, my Launcelot;
| don't be angry with poor little woman
who is only anxious to do you a good
turn. One wouldn't suppose would
! be anxious either-one who knew. 1t
does not surprise you that | know your
| little romance, that charming summer
| idvl with it's miserable ending. Every
| one knows it, but it was not given to
every one to read between the lines as
it was given to me. | have been study.
ing you, Launt, and l know what 9TH
ers do not, that her fathers disagree
able fate alone would never have part.
ed you from the girl for whom your
heart is breaking. And | am going to
be the beneficent fairy to send you
back to her, instead of on that wild
MADAME, in Heavens name, what
do you meanP'
"Ah, thought 1 could rouse you to
life again. BE quiet, my dear boy, or
you will attract attention this way.
What l mean is, that your fathers death
don't lie at the door of Mignon Almont,
or l believe of any other woman.
should be sorry to think that it did; /
should be sorry to think that had any
part in bringing it about.
"He was n,y lover, Launt my lover
after he was hers, and was young and
foolish, and-need / say it?-very much
in love with him. He told me all about
his marriage and yOu-more than he
ever told her-your mother being, at
that time. very recently dead.
TO BE CONTINUED.