The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1883-07-28
CHAPTER XIv.-CoNTrNUED.

CHAPTER XIV.-CoNTINUED.
THANK you for the last said Launt,
gravely You are unjust if you Judge
me by the light of my fathers fate.
Even | can not hold him blameless,
though / have been taught to believe
him more sinned against than SHINING"
Il beg your pardon. 1t seems to me
that, with living wife, the wrong was
done against the woman he pursued.
She did not share his madness, but if
she had, think what her fate must have
been" 49,
a sudden, angry sparkle flashed in
Launt' ewes.
"killuth must have left strange i'm
preston ON your mind" he said, ''You
speak of her as if she were an innocent
girl, not sorceress.s whose business, it
was to ensnare and ruin nienA Mrs. Oil
plant, L should think you would be the
last person to palliate her oflenses In
that line. You are more of Christian
than l am if you can forgive her the
wrong she once did you, dead though
she be-"
She looked at him for an instant, with
deep, searching, yet inscrutable look.
Then" Dead" she repeated. 1.-THE
grave that covers her covers her sins
also
Not so. The effect of her work is
as lasting as if she lived. Her death
did not restore my fathers life; did not
restore Rodney France, nor that other
man whom he killed Indirectly, but
surely. she murdered all three. She
desolated more than one home, more
than one heart. Mrs. Oliphant, it is
n tp mo hot o,n,, O.,
for her. -.
She was looking away from him now
The hands, lying in her lap, were locked
tightly together
" She is dead, you say, yet you hold
her guilty of all those crimes. You
can not forgive her, and you do not be-
Eeve in visiting the sins of the parents
upon the children How would it be,
wonder, if you had TO sit in Judgment
upon her childP Would you hold her
or him-stainless?
All, now you touch home" cried
Launt, Independently. II see |
must forgive you for having doubts of
me, Mrs. Oliphant. You have laid q
trap and caught me in it,
could not think kindly of any one
who has that woman's blood in his
veins. hate her, and I should hate
her child l would not be a Harrington
If did not. We are both good haters
and good lovers as my grandmother
will tell you, and / hope to convince
you yet that am a true Harrington in
the latter respect, at least. And speak
ing of lovers" he broke off with a
smile, there is your husband, waiting
Tor you, out in the rain, more devoted
than any young gallant in the land"
She did not reflect his smile. She
had caught glimpse of her husband s
face. and, descending from the carriage,
hurried to meet him.
"What is lit, Power, she asked.
anxiously.
"A letter for you, dear. I must have
overlooked itin the mail Alicia brought
1T to me half an hour ago, given to her
by mistake" .N
Alicia was at the window looking out
upon them. She floated into the hall
to intercept their entrance.
did he give it to you, Rose? I'm
so sorry didn't discover the mistake
before you went away. | thought it
was dun from my dressmaker, and
didn't look at it till after luncheon, for
fear Of spelling my appetite. Amt you
coming IMP 1 hope it isn't anything
important g{ft4;444 IH II
II will be better able to inform YOU
after | read the letter. said Mrs.
Oliphant, in constrained tone. Z. (
Better able, perhaps, but l doubt if
more willing, said Miss Power to her
self, sending not pleasant glance
after her. Going along with Power
into his study. do wonder, now, if
she has the hardihood to read it there?"
She certainly had, under her hus-
dand's eyes. The coarse yellow en-
velope, with the address written in a
sorawling, unaccustomed hand, was
postmarked New York; the inclosure,
on a half-sheet of foolscap, read: y Z
"dere mrs. Olyfant: ir so be as these few
lines reaches you rite to say as how i've ben
tod abowt the mummy in the bank and kin
Sware TO the child il you wants me so to do for
i've never never forgot her nor her mother
which the mark will tell and l had drinkin
Inan whats dead and left me very bad on and
II you think IL werth while to PAYNE some
more kin be as secret as the grave or / kin
slab so youde better-rite with mulch respect.
. viola hickett."
An address followed the name.