The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1883-08-18
That was his parting blow.


Launt. OF course, no matter how press
ing the reasons, we will not leave you
now. May go in with you, Dana?
They will be coming to you for instrlc~
tions unless-unless Mrs. Oliphant soon
returns r. t3
The strangeness of Mrs. ELEPHANTS
absence was exciting comment through
out the house, but Dana was not called
upon Mr.. Quest appeared and took
the reins of government. He consulted
with Alexia, and issued all necessary
orders. Lex went about with swollen
eyes, and shed floods of tears, but her
native good sense asserted itself; she
was anxious to be of use and to spare
Dana needless pain. The long hours
of that long day wore on, and Dana was
shut up in her own room alone. She
had refused all companionship, had
shut out Madame Harrington and Lex,
had only opened the door once, and that
was when maid had raped and
spoken. I'd. ...-. 3,f
'It's letter, please, Miss Dana, and
Miss Braxton says you'd better open it,
She says its from Mr.. Harrington, please,
Miss Dana" ...
1t was addressed to Mr.. Oliphant, and
was very brief Some shadow of pity
had stolen into Launts heart before he
sat down to write, and it stated simply
that circumstances which had recently
come to his knowledge made it impos-
sible for him to keep his engagement of
marriage with Dana.
"Heaven knows" he wrote, this Is
harder for me than it can be for her, If
she thinks--as she must-that | am in
fiuenced by weak or unworthy motives.
Even to you, Mr.. Oliphant, l shall not
attempt to explain. Your wife may, if
she will. Let her tell YOU why the
daughter of Mignon Almont may not
marry, of all men upon earth--n,e''
An hour after that letter had been
dropped into the mail, his grandmother
telegram had reached Launt. Yf'
"Mr. Oliphant is dead--his wife is
missing. Come at once"
He obeyed. Before such dread It'd
ings as this even his resentment fell
away. The cottage was very still when
he reached it. In one shadowy cham
Der all that was mortal of Power Oil
plant lay, with peaceful smile on the
marble lips. The servants, in decorous
black, went softly in and out, and still
the mysterious absence of the one who,
above all others, should have been there,
was unaccounted for. Launt listened,
almost without speaking while his
grandmother told what there was to
tell. ~
Il must see, Dana" he said, then.
''Send her to me, to the library. How
does she bear it?'' 5I-..
|
ton responded, in an aggrieved tone.
"No one has seen her since she shut
herself up hours ago, but perhaps she
will see you"
She did. She came gliding in sooner
than he had expected. with somber gar
ments trailing about her, her wan white
face and desolate eyes appealing to him
in this great trouble, as they never had
in her happiest hours. For one mo-
ment he forgot everything except his
love for her.
''My darlingi My own! My poor
Lowell" broke over his lips.
She fecoiled as if he had struck her Q
blow. LII
"Don't!'' she said, 81 can't bear i
now. Look here; have your letter t.
papa saying that all is over between us
want you to tell me just what it means
just what led you, Launt, to give me-
up?'
She waited for him to speak, but nr
answer came. ala
"Shall tell you, then, that | know
the reason, that l have heard my owl
history for the first time to-day 1t il
enough, perhaps, to turn most men, bu
l could not believe, Launt-without thi
letter / could not believe even tia
would turn you. If it were you now, i
| were in your place and you were il
mine, what do you think would sayP'
A groan, which he could not repress
was wrung from Launt's tortured soul
How mean-how mean and despicabl
he must appear in her sight.
Il would say" she went on, eel
trouble, IN sorrow, even in dark dis
grace, you are dearer to me than all tin
rest of the world, / would have be
lieved you would say it to me but TO
your own written words. l hardly be
lieved them until / saw you; now l an
convinced"
''Heaven knows, Dana" he wa
beginning, but she silenced him with
look.
Il would have said that had our case
been reversed, but / have come to tel
you, if you had not already decreed tina
, we must part | should do SO now. Yes
. had you been true, no pleading, n
, prayers of yours, would have led me +
{ forget how impossible it is now for m
to become your wife-more impossibl
: than you know. Though it had dragge
out my heart, should have sent 70
away. You might have seemed brave
and escaned a low MARRIAGE still Thi