The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1883-08-04
CHAPTER Xv.-CoNrrNuEp.

Zone could hardly expect less from
the young lady's lover" she retorted,
with sneer. so l lie. In addition
TO being rude to lady. one would think
that Mr.. Harrington forgets that he is
gentleman. Perhaps this letter hes, too.
l must really ask you to read it after
that. Or shall read it to you? You
will lose the charming photography
which | copied exact, but pray attend.
'dere mrs. Olyfant: if so be as these
few line reaches you rite to say as how
i've ben told abowt the mummy in the
bank and kin sware to the child if you
wants me so to do for i've never forgot
her nor her mother which the mark will
tell.''
"Stop there!'' cried Launt, with a
ring of command. "What letter is
that? How did it come in your hands?"
''By accident" returned Miss Power,
composedly. "And it came open, by
accident, too. Oh, yes, it did, though
you seem to doubt it-drew damp from
the rain and opened; it is probable
that it was insecurely fastened in the
first place. "You wouldn't have read
it, suppose with another sheer, ''but
] did, and found it so interesting that |
took copy. You may as well finish it,
now that you've got the gist. There
isn't much more, only a demand for
money. AS the writer pleasantly says:
If you think it worth while to pay me
some more kin be silent as the grave
or kin blab. Truly the way of the
transgressor is hard, and my cousins
wife hasn't patch of roses to walk in.
That MIR. Quest, whom we had to din
ner, knows her secret"
"Quest!" with shock in his voice.
81 happened" with emphasis on the
word-''to overhear her trying to bride
him not to betray it. l don't know
whether she succeeded or not, but, sup
posing she did, it can't be pleasant to
be under the thumb of a man like
th8t.n
Miss Power, will you give me that
letter."
80! The fine scruples of honor are
giving way at last. l thought they
would
He gave no heed to the sneer. He
walked away abruptly, his brain in a
Whlrl, yet seeing ''as through glass
darkly'' toward what all these disclos-
ures which were coming to him tended.
He held the copied letter, his eyes fixed
upon it, without seeing the words. He
had no definite idea of what he meant
to do with it, some vague thought of
confronting Mrs. Oliphant and demand
ing an explanation, or of applying to
Quest, and then all at once he found
himself reading the address, "viOla
.hickett, no - bOwry lane, new York"
What was that he had overheard
Quest saying to Killuth as they left the
dining-room?
If you take the morning train I'll be
happy to bear you company. I've got
to go back on flying trip though f've
Just come from the city-hope to be
here again by this time tomorrow"
1t flashed over him like an inspiration
that this flying trip was intended to
pacify the demands of Mrs. Viola Hick-
'ett. What more likely, since Quest
held Mrs. Oliphant's secret, that he
should act as Mrs. ELEPHANTS agent in
the affair,
He looked at his watch. Just eight,
and the last beams from the sunset had
faded in the silvery dusk. The last
train from the village station left at
$40. There was time to make it, no
more. He drew out his note book and
dashed off hasty line.
Fam called to the city. Win be back
tomorrow. Make my excuses, and
ask Killuth to stay over until my re-
turn
He tore out the leaf and folded it,
writing Madam Farrington's name on
che back, then hurried away, meeting
Alexia opportunity as he neared the
gate, and charging her with the delivery
of the note.
"And wonder what's taking you in
that tremendous hurry" the young
lady unused, as she watched his retreat
ing form. ''Called to the city-humph!
Queer that / saw nothing of the mes
~enger if he got a dispatch. It's my