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

characters, had an expression very like
horror printed upon her stern, wrinkled
face. t
Her grandson had tried her sorely
since their return to New Orleans, six
months ago. 1t bad begun by his de-
serting the home he had always had in
her house, and taking rooms at the St.
Charles.
That any benefit could be derived
from such change, Madame Earring
ton greatly doubted; and by-and-by
rumors came to her in a roundabout
way that Launt was neglecting his bust
ness, that he was keeping late hours,
that he was falling in with class of as
sociates whose influence, to say the
least, could not be for good She had
htred to ignore these stories; she wanted
to believe no evil of him; but the time
came when she could ignore them no
longer. She had come on this morning
to demonstrate with him, had been
shown to his room from which he was
absent at the moment, and found that
note which seemed to her a corrobora-
ton of all she had lately heard.
The door opened and he entered;
Madame Harrington faced him like an
accusing spirit, the offending missive
held up to sight.
Launcelot," she inquired, sternly.
"What does this meanP'
| Launt glanced at it carelessly. cit
| means that i am asked to meet a few
friends at Madame Florine's apart
ments after the theater is over-plain
enough, l should imagine, for the dull
est comprehension to take in at sight"
"You understand what / mean better
than you pretend. Oh, my boy, my
poor boy!' with a break in her voice,
lis your life, after all, to end in this?
Did you think it would not come to me?
Oh Launt, my more than son, come
back to me! Give up the runous course
which will break my heart"
Launt set his lips and looked at her
full.
"What is it you have heardP" he
asked, coldly. 5.'
"What need is there to tell? You
know better than l. If you will have
it, that you are throwing away your life
as your father threw his away, that you
are taking the same path. That you
belong to a club which is only a fashion
able gambling den, that you are living
beyond your means, that you associate
with fast men and faster women
women like this though that you should
be victimized by her, a worn-out actress,
a woman old enough to be your
mother, she was about to say, but she
choked at the word. II would not have
believed it, if it had been told me-"
Launt listened very quietly, with
neither anger nor resentment. A light
of scorn and amusement shot for an in
slant across his face, but died almost
Immediately in look of utter weari-
| ness.
Il assure you," be said, ''you are
distressing yourself without the slight
est cause. did try the experiment of
some of those follies, but gambling,
wine or women have no charm for me.
think / could 90 through fiery fur
mace of that sort without the slightest
injury to my morals. In fact, Tam so
thoroughly weary of the course you
deprecate, that have made up my mind
to an entire change"
"You will come back to me, Launtp"
81 shall Join an expedition which is
fitting up now for the Polar seas"
There was heart-broken cry, a Sob
bling wall of loss and pain.
LAS if | had not had trouble enough
in my life. Oh, Launt! oh, my boy!
have you no mercy on meP'
The look on Launt's face told her
more plainly than words that remon-
STRANGE was useless.
She rose to go. Some of her COM
posture had returned. Whatever Nine.
harrington might feel, she had learned
well the lesson of stern self-control.
Her eyes fell upon the note which had
escaped from her thoughts.
Sat least" she said, "promise me
that you will not go to that woman 5
house. No good can come of it, and it
is small concession for you to make
now. Refuse Nine. Florine's invitation
to please me, Launt."
"My dear mother, | would do so
willingly, but have already promised
promised so faithfully that shall not
break my word"
What was it, misgiving, dread, that
looked at him out of Nine. harrington
eyesp She seemed for moment as if
she would urge her entreaty, but sighed
and turned away without another word
Plenty of light, plenty of color, in
Madame Florine's handsome rooms.
Madame herself was petite, and blonde
of the blondest type; great turquoise
blue eyes looked at you out of the be-
rouged and enameled face, an abundant
roll of the softest faxen hair crowned
the small head. She wore black satin,
bow Of the same in the mass of pale
hair, and she looked at least ten years
younger than her actual age. "A
worn-out actress" Madame harrington
had called her, but Madame Florine
was popular yet. The cleverest men,