The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1883-08-04
CHAPTER XVI.
IN HER TRUE LIGHT.

Indignation SParkleu IN MISS BraXtOn S
eyes; indignation mingled, it must be
confessed, with the failing which mother
Eve transmitted to her children.
"It is yours then?" reading the
changed expression of her aunt's white
face. Its a real letter, COPIED in
Alicia Powers spidery scrawl, and not
base forgery as | at first Supposed?
And it was that which took Launt Far
rington away! Oh, Aunt Rose, | told
you how it would be if you ever let that
vicious old maid set foot in the house,
1t was ten o'clock the next morning
Breakfast was over, and Alexia had
watched her opportunity to be alone
with her aunt. She did not believe in
Fastening unpleasant tidings, and had
kept this back rather than break the
nights rest of Mrs. Oliphant.
cit will worry Aunt Rose, and she
worries enough without it," she had
said to herself.
She was fond of her Aunt Rose, yet
if people have secrets, and go around
like Deathheads at feast, and get mys-
FERROUS letters, what are you to eXpectr
But AleXia's curiosity did not find much
to feed upon after all.
After her first startled look, that first
gasping cry, Mrs. Oliphant was still.
She asked no questions of her niece.
Launt had seen this letter and had gone
to the city-that was enough.
She kept her room until luncheon.
When she came down every one looked
at her in amazement. The bright gold
of her abundant hair had been washed
away; snow-whte as the hair of eighty
it crowned her head, yet strange to say,
she looked more youthful, more fair
than she had done before.
FL have put away that sham forever"
she said in answer to their surprise;
''that and all other shams."
The cloud which had hung over her
was gone for that day. She was bright,
gracious, attentive to her guests, yet
never far away from her husband and
Dana.
The day was intolerably hot. Mad
anne Harrington and Miss Power both
withdrew to refresh themselves with a
d-afternoon nap. Lex and Dana
sought a shady nook in the garden, Mr..
Killuth and Mr.. Oliphant occupied cane
rockers on the verandah, and the mis-
tress of the drawing-room disappeared
to be seen no more until the dinner
hour.
And meanwhile Launt Harrington had
followed that first irresistible impulse
which came to him. In the early morn
ing he made his way to the address,
which he remembered, of Mrs. Viola
Hickett. In squalid neighborhood, in
a rickety tenement, in a dingy sky-par-
lor of the same, where the morning
sunshine pierced through grimy panes,
he found the one-time nurse, a sharp
featured woman of forty or more years.
He began without prelude:
"You were once, | think, in the en-
ploy of Mrs. Oliphant."
'No, sir, wasn't never in the en-
ploy of Mrs. Oliphant."
The fiat contradiction staggered him
for one instant; but there was some
thing sullen in the womau's tone, some
thing not quite sincere in the yellow
CLEAN of her cat-like eyes-greedy eyes,
they looked to be-and he changed his
method accordingly.
Il have come to inquire INTO the cir
cumstances of her adoption of the child.
l will pay literally for any important
information which you may be able to
give me. | have seen the letter you
wrote her recently; l know, in spite of
all you may say, that you can tell me
what / wish to learn"
A change, batfled and disappointed.
crossed the woman's face.
You've seen it." she said, slowly.
"Then 1 reckon she don't low to pay
any attention to me. There'd ought to
been answer yesterday, and it didn't
hot II 20 -
what'll you give for KNOWN it?''
A sick loathing of himself and the
part he was taking went over Launt,
but there was no turning back now. A
bargain was made, one which brought
satisfaction to Mrs. Hickett's sordid
soul.
Hes another sort from the mean
screw what was here BEFORE" she told
herself. "He got it all out of me for
ten dollars-ten miserable dollars afore
he ever breathed about the forth or
that they'd come back"
Tell me all you know" Launt COM
manded. "Tell me, first, who was
that childp"
"She's the heiress, as sure's you're
alive" said Mrs. Hickett, confidently.
"Mr. Rodney Frances heiress, the lit
tie girl what was born four months
after he was hung"
1t was out; the worst he could posi-
bly, fear was told. Rodney Frances
child! Mignon Almont's daughter! A
groan. OF anguish or of horror, rose to
his lips. but he kept it back.
81 told you L never worked for Mrs.
Oliphant, nor no more did |, but l was
nurse-maid and kitchen-girl both in one
for Mrs. France. 1t was at place on
the Hudson, and I'd worked for the two
OF 'em-him and her, you know-when