The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-04-12
CHAPTER XIV.

day when Grace Massey and Mabelle
Fairfax came slowly up Lawrence street |
together, returning, the one from
school, the other from college. They |
had met in Carlton Road, and come on |
in company.
Philip will soon be here now said |
Grace. "1ou must put on better |
face to welcome him, Mabelle. You |
look so white and washed out-what |
they call fair pining, where | come
from
"Oh, am all right" said Mabolle,
with sickly smile.
Has Angela heard from Philip
again?"
mot since that day she had letter
saying he was OFF to Hong Kong, and
sailed in two days; at least" added
Mabelle. conscientiously. "she has not
heard again so far rs l know; but 60
off to school before the postman comes.
Angela does not go out till later.
Eyes. BY the way, think you have
too long hours at school. When your
holidays come you must pay us visit
at Foulhaven. l am sure it will do you
good, and by that time, thank good
ness, Philips engagement Will be pub
lie property, and it would be the most
natural thing in the world for you to
come. | hate all this secrecy, and |
feel it an absolute wrong to my father
and mother; but surely it will all be over
soonr'
Il hope So" said Mabelle, with a
still fainter smile, as they arrived at
home.
'Get your dinner" pursued the prac-
teal Grace. You look almost starv-
ing, and as for me. Pm ravenous."
With cheering nod she parted from
Mabelle, and went to her own quarters
The table was spread, and Grace,
throwing off her hat and mantle, was
about to ring the bell for dinner Qor in
Lawrence street that meal was usually
taken in the middle of the day., when
letter on the mantelpiece, addressed in
her mothers hand, caused her to pause.
She opened it, and was reading it.
DEAR GRACEY-Tha nks for your nice long
letter. and tell Miss BE rghaus that
A ring-a strange, trembling, yet
loud, importunate ring at the front
door, beginning, as it were, timidly,
and then repeated loudly So strange
a sound was it that Grace forgot the
'ravenous' hunger she had spoken of.
forgot her letter, and stood still, her
head raised, listening.
Presently the front door was opened,
and Grace could hear nothing that
passed, only that the door closed again.
and some one came in. Then-it all
seemed like weird dream-the parlor
door was pushed open, and Mabelle
stood there looking like some unhappy
little ghost; she seemed to have shrunk
away and become shorter, smaller,
thinner, during the five or six minutes
which had elapsed since Grace parted
from her. Her face was white,
her lips open, her eyes distended, her
whole aspect one of horror unmiti-
gated.
"Child, child. what is the matter?''
cried Grace, going to her and grasping
her arm, chilled by the look of despair
in the young face.
Don't touch mel" said Mabelle. in g
hoarse whisper, shrinking away from
her. Il am not fit for you to touch,
but you must know. Oh, she ought moi
to have left it all to me; indeed, she
5 ought notn'
t In her quivering hands she held pa
z per, which Grace, with an uncontrolla
G BILE impulse to know the worst, tool
from her hand and read, to Il broker
/ accompaniment of scattered words AM
ordinations from Mabelle:
n DEAREST MABELLF.-l am sure you will b.
. ! surprised to find letter instead of me wher
=, { YOU return from school. Dearest child, you
Il must try not TO feel hurt at what have done
- but you must see that had really no alterna
tive You must know how unhappy | hay'
y been in my engagement to Philip Massey. y
!, the time approaches for his return feel tina
i it is Impossible l should ever be united T.
- HINT would be misery; and the love whicl
: have learned to feel for another shows m
plainly that to marry Mr.. Massey would be thu
~ greatest wrong | could do. The gentleman
} whom am now golng to meet, and TO whom
:, | shall he married this MOI ming, Is Mr.. For
a dyce. We have looked Mt the matter in ever.
y light, and come to the cone usi9n that II wa
v best to be married privately. i have write,
}; TO Mr. Massey at the hotel in London ar whlcl
a he said he should stay; have lett you plent
IS and | will write TO you as soon as possible
n and tell you our plans. OF course, when W
h return, your home VIII be with us. ana II 20
Vt fees have made for you have not been ]
~ vain. .iu rtrOir then. | viii write froI
"a Paris and buy you s3methnE io ysts tnere'
a lang Ella"
"The hypocrite'"' burst from tn
d Inns of Grace, as she finishei son, tn
l. heartless, lying jilt! BAH"
l. Further energetic words were on he
ii energetic lips, but the dead slenC
ID which met her ears caused her to loo
I'D. chilled her in the midst of her fur
ID OF INDIGNATION Mabelle was support
he inc herself with both hands against
IL chair back; pale, trembling, sbiverin
from head to foot, and. silent -alway
| silent. 1t seemed as if the iron of hC
1t sisters sin, and the shame of it, had eI
[ tered into her soul forever. All 81
Dr. could do was to stand like some crea
IRE which has sinned. and sees the ma
q. ter's hand about to fall in chsstisemel
u L 49,. -.