The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1872-09-29
JOHN H. OBERLY, PROPRIETOR.
while, will take a cigar, and amuse
myself as best | can"

tone and manner which made him feel
uncomfortable, and he was glad to
make his way to the little cottage where
his quick eye had seen the peasant girl
and her parents enter on their return
from church. The family were just
sitting down to their simple MONDAY
meal and he would have turned away,
for fear Of causing annoyance, had not
the daughter caught sight Of him. Her
parents made him heartily welcome,
and Marie-he now heard her name
for the first time-placed chair for
him at the table. Simple as the meal
was, the prince thought he had never
made so pleasant dinner. lie was
charmed with the sterling good sense
and frankness OF the old people, whose
respectful dcmeanor had nothing ser
vile or fawning; and as for Marie, she
was all grace and perfection in the eye
Of her adoring lover. After dinner,
coffee was served in the little garden I;
and there they sat in delightful CONVEX
sation until Alexander was compelled
to keep his engagement with his uncle.
as that the young woman" asked
uncle Dimitry, later in the day, catch
Ing blush on his nephew's cheek, as
Marie and her parents passed them, on
their way to afternoon service. IL mus,
say you show good taste. How long,
pray, have you known this wild flower p
"Since yesterday y replied Alexan.
der, with conscious look.
"Since yesterday T. repeated the un.
Gle in astonishment "and to-day
counting in church, and long visit at
the house Quick work, | must say.
Your father wouldn't believe it, if l
were to tell him and to tell you the
truth, | hardly believe it yet myself,
you scape grace"
Angered by the sneering tone in
which these words were spoken, and
still more by their implied slur
on Marie, Alexander would have made
a singing retort; but he was able TO
master his Indignation, and refrain
from words that might recoil upon his
beloved. Happily his uncle maintained
his resolution, ard that evening ed
parted for Baden Baden, leaving AL
exander to make the best use of his
opportunities. The Prince was not a
dilatory lover. He made himself at
home in the little cottage, which had
become in his eyes more precious than
palace; and in order to be constantly
near Marie, he would even 20 into the
fields, where she and her parents were
at work, and take part in their labor
1t made people stare to see Prince so
madly in love with a simple peasant
girl and many shook their heads, and
said it would turn out badly, while
others called her sly schemer, or
something worse.
The strangest part Of the affair was
that Marie herself was all this while
ignorant of her conquest. She never
suspected the Prince of loving her.
The rich patients at a small watering
place like Libenstein are apt to do
strange things TO pass away the time,
aud she thought it nothing cxtraordi-
nary that the Prince, who had moth
ing else to do, should amuse himself
with ameteur farming. She knew that
he liked her, and that she liked him,
and that it was 10 both pleasure to
be together of warmer feeling she
never dreamed. But the time came
when she was undeceived. One Sun
day evening, after church, she and the
Prince were sitting together in the cot
tage garden, softly conversing. He
had taken her hand, and was looking
into her frank blue eyes, when with a
sudden and irresistible impulse, he
threw his arm round her waist, drew
her close to his side, and kissed her
passionately on the foreheard. Dear
est one!" he whispered, as the startled
and surprised girl tried to free herself
from his embrace Dearest Marie,
will you be my wife ?"
"Your wife o, sir, what have !
done to deserve this from you?'
Alexander drew the trembling girl
closer to his side, "My darling" said
he, very tenderly, "you cannot be.
lieve that | do not mean what | say
In what way could better show my re.
spect, my trust, my love, than by max
ing you my wife?'
"Ah, that can never be. You can't
make fine lady out of poor peasant
girl like me. The gulf between US is
is too wide and deep.,'
marie is right" said her mother,
who came into the garden in time to
hear the last words, and who easily
guessed what had been said before.
"Such unequal marriages never come
to good. No marriage is happy where
the parents blessing is withheld, and
yours will never consent that you
should marry peasant girl"
The Prince would have protested
strongly against this but the mother
with decision of tone which con-
WINGED him that nothing would change
her purpose, begged him first to
acquaint his parents with the story.
"God knows you have become dear to
u.s. she said; "but for Marie's sake
and your own, it is best that their con,
sent should be obtained before we talk
any further. If theirs is granted, you
may be sure ours will not be with
| boiJ