The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1879-04-15

in John Buffers own pew, and a striking
contrast was presented by the men stand
eide Inv side, and sharing the book of hymns
while Marrcly's clear soprano rang through
thc little church. The one whose crave,
thoughtful brow and slightly STOPPING
shoulders kept the old habit Of his student
life the other with figure bold, erect and
! full of careless grace; black flashing eyes,
| which seemed to speak in turn all languages
but that of fear and reverence; full lips,
whose easy curl was yelled by the sikcn
mustachc he wore.
Twice and thrice Margcry's own eyes IN
countcrng those Of the newcomer drop
ped suddenly and "A heightened color crept
! 10 her checks. John Butler saw, and hat
ed himself for the sudden aversion he felt
for the man at his side. What property
had he in Margery that he should resent
! the tribute OF admiration which none could
choose but render to so fair face! Yet a
vague prcscntiment of evil, from which,
strive as he might, he could not eliminate
an unreasonable sense Of personal loss,
made him unQuiCt as he walked homcward
when the service was over. His heart was
none the lighter to see that young Wilde
presumlng on his previous introduction to
Margely, had ovcrtaken her and was walk
ing by her side, bending with chyalrous
grace as he talked while smiles and blush
! es chased each other over her face.
1t was the beginning of sad summer for
John Butler. There are no truths so pow
erful in their final seli-assertion as those
which we have peTsistcntly stricken to hide
even from ourselves. twas not long be-
| fore he knew, past denial, that with all the
strength of mature manhood he loved Mar
| gerry Gray, and that, alas. whatever FAINT
hope he had unconsciously cherished, de-
spite the disparity of age and temperament
of some day winning her to himself, was
fast fading into thin air
Allan Wilde had so far disamcd Deacon
Gray's first distrust as TO be a welcome Wis
itor at the farmhouse. Evening by even
ing he sat with Margcry in the grape arbol,
and the light breeze waited the sound OF
gay talk and happy laughter through the
open window Of John Buffers study. Mar
gery's beauty blossomed in those days
like that lonely cactus flower which opens
in single night. Her unframed magma
ton invested her lover with all heroic at
tributes. The stories he told her Of adven-
lures met in the practice of his profession
in remote, half settled districts, of encoun-
tiers with hostile landowners, who disputed
even by force of arms the right of railway
passage across their soil, sounded to her
like the widest dreams Of romance. She
could scarcely believe that so brilliant and
daring representative Of the great world
outside should bring the treasure of his love
to the little country girl whose life was
bounded by her native hills.
John Butler watched the young man mar
rowy. He had the rare nobility of nature
which would have made him able to rejoice
in Margery's happiness, even at the price
of his own pain, could he have felt that he
resigned her to a worthy rival. He had
learned that Allan was well connected in
his distant home, but nothing definite
Of his personal character, beyond
certain reputation Of careless liv-
ings Yet all the more, as weeks went by,
he felt assured that Margery was building
her life hopes upon the treachcreus sand Of
an untrue and vaclating nature. Possibly
he was neither wholly right nor wrong in
his Judgment. Wilde had the dual temper
amcnt.
He left her in the first days Of autumn,
with the golden red bright in the vallies
and the scarlet suu.ach aflame on all the
hills, NIargeys face was bright through
her tears with perfect hope and trust, ps she
babe him goodbye Was he not to come
again at Christmas time, and then, if all
was well they would never be parted more.
Gay, tender letters came to her as the first
weeks went by, their loving words singing
themselves over her heart Ike the carol Of
spring birds. Almost impcrccptibly a
change crept over thcm--a tone of troubled,
half-rcckless discomfort, which gricvcd her
sorely, though it could not shake her 10y
atty.
At last, one night, she opened the en-
vclop, with its familiar supcrscription, 10
find only a hastily scrawlcd note within;
CONCLUDED IN TO.NORROWS DAILY