The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1879-07-29

| null tInt fastened II tine only trace left OF
her presence) would not be observed; and
made new row; to find what had become
OF Austin Wedgwood, and why he had dis
appeared. She had taken the pre-
caution to tell Mrs. Sharp IN the
morning that she had to go over to the
school house to make out her monthly re-
port, and might be gone for several hours.
Miss Wyman came home late, looking pale
and sick-hearted. ',She didn't find him at
Dogtown,' thought Amanda Jarvis. 1t
was at breakfast the next day, when she
was looking more her own gravely her
sweet self, that one of the big Sharp boys
said
"Ma, saw the doctor goin' by this
mornin'. Said Old Toms down sick an,
Ehe thinks it's small pox, ferhe's been ex-
posed"
"Whered he get it9"cried Miss Jarvis,
losing some of her color, as she went
through a rapid calculation of
the number Of days since she had seen
him.
"One o. the Chiny peddlers."
"Not the one that comes here?r Mrs.
Sharp said, with lively interest.
"No the old Teller with pock-marks. He
couldn't have it, if he tried but the doctors
Jest found out tibet he'd been workin' fer
some folks whar thars smallpox, an KEEP
up his peddlin', too. He's run, or he'd
get hurt; folks is mighty mad. But it's
rough on OF Tom, fer he amt got nobody
to tend to him.
"No one at all3" said Miss Wyman. in
her earnest way. "Oh, surely they won't
leave him so. The doctor will get him
nurse"
"Well," said Mrs. Sharp, slowly, "if twas
anythin' but smallpox, OF if he was bodys
own folks. But, you see, its nobody's bust
ness more'n anybody else's; an everybody
has their own family to think of. I've got
as much call to go as anybody, but how
could do it; 'twouldn't be dom right by
them that has first claims on me-"
doctors been tryin' to get nurse" Joe
went on Couldn't find none"
| Miss Wyman had risen and stood with
her slender hand on the back of her chair.
The diamond of en- engagement ring twink
led there.
ut seems very plain case" she said,
with her QUOT smile. III have no nearer
claim to consider.
you. Are you crazy?" cried Mrs. Sharp,
taking in her meaning after long stare,
though the quicker-witted Miss Jarvis had
cried out at once: IAN old tramp" Mrs.
Sharp went on, in strong remonst;ance:
mo one knows who he is! A lady like
your'
81 am the very best one. have no .rea-
son to object to death--none whatever.
There is nothing should leave.behind me.
This comes to me like God-send."
The people at the table looked at her
! silently. Outside, the April sun broke
through rift and little stream, of light
crossed the dim, rough kitchen, and wrap
ped her where she stood-the tall, Madon-
na-like lady, with her clear face all lighted
with great gladness. Even Miss Jarvis
! felt with awe a glimmering perception of
what the love and the longing must have
been that had lived in this other women all
these years, and what life must have meant
to her, that the chance to leave it honorably
could bring such joy to her face. Joe
Sharp sobbed outright. Miss Wyman
moved to leave the room.
"And never find him?' cried Miss Jarvis
excited beyond her own control.
Mis- Wyman turned at the door, and
locked at the girl; but it was no time for
resentment.
II am as likely to find him in the next
world as in this" she said, more to herself
than to the other, and then left them.
Then Miss Jarvis told the excited circle
what she had learned, avoiding any men
ton how she had learned it.
"Yes, heard sometime ago from Digger
vile and Red Crick fellers, that's Wedge
wood she asks for when she rides around.
didn't know who she was though said
Joe.
"Why didn't you tell mo'n cried Miss
Jarvis, chagrined.
"Oh, do know; it seemed kinder
shabby" the young man said, color
ing.
While they talked they heard her pa
thetic voice in the other room, singing in
snatches
| "'Why vcx our souls with carey
The grave is cool and low
Have we found life so fair
That we should fear to goY
Then hold close, sweet death
III 50 IL sveleln Dcst,
When they looked for her five minutes
later to see if she could be in earnest, they
discovered she had already gone. In tho
sweet morning air, along tho road, green
with spring time, under the white clouds
breaking and melting from the dark-bluc
sky, she was walking, gracious vision, in
that lonely place. A few moments later
she entered the door Of the shanty under
the cottonwood.
The sick man had been moved out into
his kitchen, and the doctor had evidently
done all he could for his comfort before
leaving him. The disease had not yet de-
clared itself, except as fever. The heavy
beard was gone, and his face, still unmar-
red had taken on, in the Inconsistencies
of a tcverish sleep something of the look
of young days. Miss Wyman had never
seen him before, as it happened, and now,
as she stood gazing at his tace in the squaid
sick room, she looked like an angel come
to carry him from the world. One minute,
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