The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1879-09-02
A WOMAN'S VICTIM.

Brandon has always, in most refned Out
decidedly memorable way, expressed the
utmost skepticism
Love is a disorder of the nerves, he
would say, laughing, in the pleasant, in
fictitious way that made his companionship
SO fascinating; ut is an epidemic OF the
spring when birds and beasts and reasonable
bipeds become contaminated with languor
and longing, the fever, folly and fancy of n
disease occasionally as ridiculous as it is
incurabe."
Notwithstanding this peculiar sort Of in
fidelity, Wright Brandon was affable and
honorable, generous and gentle, and gallant
on all occasions when not 10 be so would
have been Inbred He was a noticeably
handsome man, although not an Adonis in
his grace and symmetry certainly; but he
was tall and strong and his shoulders were
superb. His thick hair rippled in ruddy
chestnut waves over his noble head, his in
tellgent forehead was as smooth and white
as that OF womans his brow and lashes
were intensely dark, his eyes purpish blue,
keen and thrillingly mesmeric, and his
features were grandly nodded. He had
fine income plenty Of leisure, and cared
very little for society. But tor the science
Of botany he had mos passionate dilec-
ton. He was most devout disciple
OF the piscatorial art also, and many a
strange, fair flower had faded in grasp rs
he watched the shadow of his ROD on the
surface Of some amber pool and many a
ghttering trout had nibbled harmlessly the
bait from his forgotten hook, while he
speculated upon the rare and brilliant
formation OF some blossoms dangling from
the boughs above him.
Coming along the bank of dancing,
dasmng mountain stream one summer
morning, burdened with his botanical
books and fishing trappings, he suddenly
found himself in a sunny glade that sloped
downward into the river in grassy point,
on one side of which was floating wilder
ness of water lilies with golden hearts and
broad petals OF snow, and or the other u
placid pool swarming with glancing, silvery
fms.
Just the place for delightful day. was
his mental comment as he seated himself
upon bed of wild violets in luxurious
hollow between the huge, naked roots Of q
great tree, threw out his line, artisticaly il
not customably fastened his rod, and open
ing volume prepared to wait with philo-
scpScai patience until some ulsuspecting
wanderer Of the topaz depths below would
become captive Of his sharp and cruel
hook.
THE ivy" he read from the open page,
was dedicated 10y the ancents to Bacchus,
some poets say because it has the effect of
disslpating the fumes of wine. 1t is also
symbolical of friendship from the closeness
OF its adherence 10 that upon which it has
once fixed itself; and hence favorite de-
vice of seals sprig of the vine with the
motto: i die where | attach myself. It's
| leaves are tre--"
He stopped, fancying he heard a sound
behind him, and half arising lie looked
back.
And there at the foot magnificent tree,
he saw, sitting IN crimson shawl, hand
some woman. Her form was evidently tall
and supple and her features, her hands, her
arms, were as white and as eyquisitelv
moulded as if chiseled out OF marble from
some elastic model. Her great, brilliant
eyes were intensely black and her superb
ebon hair was twisted in heavy masses
about her graceful head.
As he glanced at her covertly, curiously,
and admring.y, young man, blonde, slen-
der, elegant, toying with a whip, pushed
aside the dark sweeping branches and en-.
tered the glade.
"Di, my dear, are you ready to finish
your ride YETI he asked pleasantly. As he
spoke ne saw the figure Of Wright Bran
don, and rushing down the slope, surprised
and glad, cried;
why, Wright, never thought to find
you here How are you old fellow"
Quite as always am returned the
other, dropping his book and springing to
his feet; his shapely hand outstretchcd,
'qsite as always am, Carl-well, hearty
and most happy TO meet an old friend
Angling and botanizing together, as
unusual" remarked Carl st. John, with
pleasant laugh, as if Of friendly raillcry.
Where are you stoppingl At DeCours;
Well. | shall take you home with me,
Wright shall take no denial, and no
apology for refusal. Let me introduce nv
wife. Diana, my dear, persuade Mr.. Bran
don to become our guest
II think peruasion is not necessary to
induce Mr., Brandon to please his friends"
observed the charming woman IN tlatter-
Ing voice, and with an alluring smile, as
she gave him her dainty hand, ungloved and
warm.
And Wright Brandon, who believed his
heart to be as passionless and impregnable as
an icy rock on an Alpine peak, thrilled as
he felt that mesmeric touch, and assented.
II am so glad to have you here with us.
Wright said Carl St. John, some DAYS
latter. MY dear Di is quite changed since
you have come, and she found the old place
lonely enough before, dare say, for never
cared, as she does, to ride and angle and
hunt after odd plants with impossible names.
! only hope she does not weary you with her
irncies and whims."
"She does not weary me- am only too
happy to humor her. was the slow reply,
and Wright Brandon's face had become
singularly pallid.
And so the summer weeks slipped by.
and Diana ST. John never rode by sun or
moon through the fragrant, shadowy WAYS
81, H., i.