The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1880-11-19

terrified her SO, even in imagination,
to mention. How did he know?--
and Bculah looked wonderingly at
him, her thoughts in her face
al understand perfectly, how you
feel" he said, still holding his arms
around her waist, and looking straight
in her eyes. "You fear you may, per-
haps, care less for me than you think
more for him than you think-and
you want to be honest and womanly
about it, just as would have you.-
But, my love, my love, do not think l
shall ever give You up! / think, if l
knew you loved him best, would not
let him have YOU"
Gle is coming tomorrow she
whispered, almost afl'rightedly'
"That will be sharp disappoint-
ment to him." he said pityingly.-
"Beulah, how sorry l feel for him
How sorry ! feel for every other man
who has not won your love! l Won
der if it is possible for me to be jeal-
GUS of Vernon? Beulah, may l see
him for you when he comes? May |.
tell him just how it is with you and
mcl"
What other answer could she have
made than what she did make, when,
with his arm around her waist, his
eyes-handsome, ardent eyes-looking
their passion into hers?
eyes tell him what you please"
she said, quickly, almost deflantly, af-
ter that little, low breathed, hesitant
yes. "And | must 60 now-l must
goW
Four o'clock of the to-morrow--a
day all envcloped with damp chill
and gray mists--a world from which
sunshine seemed forever banished--
and Beulah wondered if it were still
in the June weather, that yesterday
was SO sensuous and ehxir-like in its
fragrant breezes, its luxury of sum
shine, its singing Of glad birds.
An east wind had crept up during
the night, and the day was spoiled
just as life was to be spoiled before
another night should come.
Beulah stood shivering on the pi-
azza, waiting until the children came
for their drive, which Mrs. Sartoris
never allowed to pass, whatever the
condition of the weather.
And Alsager came out to assist
them in--the youngsters, and Beulah
especially, for the purpose Of giving
her pressure Of the hand, that meant,
as plainly as words could have spoken
that when she came back, Vernon
would have been and gone, and moth
ing would henceforth trouble or grieve
her.
The drive was absolute misery to
Beulah. She shivered, even in the
close coach, with her shawl wrapped
about her, until it seemed to her that
she never would feel warm and COM
Portable again.
Had Pierce come? Had he heard
all about it? Had he got the DEATH
blow to his hope and happiness yet?
Was she glad or sorry!
And so she kept questioning herself,
while the children laughed and chat
tered, and the drive was prolonged by
Master Jacks positive orders, and ev-
cry time the turn of the carriage
wheels was like the wheel of fate for
her.
Then, just in sight of West Lawn
gates, again she saw BERTHE Alsager
standing on the cliff, the furious east
wind blowing the salt spray almost
in his face, rs, glass in hand, he stood
watching what appalled, her to sea-
flimsy little boat, in which one man,
all alone, was trying to make the
shorc-a mere feather in that raging
sea.
She ordered the carriage stopped,
with a sudden, cold stilling OF her
heart.
Give me the glassw she said, as
Alsager opened the door.
And then she saw the face Of the
man in the boat.
"Savc him save himl Don't let
him perish before my eyesl Mr.. AL
sager, for Gods sake, save him! lie
was coming to me--he must not dic!"
And in the shrek of horror and
yearning, the look in her face, in
her eyes, BERTHE Alsagcr knew it was
Pierce Vernon she loved better than
he.
A look, heart breaking to see, came
into his face in that little second he
looked at her SO frantic, so despairing,
so passionful.
60, Cop she said, frankly. Don't
you see he is perishing before your
eyes? PicrceI Piercep and she
shouted out his name wildly, "kcep
up your couragc-hclp is coming I"
1t never reached him, that agonized
cry, but it sealed the doom of des-
pair in Alsagers heart,
"Be calm, Beulah," lie said quietly.
of l can save him, | will do it for
you. Good-by, dearw
And he went hurrying down the
cliff, lost to sight by binding spray,
that Beulah did not feel now, as she
stood there, in speechlessness.
She saw him spring into tho little
boat, rocking in the surf; she saw him
push of, as If into the very jaws of
death and then shesank back among
the carriage cushions, almost scream
ing, not daring TO think, not daring TO
pray.
Only all hour later--that to Beulah
seemed an cternity-and then Mrs.
Sartoris came to her, colder, statelier
than ever.