The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1880-12-26

old fellow like yourself out of o
scrape."
She smiled and nodded, and looked
altogether SO mischovous that Mr..
Cressington became quite excited over
her little mystery.
"Do explain, Cora"
And when she explained he leaned
back in his chair. with an expression
of positive awe and admiration on his
face.
"What woman you are, Cora! |
declare, it beats anythingI ever heard
in the whole course Of my lileW
After dusk, q glorious winter day,
with here and there star twinkling
in the pale gray sky, and the lights
and fires in the lIillcrest sitting-room
making an eloquent welcome TO Wal
ter Austin, as he stood in the midst Of
the home circle, tall, gcntlemanly,
handsome and self-posSessed.
Old Mr.. Cressington was in the
richest humor as he led forward two
young girls.
"Come, don't be shy, now. Walter
this is your cousin, Mabel Cressington,
and this is her good friend and insep-
arabic companion, Irene Vance, come
to help entertain you. My nephew,
Mr.. Walter Austin, girls. And this
is Aunt Cora-you remember her well
enough, ch?"
And so the presentation was mer-
rily gotten over, and Walter found
himself in the most pleasant family
he had ever known.
They were remarkably pretty girls,
with blue eyes-althOugh Miss
Vance's were decidedly the deeper
blue and more bewitching-and love-
ly, yellow gold hair. Walter found
himself admiring the style of Miss
Vance's couture before he had known
her an hour; and when he went up to
his room that night he felt as if be-
tween the two, roguish Mabel and
sweet little Irene, he never would
come out heart-whOlc.
"For Mabel is a good little darling"
thought he, sand | will take Great
uncle Abiah's advice and fall in love
with her, and thereby secure gener-
Gus share of the Cressington estates.
Egad that's happy thoughtW
But the handsome young gentleman
went to sleep and dreamed, instead OF
Mabel's laughing eyes, of lrene's gen.
tie tender ones; and awokc some
where in the middle of the night, UNI
able to get to sleep for thinking OF
her.
And the after days were not much
better. Despite the golden value of
Mabel, there was something about
Irene Vance that made this headstrong
fellow very foolishly Indifferent to the
advice he had sworn to follow.
because, by Jove!a fellow would
have to be made out of granite to re-
sist the sweet, shy ways of such
little darling as Irene! And Pll mar
ny her if she'll have me, and the mon
ey and the property may go to-thc
dogs! Eve head and pair of hands,
and blue-eyed Irene shall not sutler!"
1t was not an hour later that lie met
her in the hall, carrying great boughs
of holly, with which to testoon, down
the walnut staircase.
"Give me your burden, Irene," said
he. "Why did you not tell me you
were going to gather it, and let me 90
with YOU? 1t is altogether too heavy
burden for your arms to bear"
lie managed to get the lovely sprays
from her arms, but it required an i'm
mense amount OF tardy effort on his
part, and shy, sweet blushing on hers.
answer me, Irene. Why didn't
you let me 60 with you! Wouldn't
you have liked it,"
lie demanded her answer in the
most captivating, lordly way, and she
dropped her eyes in great confusion.
"I-e-s."
"Then why were you so cruel to
me?"
81 am not cruel to anybody. Indeed
must go now."
Walter placed himself squarcly in
the way, and was looking down at
her rosy-tinted face.
"No, YOU can't 90 yet. Irene, you
are cruel, or you would never deprive
me of the opportunity to enjoy the
blesSedness OF your society,""
His voice lowered tenderly, and he
dropped his hand nearer her curls.
"You know | think it cruel in you
to be so distant and reserved-don't
you, lrenep
She shrank away, her lovely form
dropping like u lily, her cheeks hang
lug out the signals of distress and
confusion.
son, please don't talk so to me. H.
deed must 90. Mabel is waiting
for the holly, and she-they won't
like it if
But she was prisoner in his tight
clasp.
If they find you and me talking 50
confidently together|
"No | mean if | don't take the
holly at once to Mabel"
Walter put his arms around her
waist before she knew what he was
doing.
Irene, look up. You shall not go
until you let me SEQ in your eyes if
you love me as well as | love you |!
Irene, my dear little girl, l do love
you very dearlyW
She was silent for one second, and
he saw the culver on her red lips.
Then she raised her head slowly, shy
| ".