The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1880-11-19
BEULAH's LOVERS.
BY MARY REED CRowELL.

Beulah had managed to arrange for
On hours relief from her arduous du-
ties, and, in her own room, with lock-
ed door, was walking to and fro, rest
lessly up and down, now with quick,
nervous steps, now slowly, thought
fully, but always with that same
restlessness and utter unpeaceiulness
that was new experience to her.
The great house was very quiet, for
Mrs. Sartoris had gone to her own
room for her usual after.lunch siesta.
The children-Fay and Mignon, and
Jack-were off, In the sweet June
weather, in charge Of the nursery
maid, attached to their little high
nesses, Fay aud Mignon, aged and 5,
respectively.
And Mr.. Alsager was--Beulah did
not know where, as pacing the velvet
carpet OF the elegant rooms, that Mrs.
Sartoris did not think any too good
for her children's resident governcss,
Beulah's checks famed or paled at
thought of him. --- -
He was the "Uncle BERTHE" whom
the children alternately adored and
tormented. He was the handsome
bachelor brother of pretty Mrs. Sar-
toris, come to preside over West Lawn
since Mr.. Sartoris's death, three years
before. A rich, masterful, elegant
man, who had fallen desperately in
love with the govcrness, and--becn
accepted by her twenty-four hours
before.
Beulah had locked herself in her
room, daring, for the first time in
those twenty -four hours-yes, for the
first time since BERTHE Alsager had
first shown his ardent admiration,
three months before-to look matters
straight in the face.
And she saw two undeniable facts
in that unshrinking, steadfast, stub
born gaze. One, that never again in
all her life would such wonderful
good fortune come to her as this that
Alsager had laid, with pleadings and
kisses at her feet twenty-four hours
before. To be so rich, so influential
socially, to lead such luxurious life,
not one girl-one poor, obscure girl
in ten thousand would ever have had
such chance. Besides, he was hand
some and young, and she liked him
remarkably well.
But then that other tact-that when
Vernon had sailed, one year before, he
had taken her solemn promise to be
fond of him, when he returned, loyal
and true, ready to be claimed by him.
When he returned--June "a and
to-day it was June 90.
What was she to do?
She could not take counsel Of her
own heart, because already, its true,
honest love had been setup in defiance
against luxury, ease and riches.
If she had been true to her own
heart, true to her womanhood, BERTHE
Alsagcr's declaration would never
have left his lips; but it was not
enough that she had not been true to
them, and now she was in a place
where there was to be terrible fight
between ambition and affection.
Tomorrow, Vernon would be there,
at West Lawn. lie was not man to
take her detection easily or quietly,
nor the sort Of lover who could, or
preferred to, conceal his happiness
from all eyes.
Alsager would learn i'll half an hour
how she had played fast and loose
with them both; Vernon would UNI
dcrstand her treachery to him; anu
which of them would forgive herr
Rather whose anger, whose i'll wishes
would she prefer to endure?
So this pretty, ambitious Beulah
walked up and down, up and down,
her brain whirling between the two
forces striving for conquest.
One word from her to either Of
them would settle it all. One word
to Alsager, telling him she had been
mistaken i'll her own feelings-giving
up her pleasant position as govcrness,
with its congenial duties, its salary of
$500 II year--going away out of the
luxury she enjoyed with every fiber
of her being. Of course, she could do
all this, and thereby settle" it all
with BERTHE Alsager.
And-mcet Pierce Vernon on his
home coming, alas! not as lcal and
true as when he left her, but still leal
and true enough TO have overcome
ambition for his dear sake.
What should she do?
And, as if in answer. she heard her
name called from the lawn below, and
she saw Mr.. Alsager standing in the
shade, looking up at her windows,
awaiting her answer to his summons.
"Comc down, Beulah, for q little
while. want you in the library
VIII your"
All, he was handsome and bonny to
see, and he could give her so much, SO
much she had all her life hoped for
and desired with all her soul! And
her heart gave little, prideful thrill
at sight Of him, but not the same
fierce, passionate sensation that al
ways throbbed over her when Pierce
Vernon looked at her.
Yes, she would 60 down to him
and some sudden, overpowering i'm
pulse CAME to her to tell him all about
it-all about everything-and let him
decide.
1t was weak in her, beyond doubt
but she was SO dismaycd at the tu-
multuous tempest in which she found
herself that any escape was welcome.