The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1880-07-31

A year after the opening OF our taie, th'
grim messenger snatched her fond fathe
from her loved embrace. Her grief wa
intense, and many were the coincidence
she received from sympathizing friends.
She continued to reside at her old home
with the housekeeper, who had presid
ed in that capacity since her mothers
death
Among those who storve to win her atiec
ton, were some who might be denominat-
ed fast" who very evidently thought il
would be fine thing to have the handling
of her money others there were who were
engaged in business, and, while they adj
mired her character, thought more of the
benefit they might receive from her fortune
There was one, however, who worshiped
her at distance. He was poor clerk
whose salary barely supplied his own wants
and those of his widowed mother. He had
never expressed his feelings openly to her
He regarded her as far above him in the
social scale, and often lamented that she
was not as poor as himself, for then be
would have courage to lay his heart at hel
shrine. His name was Walter Benson.
They had been acquainted for long time,
and when they met, as was ofton the case,
Miss Thornby treated him kindly, and she
appreciated hia good qualities, and often
remarked to her friends that young man
who was so kind to his mother could not
help being a good husband. This, how
ever, was the extent of their acquaintance.
He had never presumed to call upon her,
and, save the language Of the eyes, and the
tell-tale expression of the countenance, she
had no opportunity to suspect the state of
his feelings.
For a year after her fathers death, Hell
via confined herself almost exclusively TO
her home, seldom going out save TO church
or among the afflicted and suffering Of the
neighborhood, where, like an angel of
mercy, she scattered blessings wherever she
went At the end of that period she re-
sumed her former social habits, and then
the aspirants to her hand again gathered
around her.
For more than three months she endured
their attentions, and then it occurred 10 her
that it would be best for her to know with
out mistake or conjecture, the true motives
that infuerce d their actions. She hit
upon plan that she imagined would test
the matter to her entire satisfaction, and
perhaps save her from keen disappoint-
ment in subsequent life. She confded her
plans to no one save the old lawyer who
had transacted her fathers business for
him for many years, and who approved Of
her motives and designs, and. promised to
aid her all that was needtul for the purpose
of furthering them.
The circle in which she moved was as
tonished TO see the beautiful residence in
which the ThorLbys had so long resided
closed, and the rumor gained ground that
the Thornby estate had proved insolvent
from claims that had come againstit from
an unexpected source. To place the mat
ter beyond all doubt, daily paper in a
few days contained the following announce
ment:
I'VE are panied to learn that the estate
of the late Charles Thornby, Esq,
has proved insolvent, much larger amount
of claims having come against.i it than can
be liquidated by the property LETT. Nh
Thornby's daughter has relinqulshed all
into the hands of the proper officers, and
has taken her abode with former nurse in
her family"
Mrs. Benwood, the nurse, really suppos.
ing that her pet, as she called our heroine,
had been unfortunate, gave her cordial
reception to her humble home
Hevia applied herself to sewing and,
from her scanty earnings regularly paid
her board Those who professed so ardent
ly to admire her in the days of her prosper
ity, deserted her, blessing their stars that
this calamity had come in time to prevent
their being sufferers in consequence of 1t.
One who had proposed for her hand with
the most earnest protestations Of undying
affection, to whom she had deferred an an.
swer, after the news of her calamity had
been made public, and she had taken her
place among those who earn their bread.