The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-05-13

OtdnHOpe OueTeu me MS escOrl IOr the
occasion. and was coldly refused.
And then began my misery. He was
gone, he was gone, my beloved, and my
heart was broken! In the first agony
of that parting, the first uncomfortable
pain of that loss, would have followed
him, bad it been possible, and knclt for
forgiveness at his feet.
Cloisterbury became intolcrable to
me. The place where had been so
happy and where oil my happiness had
been lost. Besides, 1t was q laxative,
inquisitive, country town, where every
one knew everyone else's business; II
many weeks went over without letters
arriving for me, Sir Georges silence
would be gossip for the whole neigh
borhood. That would have driven me
mad. In my despair and sorrow con-
fcssed some portion of my trouble TO
papa, and he, dear soul! kept my Sc
cret, and helped me to get away.
He had q friend-an old, invalid gen.
tlcman, very feeble and helpless
whose housckeeper had lately and sud-
denly died. was very sorry for Mr..
Germaine (whom had known from
childhood), and nursed him, perhaps,
more tenderly than q stranger would
have done, or at least he thought So
at any rate, when the new housekeeper
came, he was not willing TO have me
leave him, so | remained rs his COM
panion and nurse,
Not long, for his days were num-
| bcrcd. Six months after came TO him,
Death released him from his bed of
pain, and | discovered, to my great
surprise, that he had made me his
heiress.
Not TO a large fortune, certainly;
though enough TO make independent for
life. ! was very thankful -yery glad
for papa's sake more than my own-but
my first thought was full of the never
silent, never ceasing regret. George!
George! II only this misery had not
come between us, his mother would
have thought me q sufficiently good
match for her only son nowhere
would have been no obstacle to our
marriage.
No word or line from him. All, if he
had loved as loved, woulk he not have
written? Six months more went by; il
began to be rumored that he would
soon be home, bringing with him his
c0usin-his fathers ward-a wealthy
heiress, Constance Chester, who had
been travelling abroad. Pretty, grace
full, girish Constance! We had been
great friends long ago, and l ought to
have been glad at the thought Of seeing
her again. | was not, though. What
had George to do with escorting her
home? Was it match of old Lady
Chesters planning? Jealousy was add
ed now to my other pangs. George was
false, doubtless-I began to despise my
self for my own constancy. All, so has
many another woman done before me,
without finding that her self-contempt
could change her love!
Still they did not come. There came
another winter round al last, two years |
from the time OF that "lover's quarrel
which had spoilt my life. I was in
London, and accepted an invitation to
ball given by former schoolmate of |
mine who had married brilliantly.
You will meet an old acquaintance
here, tonight" she said to me. "Mrs.
Chester, the young bride of month,
who has just come from Spain with her
husband and his cousin. You remem- |
Der her, of course-she was Constance |
Chester before, so she hasn't changed
her name; ah, see, here they come, |
must meet them"
saw them entering the room. Con-
stance-so handsome, so improved
clad in cleaning bridal white, and
beaming with bushes and smiles. She
came in between two gentlemen, chat
ting and laughing with both. One was
a stranger to me, the other all, Heav-
en-! after such long, long love and an
guish to see him thus-anothcr wo-
mans husband. my lover-my first and
last love. 1t was too much, | felt |
could not bear it, and arose nervously
and excitedly to escape; sudden dark
ness and oblivion came over me.
at was the heat of the room, per.
haps," heard voice say, just as con-
seriousness came back TO me- $50 away
now-she is recovering; be patient, and
will call you presently"
knew her Constance -Lady
CheSter's, rather, though my hostess
had unthinkingly, | suppose, called her
Mrs Chester A strong shudder of
aversion ran through me at that
thought, and sat up suddenly.
Well, she was always q winning,
warm-hearted girl, whom none could |
resist; perhaps he was not to blame for
loving her! Certainly she had done me |
no Intentional wrong 1t was that re.
ilection-together with the memories of |
girlhood which her voice and touch re.
called-that made me, when her arms
stole softly round me, lay my face |
against her breast and weep-against |
her breast-his wife's!
There, there" she said cooinrly, |
patting and kissing my hair, there, |
all the troubles over now, dear! 1t was
the heat Of the room, of course. We
won't 90 back until you are quite re-
covered. Oh, how glad l am to see youi
And not married, as George said you
were, q year ago-stupid fellow! I'm
just dying to introduce my husband to
you. dear!"
| lifted my head-it was. impossible
to be ungracious with Constance in
spite of my own grief.
81 shall be Glad To meet yonr hus