The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-08-14
CHAPTER XII.

The carriage has cone to standstill,
and, peering out into the gloom, l see
long irregular building with rows OF win
d0ws, many Of them lighted. The hall
door is standing wide open, and flood of
light streams down the steps. And AS
Humphrey says "Welcome home," he lifts
me bodily over the threshold OF the door,
and puts me down In the hall, where two
rows Of servants are waiting to receive us.
smile feebly in answer to their saluta-
tions. We have had long journey, and
am very tired. 1t seems ages since l said
"Good-bye" to the old home this morning,
and dismal feeling Expresses me as
look around. There Is stout person
in the orthodox black silk bowling before
me.
"Would you wish to see your rooms,
ma'am," she is saying; and Humphrey
whispers
at is the housekeeper, Mrs. Steele"
So / 20 with her up the wide staircase,
and along corridor, and then she throws
open door and ushers me into a large
apartment, with blazing fire in the CRATE
and wax lights on the chimncy-piece and
dressing-table.
"Oh, what a lovely roomn' exclaim
childishly, and Mrs. Steele smiles.
81 thought you would prefer this room,
ma'am; and the dressing-rooms are of it,"
A shy-iaccd girl is standing near the
fire.
"My niece" Mrs. Steele explains. Mr..
Carstairs wrote word that you had en-
gagged no maid; so thought perhaps Hes.
ter would answer. She Is very quick aud
obligingW
"Thank YOU" say, feeling decidedly
awed and overpowered by the grandeur Of
Mrs, steele. She is very plenfaph 6frsr-
ulster, and wheels up large chair 10 the
fre.
"You look tired, ma'am, and worn out
Hester, run down and bring upa cup Of
tea"
sink down upon tho chair aud look
round with sensation of strange wonder
This large house minc--al these servants
here to do my bidding!
"Have you everything you require,
ma'am?" asks Mrs. Steele, preparing to
leave the room. "Dnncr will be ready in
about quarter Of an hour"
Humphrey now comes hurrying into the
room.
"Ah, you have made your mistress COM
Portable, ] sec, Mrs. Steele! That is right.
Are you very tired, dear" bending over
the chair "What child you look in that
big chairW he says, laughing.
Humphrey, ! had no idea Carstairs was
such \ large house"
"Wait till daylight before you pronounce
judgment"
He Is in very high spirits tonight; this
homecoming seems to have made my hus.
band very happy.
Presently 90 down the stairs again, my
hand on Humphreys arm, and he leads me
TO the drawing-room, which seems to me
TO he Of gigantic dimensions. The rooms
are all very long and low, with enormous
bay windows that are little rooms in them
selves; the rooms are raftered with oak
that seems black from age. The furniture
is large, old-fash!oned, and heavy; and, as
far rs can see, the tables seem literally
laden with rare old china vases, bowls,
and plates, arranged doubtless by Mrs
Steele.
"We must settle all this" Humphrey
says chcerfully. You know you can re.
furnish or do anything you likc only, my
darling, try to be hsppy"-hoding my
face In his hands and smiling into my eyes.
~ have the prettiest wife in the county"
he adds laughing. "Madgie, am richly
blessed In my old age"
"You aren't old" l answer with little
smile that ends suddenly. "And cross
wife Is no blessing. Oh, Humphrey, what
. dear old room this tsp
81 am 80 glad you like IT," he says, and
bis voice sounds as il he were pleased.
"Dinner 10 served" announces q grave
gray-haired butler who throws open the
door.
every well, Bernard" answers Hum.
phrsy, giving mo his arm.
! am thinking Of Grabbed Anthony Car
stairs, and picturing the cross, weary, dis.
appointed old man, In these rooms, as we
ars passing through the oak.caryed hall
Into the dining-room, which is long and
low like the drawing-room, and has the
'ams oak.raftered roof. At the far end
tsnds . heavy sideboard covered with
,late, shining and flashing out Of the
Iloom. Pictures hang on the walls, but
In too tired to more than glance at them
o.night.
How Bee and Lena will love this old
louse How blithely their voices will
ound through the old rooms! / look
!own At Humphrey sitting At the other end
u tho table, and no answers my glance
WITH smile. Bernard has left the room
md we are lingering over our dessert.
81 ike this old homc," my husband says.
" could fancy person being very fond Of
place like this. My father loved the yc.
~ memory Of Csrstairsp
=, am wondering II / shall ever love the
~ .ss, Sver care for this gray old house, cy.
sno s1,ak Of 1t a. my somc, tho sweetest
49, 90 -----.---.. - ...