The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-10-01
FALSELY ACCUSED.

of the lady who occupied his thoughts
--"beautiful and good | should fancy,
| The manner in which she spoke Of her
| companion-an old school-fellow, who
has experienced reverse of fortune,
and to whom she has given a peaceful
home-was generous and womanly and
kind. The girl is lovely enough to
have excited jealous fears in the breast
OF less noble WON an myself was
conscious of strange fascinated inter-
est in her on that one occasion when
we met, and would gladly have met
her again, and known her better II
Miss Isabel favors me, ~ she has given
me cause to believe, the decision was
lucky for her; for her pale sweet COM
panion might have rivallcd her, in my
estimation at least | believe should
have proposed to Isabel before this, had
not seen that fair girl. And what
folly that would have been after ala
poor pretty nobody, with poverty
stricken family, of whom | might have
felt ashamed. Isabel says that, for all
her beauty and grace, the girl is of low
extraction"
He was at the door of Miss Sponcer's
residence, as his soliloquy came 10 an
end, and found the household in strange
excitement and disorder-there had
been robbery, the servant who adj
mitted him informed him. Miss Spen-
Ger had lost valuable diamond ring,
and accused her companion, Miss An
ME Gray, of having stolen il.
The news gave Hetherington shock.
Horror, incredulty, Indignation pos.
sessed him.
1.-THE accusation is monstrouS! Abb
surd!'' he cried, and pushing the SER
want aside, made his way unannounced
to the drawing-room.
The two adies-accuser and accused
were there alone, but the door stand
ing open, neither of them noticed his
intrusion He paused for moment
on the threshold to take in the scene.
Isabel Spencer was flushed and an
cry. but with an uneasy and anxious
air peeping through all her defiance
that struck the observer strangely.
Annie Gray, on the contrary, though
deathly pale, was self-possessed and
calm, with SO high and pure an express
sion of innocence and dignity about
her, that q casual observer would GER
tainiy have reversed their places, and
imagined her to be the accuser and Is
abel tho accused.
II do not desire TO charge you, lsa-
bel was saying, with doubtful and
furtive glance. II would gladly spare
you that for old times sake; but the
ring was on my toilet-table last night,
and it has disappeared. No one but
yourself could have taken it, You un-
dressed me after l returned from the
ball. you were the last in my room;
your mother is poor, and with your lit
tie brothers almost dependent upon you,
the temptation was doubtless very
great. Only confess to me in the pres
ence of a witness that you took the
ring, and will not even demand It's
restoration, but will forgive You, and
let You so UNPUBLISHED; but you must
confess, or must have you arrested"
al do not believe that you dare" an
| swered the other contemptuously.
"You know that you accuse me falsely,
and for your own purposes. Harold
| Hetherington has not proposed, as you
hoped, and you blame his strange inter-
est in me for it, You think to disgrace
me in his esteem, and thus secure TO
yourself a wealthy husband before your
fathers failure in business is published
to the world. You see, | understand
you, 1t is true that the ring has dis
appeared, but you know, as we'll as
heaven knows, that | as much lady
as yourself, know nothing of it. You
do not believe the story Of my low ex-
traction which heard you tell to Har-
old. You know that am Annie GRAY
Linton, whose father, Judge Linton,
was his fathers dear friend. You know
that his interest in me comes from some
half-forgotten memory of old days,
when he and |, as children, played TO-
gether and loved each other well. Ar
rest me il you darer' Her figure rose
erect and her eyes flashed. IL is TO
him that will turn for help and JUS
tice and you shall defeat your own
ends! Because, months ago, when poor
mamma was sick and almost starving,
you gave us help, and to me employ
ulcuu, was SO X dpoiui ulut NoIoCHJ-
ed to avoid the dear old friend who
loved us all, lest, as you feared, should
prove your rival in his regard, and
believed that you loved him. But you
have forfeited all claims upon me now.
II is !, not you, who will dictate terms,
Miss Spencer. You have cast vile
aspersion on my character before your
household. You must call them to-
gether and publicly declare that you
were wrong. If you refuse, | myself
will send for Harold Hetherington --ay,
even to my prison, If you dare to send
me there--and from my own lips he
shall learn allv'
HE is informed already" said Har-
old, coming quickly and quietly into
the room, and taking Anne's hands in
his own. my dear little playfellow,
have found youP Now know why
the sweet face, even in that one brief
glance. was 80 familiar, doar Child,
have sought for you ever since my re.
turn, having heard Of your fathers en-
| barrassment and death, and hoping TO