The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-07-16
THE sELr-sAoRIPIJE.

small, the prairics stretching away from
il on all sides In green pillows. Near
it vas little group II naples, their
tender foliage stirring softly in the
evening air There were few stars
out, and low in the west crescent
moon hung, looking for the nonce like
broken ring, one golden half gone.
pbis thought came to Sarah Vane as
she sat in the porch, with her face rest
ing against her hand.
Everything is divided just so in this
world,r she murmured to herself, ris-
ing, the book which had been lying up
on her lap falling to the floor.
She stopped to pick it up, and as she
did so caught the sound of a step in the
distance. Nearer it came. strong, even
and firm, keeping time to tune mel
odiously whistled. For moment the
wife stood, book in hand, listening at
tentively; then, look of disappoint-
ment shadowing her eyes and mouth,
she went into the house, closing the
door after her. But the step came for
ward just the same, and the tune, as
clear and beautiful rs the notes of a
thrush, filled the air with music.
II was frank, almost boyish face,
though bronzed and bearded, that came
homeward that night; just such an one
as mother would have delighted in
looking upon, because the world had
left no traces Of evil upon it.
As he stepped into the porch, still
whsiling softly, slip of folded paper
lying upon the floor attracted his mten-
ton. He picked it up, and read his
wife's name, written in well-known
hand upon the back. The impulse was
strong upon him to crush it in his hand.
but something restrained him; whatev-
er the feeling was that flashed up in his
eyes for the moment, he had, or SEEM
ed to have, perfect control of it. He
stood for while with his straw hat in
his hand, and then went into the house
as quietly as though no fierce passion
had been graphing hard at his heart.
His wife was sitting by the table, and
with a simple This must be yours,
Sarah" he laid the folded paper be-
side her.
Thank YOU" she answered, without
raising her eyes, and Harry Vane pass
ed on, something very like a sob rising
in his throat.
The husband sat down to the evening
meal without word. Somehow every
thing seemed terribly real to him that
night. Looking about the pretty, taste
full room, he saw it as he had never seen
it before. II stood before him like
living picture. with lis homemade or
namenls, snowy curtains and neatly
laid table. And the wife, too--how fair
she was to him! How far above other
women, with her neat, housewfely
habits and ladylike ways! No matter
if she no longer loved him if some
one else had taken place in her heart,
of all women she stood TO him the fair
est and best, He was but a common
fellow, aster all, with little taste for po-
etry or books, while George
His thoughts startled him with their
intensity, and he sprang forward so
suddenly in his chair that Sarah looked
up wonderingly.
"What " it?" she asked.
"I'm afraid | cannot make you hap
py,n he said, in choked voice. I'll
what shall do, Sarah?n
'You can do nothing" she answered,
in low tone. II am as happy as l
deserve TO be-"
lie arose from the table and held out
his hand to her. She did not place
hers in it. She was too honest to play
double game, and she could not show
love she did not feel. He read II all
in her white face and startled eyes. and
turned away without another word.
The next moment he was out of doors,
walking rapidly toward little inclos-
ure which lay few yards from the
house. 1t seemed all the place in the
world for him then, and with great
sob he threw himself down upon the
grass, and laid his head upon his baby's
grave. Never child longed for the
kisses and caresses of its mother as
Harry Vane longed for the touch of the
baby hands and lips at that moment.
Broken-hearted and alone, wandcrer,
as it were. and 0, SO terribly homeless!
He pressed the very gates Of Heaven to
bring back his child. Above him the
stars looked down coldly; the wind
soughed through the naples and rushed
along the prairie grass, as if to tell him
how barren life lay before him.
If she does not love me | have no
right to her My suffering is nothing;
her purity and truth is every thing"
he thought. "She shall never look up
on my face againr'
He pressed his lips and cheeks to the
dew-wet sod, smoothed it tenderly with
his hands, and then went from it forev-
er. The light was shining brightly
from the cottage windows, but he
turned from it resolutely and walked
with long. rapid strides forward into
the darkness.
1t was ten miles to the nearest lake
town, but he was accustomed to walk
ing, and the distance was nothing to
him. He only prayed that he might
find q boat ready for sailing at the land
ing; for now that he had resolved To
go, he could not brook an instant OF
delay.
AS he walked on he took his hat from
his head and let the cool wind play over
his forehead 1t was hot and feverish
| with paiu Onoa in a uhila N niyh,