The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-08-21

lie did look awiully cut up"
draw a long breath, that Is, | sigh.
''Can men and women care for each 9TH
er so muchW say more to myself than 10
him.
Captain Delacourt laughs.
"They fancy they do and It amounts TO
about the same thing"
The band has struck up again.
81 think the quadrile Is made Ip. DO
you care about dancing itY he asks, rs we
make our way back to the ballroom
OWN you come and have an Ice insteadyv
While he Is getting the ice, Humphrey
appears suddenly beside me.
"Not dancing, Madgies"
"Not this quadrillc. And, oh, Hum
phrey, only fancy whom have met The
gentleman who tried to fish out my hat
And he turns out TO be George Delacourt's
brotherW
Captain Delacourt comes back with the
ice. introduce him to my husband
They speak few words, and then Hum
phrey goes away. Captain Dcacourt looks
after him.
"The first time | saw you together
thought he was your uncle,' he says. And
think what Il delightful uncle Humphrey
would be!
"When did you come to Ripley" ask,
thinking of something safe and certain to
say.
WLast night. got ten days leave to
come to this affair. What do you think OF
our neighborhood, Mrs. Carstairs"
81 have not thought much about it," l
answer.
The quadrlllc is over. | see George
coming across the room with three men in
attendance
"Are you engaged for thisY' Captain
Delacourt whispers quickly. "May IY'
and he takes the programme from my hand
-scribbes his name opposite two waltzes,
and hands it back with smile in his dark
eyes. Sam | very presumptuousy" he
says. "But you will he engaged three deep
directly"
George has halted opposite to me, and
introduces the three men in rapid success
word and dance all highland not once,
but many times with Captain Delacourt
Humphrey comes TO me once.
WWill you give me this quadrille, Mad
gies"
There is wistfu pleading in his eyes.
| am engaged But when Chris Delacourt
comes to claim me, | lay my hand on Hum
phrey's arm.
"Do you mind if | dance this with my
husband:"
"Will you keep another for Inc unsteady"
he says, smiling, and draws back.
So we dance together-llumphrcy and /.
81 wish | waltzedw he remarks re-
gretnIly, when the quadrille is over
"Madgie, you have danced all night. viii
you sit this out with meg"
look up at him with mischievous
smile, and shake my head.
'Please don't ask me, Humphrey, for
this is nearly the last and | could not
give it up"
lie says no more; and three minutes az
forwards whirl past him with tn best
dancer in the room; and, raising my eye
lids for one second, catch sight of my hus-
bands face as he leans in the doorway, and
it does not bear its usual pleasant express
sion. Is he yexed at my dancing; | do
not know; and truth to tell, | do not care.
Every pulse is bounding and tingling with
new life In this mad intoXication of
dreamy motion can feel annoyed that my
husband should look panied when | am
very nearly happy.
Flushed and smiling, lean on my part
ner's arm, and, sauntering up and down
between the dances, catch the reflection of
myself in long mirror, and for second
gaze transfixed into the radiant eyes that
meet NV own. White silk and diamonds,
and girls face framed In wayy brown
hair! As gaze the smile leaves my lips.
Married for the beauty that brings all the
men round me to-night All, well, it is an
equal bargain after all And yet Hum
phrey said he loved me for my own self
sit out the next dance with him, and
bring back the light into his face.
"What do you think Of Georgiew ask
him as we criticise the couples gyrating by
in changing revolving mass. 'Isn't she
looking well tonight, Humphreys"
81 have 10 eyes for any one but my
wife," he answers, smiling. You look
tired, darling; let me fan YOU"
As he waves his fan to and fro, talking
in low soft voice, Captain Delacourt
passes, looks at Humphrey, glances at me,
and stops
''Don't forget that the next dance Is
mine, Mrs. CarstalrsD
care you not too tiredy" Humphrey in
terposes.
"No, / am quite rested now; and one
waltz is enough to give up return say.
ing the words playfully; but the white
feather in the fan quiyers suddenly in his
strong hand.
Captain Delacourt moves away and the
music ends with u crash. Humphrey fans
me still, but he has become grave and pre-.
occupied. We are sitting in a window,
and behind the thick curtains voices arc
audible. Somebody has gone out to look
at the moonlight, and then comes back
again.
R.'Who is that little woman in the white
silk and all the diamondsy" mans voice
says; and lady answers shortly
"Mrs. Carstairs She is only Just mar.
ricd. Every one Is raving about her to-
night. What do you think of hery"
The reply comes immediately
"she is lovely, to my thinking very
fascinating style of beauty"
"shc is rather pretty" the feminine
voice rejoins, sharply this time, "but looks
decidedly unhappy. Watch her face IN re-
pose. You know her husband Is old
enough TO be her father; and beauty on
one side and money on the other made up
that marriage"
Humphrey and have heard every word,
and all the time the feathers on the fan
move slowly to and fro, and feel the cool