The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-10-07
ONCE MORE WE MEET.

A young girl is walking rapidly
through a dimly-lighted cross-street in
a large city. The midnight hour has
just rung out from a bell in distant
steeple, and an oppressive silence
reigns in the deserted street, broken
now only by the hurrying steps Of the
belated girl.
As she moves quickly on she casts
about her nervous, frightened glances,
from which it is evident that her posi-
ton is one to which she is unused, and
which gives her much alarm.
All up and down the street there is
no moving object except herself, but
she starts with fear now and then as
the hickeling gaslight from an occa-
sional lamp-post throws a grotesque
shadow in her way, and, gathering her
shawl more closely about her, she quick
ems her steps and hurries on.
Only one block more and her own
door will shut out the night and its ter
rors, but even as her courage rose with
the thought, she reached the corner OF
an intersec,ing street, and two men,
half drunken and wholly brutalized
with liquor, stood suddenly before her.
Paralyzed with fear, the girl could
not move step. Her heart seemed
to beat no more, and her tongue was
powerless,
The men placed themselves directly
in her path
Which way, my little beautyP" said
one Of them. "What are you in such
a-hic-hurry about?n and he caught
the terrified girl roughly by the arm.
Aroused to action by the rude touch,
she struggled with all her strength to
free her arm from his grasp, but find
ing it impossible she uttered n wild, con-
vulsiye call for help, and before the
echoes of her voice were borne away a
firm, quick step sounded on the side
walk, q strong arm flashed like a battle
axe through the half-lighted air, and
the two runians were laid sprawling in
the street
With an hysterical cry of surprise
and joy the girl turned to her deliver
or and thanked him as well us her agi-
tation would permit, Her voice was
low and musical and there was in it
the unmistakable evidence Of culture
and gentle breeding Her manner, too,
was charming, and the gentleman who
had served her felt instinctively that
she was lady, But why was she
alone in the street at this hourp Per-
haps she will explain that.
However thought he, "it is none
of my business"
Aud assuring her that he had done
the most Natural thing in the world, and
deserved no thanks for it, he asked if
she would not permit him to conduct
her TO her home.
"A lady is never safe in the streets Mt
night, and ! should be i'll satisfied with
myself il allowed you TO incur further
danger My name is Darcy--Regin-
aid Darcy, of No. - Delancey-terrace,
and am entirely at your service"
The loyal gentleman spoke in every
word, and she accepted his offer with
out hesitation, repeating her thanks for
his timely service.
Zone moment, please" said Mr.. OAR
cy; II see an officer approaching, at.
tracted doubtless by your cry for help,
] will explain matters to him, with your
permission, and leave these ruilians 10
his tender mercies. ! see they are try
ing to regain their feet"
After few words to the officer, Oar.
cy gave his arm to the young lady, and
they walked away in tho direction o.
! her homo.
II can never sufficiently thank you
sir, for the service you have Just rem
dered me. Ii is tho first time was
ever in the street alone Mt night, and
cannot tell you how frightened l was
nv mother was in need of some medi
cine, and, as we live entirely alone,
had TO overcome my fear and 90 t
the druggists for it. But this is wher
we live"