The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-09-18
BY THE AUTHOR OF ''pENELoPE, ETC.
CONTINUED From Last Sundays Daliy.]

near his JOY at coming home again.
"And my wife Is looking so pretty" he
saws. Felicia has been longing to see you,
Madge. | have described you so often
that you are no stranger TO her, dear"
"humphrey, is she grieying much for
her brotherg She looks so sad"
ayes, poor child; she feels his loss
greatly. He was the only relative she had
in the world, and now he is gone. Her
grief was very terrible for the first few
days after his DEATH"
"Tell me about him, Humphrey"
MY husbands voice grows sad.
"Poor Grant! His JOY to see me was
very great he died quite happy after that,
when he knew Felicia would have friend.
think you will like her, Madgle; she is
very quiet and gentle"
As he Is speaking Felicia Grant comes
slowly into the room. She has been cry
ing, and her eyes look heavy with tears.
Humphrey wheels round large chair to
the fire.
Telicia, am sure you are cold and
tired" he says, and she thanks him witha
shy smile.
And then we talk about the journey UNI
til Bernard announces that skinner is
ready"
observe Felicia Grant more closely in
the full light, and find something very at
tractive in the pale oval face, and the dark
fringed brown eyes. Her fair hair is
drawn back simply from her forehead,
showing the delicate blue-veined temples,
and she has very thick and long hair hang
ing ina great heavy plait tied with black
ribbon. am sure she must be very
pretty when not quite so weary and sad
looking; and on the whole | am favorably
impressed by Felicia Grant. She Is very
clever, Humphrey says, and an artist; and
it is well for the poor girl that she has
been endowed with such gifts, for she has
to work for herself now, and intends TO
be governess when she can hear of sit
uation that is suitable.
Humphreys face is study tonight; his
eyes follow my every movement, and he
smiles wien ! look in his direction. 1t
makes me sad to have any one so fond Of
me, TO think that the touch of my fingers,
the sound of my voice, send thrill through
his heart and awake an echo there. Why
does he care for me? What did he see and
find in me to waste all his love and lavish
the affection of his whole nature on my
loyeless self--for l am without love for
him?
Felicia Grant goes to bed early. l see
her to her room, and then 90 down and
join my husband in the library lie is sit
ting by the fire smoking, and looks up with
smile as l come fitting in and kneel down
on the hearth-rug at his feet. The light
shines OH his face, on his thick curly beard,
and CLEANS in his smiling eyes. How well
l know the grave rugged face now! How
familiar IL The long figure leaning back In
the leather armchair and looking down at
me, as, with ore elbow OH my knee, my
chin on my open palm, gaze into my hus-
bands face! have something to say to
him, and the sooner say 1t the better
"Humphrey, were you angry because
would not 60 with you to New Yorkp
He puffs slowly at his precious meer-
schaum for couple Of seconds, and then
speaks.
"What made you think that, my child"
"Because | know ought to have gone,"
! answer in q low voice, like child con-
Tossing fault, my eyes fixed on his face
"But Humphrey, | could not; for if Bee
had died, should never have been happy
again"
alt was choice between Bee and your
husband, and you let your heart decide"
he says, not sadly, but with strange quiz
etness of voice and manner; and his hand
steals down to my shoulder. "Madgie, l
do not think you could even guess what it
cost me to leave you and go away alone"
"Did you think was unkindf" | falter;
and little CLEAN of smile creeps into his
eyes.
"Not unkind. But II Is all over now,
Madgie. l have come home, and my wife
is glad to see me again."
'Hes, for was very lonely;" and my
eyes smile back into his.
'Lonely always" he says.
The question is put suddenly and abrupt.
ly, with change in his voice; and / loob
at him suddenly as answer
81 never was lonely at Ripley, or whel
was out riding with Captain Deacourt.'
The moment the words had passed m,
lips am sorry, for see that have mad
a mistake; and strange hard look come
into Humphreys face.
al 90 not think was much missed, afte
all" he says in harsh whisper. 81 was
fool TO expect itw
enlightened by his manner, hurt to th,
heart, by his hard, bitter words, bend my
head and burst out sohbing.
"Humphrey, Humphrey, what have |
said?"
"Nothing," he answers stinly, and then
stoops and presses me to him tightly, ut
tering not word, but deep sigh breaks
from his lips
"Ah me, what miserable marriage
mine is! ! cannot make my husband hap.
Ply!
By.and-by look into his face, and see
The cloud there, heavy and black still.
"Humphrey," say, .'shall I tell vol, n
vow made this evening when watching
for you TO come homer"
lie does not answer, he only looks back
steadily into my eyes.
"t was to live for YOU" 1 say. "And I
meant it-indeed did, Humphreyw
~ oei'eye you my child" he answers.
w us .nefe Is no CLEAN Of Joy, no smile, only
weary acquiesence.
rise from the hearthruc and s,ard q,
silence by the fire, my long snesnv r"ho ,,na
about my feet; on nv fnger uio ~ ,les
broad gold ring-and II Alone sa" my
light. " 'ne nre-
"Come here" Humphrey request, m,
Igo back to his side and stand stia. and
straight, by his chair, my hands clasned
together "Madgie," he says, and lays his