The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-06-05


ter her health.
Her face was flushed BEAUTIFULLY by tho
fresh sea air. Her eyes were bright as
stars, with . more subdued expression
than when he had last seen her; but at a
glance he perceived II only intensified her
beauty. The little heart that his lordship
owned went out again quickly TO his ex.
fancee, with a craving for the old time,
which was trebly dear from being lost to
him.
With little more than q monosyllable in
reply, and with her head erect, and her
face defiant, Florence swept past him into
the house, Lady Raven lingering behind
moment TO express her pleasure at seeing
his lordship again, to ask when he had re.
turned TO England, and to ascertain the
latest news he couldgive her Of her daugh.
ter, whom she was sure he must have seen.
"Lady Meddowes has been so very kind
as TO entrust little parcel to me for you
piece Of chlna--a small cup, believe
which she says you admired at Nice. | ar
rived In London only two days ago, and
came down here only last evening. To-
night l am engaged; but may have the
pleasure Of bringing your parcel to-mor-
row evening, Lady RayenW his lordship
asked.
"Of course-at any time that best suits
you. We shall be delighted to see YOU"
Lady Raven told him; adding, awe re.
ceive a few friends tomorrow evening at
nine--quite afriendly gathering. Perhaps
you will join us theni"
His lordship was only too pleased to avail
himself of the invitation.
After few more gracious speeches on
each side, his lordship mounted his horse
and rode away. Lady Raven, on entering
her drawing-room a few moments later,
found Florence with flaming cheeks and
evidently pcnt up indignation.
"Aunt, you will never subject me to
meeting that man whom l loathe so in.
tcnsely-for whom you must know can
have only contempt" she cried passion.
ately
Lady Raven was rather taken aback; but
she was always wise in her tact. Florence
was preparing herself for defiance, and
expected very different reply from her
aunt.
"Of course not, my dear child. There
Is no reason on earth why you should be
subjected to any annoyance from Lord
Vernon; we are not likely to see much of
him think"
Florence was dissrmed, and there was
silence between them for some minutes; it
was broken at last by her ladyship.
81 own, Florence, my pride would be
more content were you able to meet and
treat his lordship as q stranger; but if it
is really painful to you---to your feelings, |
mean-to be thrown into contact with him
which can well imagine it may be, by all
means let us avoid him."
Florence was amazed at her aunt's era.
cious manner, her excessive amiability; but
the words had taken effect in way that
her aunt intended they should.
81 have no feeling In the matter, aunt
Raven; you know yourself that my engage
ment was one Of convenience. / never
cared feathers weight for Lord Vernon
lin that ] did him wrong, and for aught
know he may have had the tact to dis
cover 1t; but no one can deny his execrable
taste In accepting his dismissal as he did
an effort at explanation or to as
certain beyond doubt the state of my feel.
ings."
"There Is reason, and good reason, in all
you say, Florence; but my pride would
be, my dear, to show his lordship that he
was nothing 10 me, to meet and treat him
AZ an ordinary acquaintance. That is only |
my idea; you have right however to fol- |
low your own inclinations---and be sure
hat | shall not try to coerce you in any
way. l only fear that by avoidance and
repugnance he may imagine that
GU have some deeper feeling left for him;
ut may be wrong. Let US forget his
,rdship--at any rate for the present. We
re not likely to see him again, and it
getting late. promised Mrs. Audleigh
hat we would DO with her early tonight,
nd we shall both be better for little rest
efore dinner--this air always makes me
eel so sleepy. Edwards shall bring some
ca to your room--go dear"
Lady Raven knew we'll that she had
laced herself upon very advantageous
round for the encounter she fully intend.
d to enter into Florence went gladly to
er room to brood over past wrongs and
er present pain. She tried to console
erself by writing long letter to Maud
darlington, and thus to catch breath Of
he atmosphere that, In spite of herself,
he loved too we'll, and which seemed to
eyive her SO refreshingly.
Lady Raven had certainly changed very
during the past year-and
he change was marvelously pleasant
me. So thought Miss Worthington on the
evening, as she stood before her
lressing-glass contemplating her own fault
ess figure, srrsyed for her aunts friends
n black silk dress, beautifully made by
Mrs. Gilbert, and draped with black lace
o soften the still indispensable Grape; but
Ter white arms and neck looked fairer still
or the sombre contrast She loved dress.
md she had always been used TO the best
garments that money could buy or debt al
low; this dress however, new one which
she had just donned at Lady Ravens re.
luest--was too costly for her own purse to
have purchased. Lady Raven had ordered
1t for her from Mrs. Gilbert few weeks
before, and Miss Worthington's glass told
her that the beauty Of II could not be
doubted. Edwards, her aunts maid, had
been lowering over her toilet for the last
,our, and had left her only few moments
,cfore. When the girl again appeared, she
uttered with her hands filed with crimson
oses and lilies Of the valley.
"My lady's love, and she has sent you
hesc to brighten your dress q little" Ed
wards told her. "Abrahams has Just
'rought In some fresh flowers for the
ooms, and her ladyship desired him to
ring you anna crimson and xvbita nnau