The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-03-27
THE DAILY CAIRO BULLETIN: SUNDAY MORNING. MARCH q 1881


guilt would be to offend her seriously
| She would rather be suspected Of almos
anything than want Of fidelity TO him. No
father. that is dream of the past. II car
never be- even If this suspense were to las
q quarter Of century
Mr. Merton expressed more than ordinary
annoyance Al his sons foolish notion, as he
STYLED IT, Ere long time had elapsed, he
! had, himself formed resolution in regard
| to Helen, which he proceeded to carry
into effect on the day referred TO at the
beginning Of this chapter,
As Helen pursued her melancholy prom
enado up and down the piazza she observed
Mr. Courtney approaching the house, and
in her present disposition something OF hel
old aversion to him returned rs she ob
served the excessive neatncsS in his persona
appearance, the juvcnilty Of his style anc
general makeup, Notwithstanding his tire,
score years and snowy hair, and, as he drew
nearer, that inevitable smile "A smile al
WAYS grated on her nerves nowadays.
swell my lovely lIclcn," was Mr.
Courtncy's gallant remark, as he juineC
her on the piazza, il is my good forum,
TO find YOU alone. have some matters o
importance to speak TO you about"
1t was Mr.. COurlncyS custom 10 address
most young ladies with some prefix, sucf
az lovely" charming" fair" etc, bu
the my slightly emphasized as on thi'
occasion, was new to Helen, and she re
sentCd it.
! presume you refer TO my coming o
age" she replied, and If 50, should no
mamma, as your fcllowgumdian, be pres
| ent? She is in the paror; Jet us 20 in"
mo, Helen, no said Mr. Courtney; Z" i
il true my interview has reference to til,
present day, on which beg to tender yOr
nv most sincere ard aIlcctiunate Congratu.
laiOns. but 10 not wish 10 speak to yOI
rs your guardian. That Office exists ne
! longer. and am ready whenever callcc
| upon 10 give an account Of my Stewardship
| in that respect Helen, il you could guess
with what impotence have waited for the
day to come when YOU should be your owl
mistress, You would doubtless be surprised
Yet, had it not been for your own Constan
pre-ocCupaton over one sad subject. yOr
certainly would have learned ere this tha'
YOU were TO me something more-sOme
thing dearcr than my ward and my deal
old friends daughter. Nay, my child, dc
not start" he addcd, as Helen stared at him
| in mute amazement not unmingled with
| horror g know that such a statement, in
the present state Of your feelings must seen
to YOU like the understandable intrusion OF
some profane thing into n holy plaCc-likt
a saCrilege; but, believe me, Helen, while
| iain would have postponed speaking tc
you on this subject till your poor little
wounded heart had ceased 10 bleed, yet
believe me, in following the dictates Of my
heart, so full Of love for You, my sweet
child, am consulting your own and your
mothers welfare"
"Mr Courtney" interrupted Helen; but
checking her by gentle motion of his
hand, he continued:
before you Judge me, my dear Helen
you will hear me out ! know Justice to
be one Of your many noble attributes Now
listen. 1T will surprise you greatly, no
doubt, to learn that your fathers private
fortune, although you have been aware it
was much less than was supposed, has been
utterly inadequate to carrying out the pro.
visions Of the will, even as regards only
your mother and yourself It has been
supposed that by rigidy cutting off every
other legacy, as the will entitled me to DO,
there would remain enough to carry out the
dispositions in reference to his widow and
| his daughter. Such, however, is not the
case Pardon me if refer to the fact, but
il is necessary should state tit has
been my privilege during the term Of my
| guardianship 10 make up from my own
means the deficiency in this respect. Nay
| my child, not a word Of thanks, | would
regard il only as favor to be allowed 10
minister, as longas my life lasts, TO your and
| your dear mothers wants; but, Helen you
are Of age today, and what might do foi
my ward | may not do for Miss Helen
Tennic The rules Of our artificial society
forbid it, and God forbid ! should dc
aught to compromise you. Helen if you
will allow me TO call you by the holy name
Of wife, can offer you an old mans ten
derest love- the chcrishing care Of a FOND
father, the protection and devotion of
husband, and a home for yourself and your
mother. Othcrwse--it would he criminal
in me 10 conceal II from you - save
a small annuity to your mother, which
have managed TO save from the wreck Of
| your fathers fortune there is nothing
| Even This elegant home will have to be
sacrificed; for, gladly as | would tender il
TO you as a birthday gin, your mother.
annuity would be too small to permit Of
your occupying n yourselves All 4 can
DO II you feel you can never accept the
| proposal ! have made is 10 beg the accept
ance OF an amount sufficient TO keep YOU
all your life beyond the reach Of want.
Answer me, Helen, am | not excusable for
speaking nOw?n
Helen remained for moment longer
motionless, as if stunned. Finally, in a
voice hoarse with conflicting emotions, she
said
"Mr Courncy how could you keep this
from meyn
"Bccau c, my dear Helen, hoped ere
this time came 10 have won your love and
! could NOT bear to see your poor mother
grlevc, as ! know she would have done, al
leaving this beautiful home. Moreover,
dear child, how could see you restrained
by fears of expense, in your efforts to secure
the evidence Of poor Leighton's limo
ccnce9"
Helen was stupefed, She recognized her
debt of gratitude to Mr. Courtney was i'm
mcnSe In everything he had done, he
seemed to have acted like a chiyalrous
gentleman and true, tendcr.hcarted friend
and yct-marry him marry any man but,
Leighton oh no; she could never do
that. But then, her mother must she be
the means Of filling her cup of sorrow to
the brlm also? If she alone had to suffer,
| what was pnVOriv IN Lnr nnug Ia, hn,