The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-08-19
"A VAGABOND,"

The speaker. sallow-faced, not
very agreeable-looking young man of
about twenty, looked up as the door
burst open, and something like smile
lit up his features as he nodded well
come to his visitor. bright, frank
faced youth about two years his junior.
who came bounding in, flung himself
into chair, his bat one way, his cane
another, and then began to speak in
eager, excited tones, and with an air
Of boyish enthusiasm.
Congratulate me, Clementg he
cried. '.My nomination as cadet ar
rived last night, and start in two days
for Woolwich," and Horace Mervyn
looked exultiagly at his particular
friend, Clement Hastings, who an
swered:
"And /, too, have good news, Hor-
ace; for leave soon for London, my
uncle having written me to come OH
and read law in his Office"
mo dull law for me, Glenn" ex-
claimed the other, "for long for life
of excitement. and intend to rise rap
idly as soldier, while you are brow
beating witnesses and endeavoring to
find out, by legal lore, the identity of
John Doe and Richard Roe"
"Ah, shall divide my time between
law and literature, as have particu-
lar desire to become good writer, and
you know have already written some
very readable articles for our county
papers; but come, return homo Aawith
me, for this will be our last day to-
gether for many year."
The two had been companions from
their earliest boyhood, the one being
the son of a widow in moderate cir
cumstances, and the other the heir Of
Sir Richard Mervyn, the wealthiest
man in the county where the youths
lived.
Fond Of life, yet free from dissipation,
and both of them handsome, dashing
youths, it was predicted that they would
make their mark in the world, and as
they bade each other farewell the one to
enter the academy at Woolwich, the
other to take chambers in the Temple
and read law, they mentally resolved
that they would not 60 through life like
dumb, driven cattle, but
would leave behind them
Footprints in the sands OF Time"
From the day Of his entrance at the
Academy, Horace Mervyn set out to
stand at the head OF his class, and this
determination held to him through the
arduous years of study, and placed his
name at the top of the list the day he
BABE Woolwich farewell.
In passing through London on his
leave, prior to joining the battery of
Horse Artillery, in India, TO which he
had been gazetted, he called upon his
old-time friend, Clement Hastings,
with whom he had kept up a regular
correspondence.
"Well, Glen, I graduated with first
honors." he said, after the two had
grasped hands in warm welcome.
81 am glad TO hear it, old follow,
though you have surprised me, as you
know you never were very fond of
books"
True; gun, dog or horse had more
attraction for me in those days of lang
syne;' but l stuck to work with will,
and now have my foot on the first
round of the ladder of promotion. But
how have you faredp"
"Mep Oh, very well. read law,
and was admitted to practice; then I
dabbled in medicine. and month ago
received my diploma to kill by science,
and"
What! lawyer and doctor, both,
Clementp"
"Ot, yes; for in my profession I
should know little of everything"
"And what is your professional
"Ah! thought | had told YOU. I
am an author And there was con.
siderable s,o,s,, egotism in the reply Of the
young aspirant for literary honors.
rue You sent me some of YOUR
m'a'ings, ana enjoyed them because
you wrove them, old fellow, though I
must confess they seemed a little too
pedantic; but you know best and
hope you are making your pen nav WV, v
"Ah, yes, Horace; but II Ia nn.h;u
work ut first. you know. Yet Ihava
set the ball OF success ro,liac un Mi
and am engaged on sketches for some
magazine3, stories for others, aud I
have In hand some dramas for our
theatres"
"Why. you are busy; and / wish YOU
every success And after dinner TO
gether the two friends second time
parted. s
Six months after that parting Horace
Meryvn was winning fame upon the