The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-12-16


II shouldn't have come here at all IL
hadn't an idea of going on the stage"
said she. Il suppose It's the best place
to study up and get new ideas"
"My dear" said scandalized Mrs.
Eastwood, "why on earth should you
90 on to the--the stagep'
Because like it, said Thespia in
differently.
Apparently Cousin Thespia liked Fe-
lix Dashwood also. She followed him
out even to the stables--h horses, she de-
cared, were her delight; she chatted
with him in the long, iire-lighted dusks;
she sang dashing ballads TO the piano
for his especial delectation-ballads
that we're widely different from poor
Madelines dreamy aoctu,nes and soft
sonatas; she openly declared that "he
was the very incest fellow she had met
since she crossed the Big River"
Poor Mrs. DashwooPs maternal
heart sank within her.
Felix" she said, on one Of the rare
twilights during which Mr.. Eastwood
was not mouopolized by his loud-voiced
cousin, II do hope you won't become
interested in Thespia Clifton.
He smiled.
"Mother," said he, "your counsel
comes too late. / am already inter-
ested,' as you call it, in my cousin
Thespia."
'Eelix," she almost screamed, ''you
are not-engaged?"
Eyes, mother, l nm engaged. Was
not that the very thing for which you
wishedP"
Mrs Eastwood burst into tears.
"a girl who laughs like plow-boy,"
said shea girl who is determined to
60 on tho stage-a girl who suggests
Improvements in ones very stables, and
calls US Eastern ladies IAN awful sight
too slow' Felix, Felix! you will break
my hearth
ut seems to me. mother" said the
young man, with shrug of his shout
ders, that you are very difficult TO
please. Madeline Westford did not suit
you, and this young lady from the
West"
Mrs. Eastwood lifted her hand dep
rocatngly, and began to shed few fee
BILE tears.
Felix - she sobbed; "oh. Felix! l
have been so foolish! II this girl were
only gone-ifyou were only re-engaged
TO Madeline think | should be quite,
quite happy again! For indeed l did
not know how sweet, and womanly and
perfect dear Madeline was until"
Until it was too lale," quietly ut
tered her son. "But here is Thespa-
Let her speak for herself"
Miss Thespia Clifton came in like
gust of wind, dragging one of the house
dogs by the collar
Hes lame, | think" said she nois-
lily. 81 brought him in to look at his
foot by the lamplight. Eth? What!
Mrs. Eastwood crying! Why, what
the dickens is the matter with you
alp"
'Thespia," said Felix gravely; "my
mother wishes to ask you few ques-
tons"
1.-The cotechism, ehp" said Miss Cliff
ton, comfortably seating herself. "Well,
drive on, cousin Eastwood. A fair
ltld and no favor, eh9'
"ls-is it true" whimpered the old
lady, 'that you are engaged"
"Of course Pm engaged" nodded
the fair Amazon. sand, what's more,
we are to be married in April
"Married" gasped the poor old la
dy. "Oh, Thcspia, Thespia, give up
the mad idea! You are not suited to
him. Your tastes do not agree; you
never, never would make him happyr
''How do you know?" blurted out
Thespia. You never saw him in your
life"
"Never saw him p echoed Mrs.
Eastwood. Never saw my own son!"
"But it isn't your own son ~ said
Thespia, indill'erently. Its Major
Miles Keatly, of Leadville, Colorado,
that I'm engaged to. Your Eastern
men can't hold candle to him ~
Thank heavenp' cried poor Mrs.
Dashwood "thank heavenr'
$50 Isay," remarked Miss Thespia,
who was now busted in examining the
setter-dog's foot.
"And now" faltered Mrs. Eastwood,
with averted face, IF Madeline would
only forgive you, dear Felix"
81 am engaged TO Madeline as close
ly as ever" said Eastwood. II loved
her 90 dearly ever to give her up"
"But-bu - will she ever pardon
meg'
TRY her and see," said Felix, laugh
ing.
Madeline came back the next day, all
smiles and sunshine, and ran into the
old lady's wide-open arms.
Dear, dear mother" said she, 81
shall be so glad if YOU will only love me
with all your heart"
'Indeed, indeed willr' said the old
lady, joyously. "Of all daughters in
the world, you shall be dearest to me-"
For Mrs. Eastwood had arrived at
the conclusion that it is disastrous
thing to NEEDLE with the current of true
@~rE-~~~~m-