The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-10-16
ing glance at him TO see how he takes my


angry. "But do not care to hear any of
the secrets of Miss Grants past life; they
could not possibly interest me. Bee might
care about them; they would furnish her
with plot for her next novel"
NY bitter scornful words are spoken
with u mocking smile. Humphrey hears
me out with look Of sorrow.
"What has come TO your" he says grave
ly. ~ did not think my little Madgie
could say such things" He lays his hands
upon my shoulders. "You don't look hap
py, child. Nay, you must not cry; if we
are not all right at home always, do not
wish the world to see tears in my wfe's
eyes"
The tears are forced back, and l raise
my head and look up at him steadily.
"Do you care only for what the world
thinks, Humphrey"
Does he see the yearning In my upllfted
eyesy | know not; but the grave tender
look that | scorned once creeps into his
eyes, and his head bends until his lips rest
upon my forehead.
81 care only for one thing, Madge, he
whispers quickly and passionatey. want
only my wlfe's love-"
"Humphrey--"
The words that would have come from
my quiyering lips are not spoken, There
is grinding of wheels outside.
"The Delacourts! And | am not yet
dressedw
1t is the step from the sublime to the RI
dicuIous Humphrey hurries away to
dress, laughing, and go to the drawing
room to receive my guests, feeling good
deal OF curiosity respecting Mr.. CARING
ton.
There is nothing very mysterious about
him after all. He Is gentlGmanly-lo
Ing young man of about tour-and-twenty,
with light-brown curly hair and blue eyes.
He has plenty TO say Tor himself, and is on
the whole very pleasant and agreeable;
but Chris cOnhdes to me that his friend
Mark Darlington Is very much changed,
and that his good spirits are only assumed.
"Mark used TO be such u bright fellow;
now can hardly get word out Of him.
And 1t is odd too for he has been left a
fortune by the death of an uncle of his,
and II does not seem to make him bit
happier He spends his days in travelling
from place to place. Fancy-in the last
three months he has been twice to Ameri-
ca. Look ut him now when no one is talk
ing to him."
look, and see Mr.. Darlington, with all
the pleasantness gone out OF his face, sit
ting by himself, looking out Of the WIN
dow.
"roor old Mark" Chris Is saying. 81
wonder what is up with him."
likewise see Humphrey watching him
furtively, and trying TO draw him into
conversation. But Mr.. Darlington does
not interest me much. Something Mrs.
Delacourt says gives me far more impor-
tant subject for thought.
Bee and Captain Delacourt are sitting
together, and / see Bees bright face filled
with interest as she listens to him. Bee is
In her blue muslin, and her sweet inno-
cent face bushes little as he speaks, and
her dark fearless eyes smile an answer
There Is something in her expression that
needs no words, and | look into Mrs. Del
acourts face with quick beating Of the
heart, and SEQ Gives mothers eyes grow
| dim.
al wish It had been Chris" is all she
says, with a little smile.
And from the bottom Of my heart wish
| II had been Chris too. He Is standing
talking to Lena but can see that his eyes
when we all Saunter into the dewy garden
in the twilight, poor Chris walks by Bee,
and | find myself wishing that she loved
him.
"Humphrey, think shall 60 and see
how Felicia is" say leaving the others
and going up to my husband for second.
"Do, dear; but | wish this had not hap
pened. 1t makes me very anxious about
Felicia"
find her door open, and step in soft
ly, lest She may be asleep; but the bed Is
empty, and at the open window llneels
Felicia, bending out. The sound Of the
voices from below is being waited up
subdued voices and laughter, Suddenly
she draws back from the window, and,
laying her arms upon the sill, leans her
head upon them with moan. For mo-
ment stand watching the small heap Of
black drapery, and then slowly cross the
room.
"Is your headache better, FellciaW
She raises her head, and IN the twilight
can see her eyes, Ike great stars, looking
up into mine,
"Docs he know am here" she asks In
low tone.
"No," answer shortly.
Her long thick hair hangs over her
shoulders, and her face is stained from long
crying. cannot help feeling some curl
osity, and wonder what there can be about
Mr.. Darlington to cause such emotion.
"llow long does he stay here2" she asks
presently, IN the same breathlcss whisper;
and | tell her that think lie leaves Rip
ley tomorrow,
"To-morrow W-begInnIng to cry again,
with her head on her folded arms
"Iou are very foolish, Felicia" / say
"IhS Mr.. Darlington will IN all probable
ity not come to Ripley again, and he does
not know you are hcrc.'
"And he must not know. Oh, Mrs. Car.
stairs, you have been good to mo while I
have been with you, and am sure YOU
think 1t strange that do not give you any
explanation; but 1t Is not for my own sake
only that keep silence"
She has risen to her feet, and we stand
looking into each others faces, she in her
black dress, in white, A sudden feeling
of sorrow and something like indignation
arises, and wish that this girl had never
entered our home, never come between me
and my husband, With all her tears, she
cannot be one.half as miserable as am at
this moment.
The voices are under the windows now.