The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-07-03
"Humphrey, viii YOU teach me to rowf'

"lI you IKE; Dut WON'T IL Dllstoi '""eV
little handsy" turning my palm upwards
with a touch as II he were handling rose
leaf.
"Nonsense; will learn to rowW
"Vcry well; you shall have your hrst
lesson tonight" he says in his low, quiet
voice, his eyes upon my face. 81 like your
hair that way, darling"
"That way" means short tangle upon
my forehead--a piece Of vanity have been
guilty of since my marriage.
81 wonder IL they will like my fringe at
homer" ] say anXiously.
81 like IL; SO it does not matter who
does not" smiles Humphrey.
grow grave at once. II will be so all
my life. What he likes will be the thing,
not what would please the others at home.
"If mamma and Bee don't like my hair
cut on my forehead, | shall let 1t grow
again" say with defiant look that plain
ly challenges contradiction.
But Humphrey gldes of on TO a safer
topic.
"The mackercl are in. Would you care
to 90 fishing tomorrow morning."
Fishing recalls tender memories of home
scenes, and my exertions TO land the
speckled trout or lure him from his cool
retreat; but bite my lips to steady quiv-
err, and answer gaily-
son, yes! 1t will be something to do"
"Does time hang so heavily on your
hands," His voice is very gentle; but he
ends with sigh and am sorry
ats not your fault, Humphrey; you
hat 4 huNn into thn IA of
my new life YETI
Humphrey strokes my hand in silence
for few moments.
"Do YOU know" be says at last ihat
feel as if | had stolen nttle Bird out Of u
nestY
"And clipped its wings and put it in
cage" answer finishing the metaphor
"But even stolen birds get happy after a
time, Humphrey; it is only at first they
beat their wings"
"And you will get happy, Madgie--you
will make my home yours, and love ii some
day." And he bends his eager question:
ing face down to mine.
But all have lost, all | have given up,
comes back to me with rush; and | cry
out with quick sharp pain
ono, no; don't make me think | could
ever care for any other homep
A few moments later laugh to hide my
tears, and say
"Humphrey, will race you home"
Without waiting for an answer, am off,
speeding with flying feet along the golden
sands, my sailor hat on the back of head,
my behavior that of a very schoolgirl
The inhabitants of the spot in the heart of
the towering mountains are too quiet and
unsophistcated to stare at me as | come
racing to my own door. | fly up stairs,
sob wildly for about two minutes, and am
bathing my flushed face when hear my
husbands foot upon the stairs.
'NNhat Il child you arew he says, laugh
ing.
And then we 90 down to dinner, and sit
with the widows open, the lace curtains
lazily tapping TO and fro, and the blue, blue
sea beyond.
am getting very tired Of these tetc-a-
tcte rcpasts and the terrible interest Hum
phrey takes in every thing eat. His eyes
always seem to be fixed on my face in u
kind of rapturous admiration,
"What II pretty color you have after your
racer' he says.
"Don'tw | answer, frownlng. "lf you
stare a, me, Humphrey, cannot eat"
But he thinks ! am Joking, while | was
never in more sober earnest.
"Do women ever love their husbands"
| ask gravely, busy over bunch of purple
| grapes-lle finest in the dish - which
Humphrey has been carefully picking ont
for me.
round the vase of flowers TO look at my
face.
81 mean is il possblcy'
'Is what possibleg"-his eyebrows up
lifted with their puzzled expression.
"For woman to care for any man the
way she has loved all her own people at
home"
The sad look that so often rests in his
eyes ovcrshadows them now as he an
swers--
"You are talking of your own case,
Madgie; but can tell of woman's love
so deep and strong that she counted 1t no
sacrifice to give up home and people for her
lovers sake"
His voice is dreadfully earnest, so laugh
uneasily and look away between the wav-
ing lace curtains out at the sea-
"But people can get on very well with
out all that, can't they, Humphrey"
81 suppose they have to do so sometimes"
he answers in low voice, "when the love
is all on one side"
"You are talking of your own case
now," | say, quoting his own words
"Humphrey, think | pity you almost as
much as myself" And then jump up
care we going to the water tonight ! see
ever SO many boats out"
"Come," he says getting up too.
Presently we are walking side by side
down to the beach, Humphrey laden with
shawls. A strange heterogeneous set seem
to have turned out to enjoy the glorious
sunset. | wonder where they have all
come from.
There is an old gentleman in front of us,
with green spectaclcs and goloshes, toddling
| along the sandy road in company with a
stout elderly lady, his wife perhaps.
AS we pass she says something; and the
old man who is apparently deaf CALCULATES,
"Eh?r
She raises her voice,
81 said theywcre bride and bridegroom 7"
she shouts into his ear.
He fayors us with stare.
Poor loolsw is all he youchsafcs to re.
mark.
| laugh at my husband and say
"Did you hear that Humphrey
eyes" is hi, answer, but he does not
| look altogether pleased.