The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-07-31

"Wep means Pee, lack and myself, the
three madcapsS of the family. Ne have
stolen march on the rest, and are of on
mushroom-hunt while the rest Of the world
lie wrapped in slumber.
"Wouldn't Humphrey comeYv asks Jack,
as we climb the laAtyfepee and see the
mushroom field before us, wide. white,
and dewy In the morning light.
81 didn't ask him" answer. springlng
from the top OF the fence, and ieeiing per.
fectly certain that Humphrey would glad.
ly have made one Of the party but for q
certain speech Of mine last night.
s 81 am going mnshroom.hunting with
Bee and jack" ! had said to my hus-
band. '' ''"'r''
Y 1t was not the words perhaps, but the
tone that prevented Humphrey from vol.
unteering to accompany us.
! am little sorry to have vexed him;
but the luxury Of being once more on an
expedition with Bee and Jack is too de-
lightful TO let any other feeling be aught
else but momentary. The grass. is very
wet, the air cool and fresh; but the mush-
rooms show their little white button faces
in abundance, and we hurry over the wide
field and I'LL our baskets,
have forgotten ali about Humphrey,
all about Carstairs, everything unpleasant
is lost in the pleasure Of the moment, and
am myself again--myself In every sense
Of the word, for am attired In one OF
Madgie Alson's dresses, and in my old
serge feel happy again. The very sight
of the worn old garment recalls many a
ramble, many a madcap chase across the
country; and, oil, the sweet, fresh earls
morning, with just touch Of frost In the
air, and the trees and hedges turning vel.
low and russet Our mushroom-hunt is
very successful; our baskets are piled
high, and the field is dotted with the little
white specks still.
awe must come another day and get
some for catchup," Bee says. 81 am so
hungry-aren't you, Madgiel"
"Starving! But look-who is that get
ting over the stile' It's very like Colonel
Trevannion."
at isp' shouts Jack excitedly. "He
has come homer Let's race and meet
him."
And off We 80, flying like the wind
across the field Jack first, then Bee, my.
self last, basket in hand; and the three of
us reach the other side Of the field, flushed,
breathless, gasping ont welcome to the tall
old man who stands with a smile on his
dear old face, and with his hands out.
stretched
"Well Jack--and Bee too--and you,
madcap W-turning TO me. 81 thought
you were married.
$50 II am" say in a low dreary voice
and he looks up suddenly into my face
with one of the quick searching glances
that sends the blood leaping to my fore.
head.
"When did you get back, ColonelW
Jack puts the question, with all the UNI
reserved frankness Of fourteen years.
yesterday morning. And are you stay
ing here, Madgie"7-the penetrating dark
eyes looking into mine again.
"Yes; THAT is, we came home last
week. answer lamely.
He lays his hand upon my shoulder.
~ wish | had been at your wedding,
my child; but could not manage to get
away. And what is this husband of yours
like"
81 will show him TO YOU" answer, a.
If il was a new dog or new bonnet We
were discussing.
Col TrevanniOn laughs.
"And when is he to be on view, mad.
cap2"
"Any tiEe-always"
My voice is low and dreary still. l can
not rave about my husband; Col. lanl
MON must see him 1ud Judge for himself
He terms to Bee.
~, .Wsll, and how FIRE ysn getting along
ooh, so well ~ cries Bee. al can Jump
now; and am sure can ride as we'll as
Madgie Can't Jack?"
81 think you do" allows Jack.
"Did you know had given Hector to
BeeF asks the Colonel. al gave her some
lessons before went away; and she is so
plucky-as reckless as yourself"
Hector---my horse-that had been mine
ever since was ten years old ieel a
pain at my heart to think he has changed
hands.
81 did not know it," say whisperingly.
ell am very glad that Bee is learning to
ride"
Lelong TO them all no longer even my
own dear old friend the Colonel has trans.
ferred his allegiance to Bee. For years he
kept horse solely and especially for my
use. was the only one Of the family he
really knew or cared about; now am for
gotten. And again feel as If had come
back from the grave, and were seeing my
place filed up, my vacant chair occupied.
1t is foolish and unreasonable; but tears
stand in my eyes when I hear Colonel
Trevannion talking to Bee as once he
talked only to me; and awake to the
knowledge that ] have given everything
up and got nothing in exchange-nothing.
have Humphreys love and ten thousand
year; and value one about as much as
do the other
We are walking back slowly across the
field. / am not talking; just now am too
unhappy to attempt to be cheerful.
"Madcap, what has come over you"
| look up, and see the Coloneps dear
kind old face turned toward me--the
bronzed old face. with the long white
moustache, and the kind dark eyes know
so WELL
"Nothing," / answer but he shakes his
head
at can't he nothing when those blue
eyes are filed with tears, madcap. I never
saw your bright eyes dim before"
ooh, please don'tw I say imploringly,
and hastily brush away the unbidden tear.
drops,
can hear him sigh at my words.
awe miss you sadly, my child" he says
presently. "When came home, q month
ago, Ashurst seemed so lonely without