The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-12-25

heard MS lustlncatlon from MS own llpS
--"
III have his letter. i never could like
him again after reading that. ! must ask
you to say no more on this subject. My
mind is made up. Nothing can change
me-"
ale really was most COMPOUNDED fool"
said Sir Richard, heartily. ale wrote
that letter without consulting me. People
call me a cross old curmudgeon; but l
am certain Of one thing, and that is that
/ can take generous view far more
quickly than they can. Well, but child,
don't be so very firm and decided. Peo-
pie stiffen themselves up,and think it very
grand and fine TO be unforgiving, when
little kindness and generosity would be
for their own happiness too"
~ could never be happy with anyone
I did not respect, and / do not respect
him."
"If you, saw him, you might believe
him, when you do not believe me-"
~ do believe you, but you have said
nothing to make me alter my opinion OF
the past. 1t is past-leave it--let us say
no more about IT,"
But want you TO be my niece" plead
ed Sir Richard. "You will be coming
down to Litch6eld some dsy soon, won't
you"
"Yes, but you must excuse me if / de-
cline to see your nephew when / am
there"
"Oh, no, now don't be so hard! 1t is
not your real nature to be so. l can see
that
This was true. Lucy's heart was plead
ing Sir Richards cause with all its might
She found the battle very hard one.
"You will be happier if you do as l ask
you,' said he.
"0h! please Sir Richard, leave me-"
cried poor: Lucy, piteously. "You must not
say any more-indeed will never see
him again"
He left her, and hardly had he gone be-
fore she flung herself into corner Of the
sofa and sobbed convulsively-the strain
had been almost beyond her strength
Before many minutes had passed, the
door opened once more. Lucy did not
look up; her eyes were full Of tears, her
heart very sore, her head very weary;
her only thought was, "He has come
back. Oh! ! cannot, cannot bear to go
through all that again. How cruel"
Some one came towards her, flung him
self on his knees took her hand. She
turned and looked through her tears--it
was Robert Merivale himself
"Lucy, my dear, dear Lucy, you do love
me little! You are crying. You are
unhappy. Have some pity on me. Have
some belief in me. have loved you, and
you only, ever since first saw you"
Then she sprang to her feet, and tore
her hand away from him. "spare mel"
she said family. "Why are you herel"
~ ought to be herel Lucy, you are not
happy"
ii know l am not. l do not deny it,
said she.
~ on 10 love me u lIllle, Lucy.
81 know do"
"Ah! Thank Godl My uncle made
me so wretched. He said there was no
hope for me; but there is a chance of hap
piness YETI
"Not in the way you mean. l never
can forgive what happened at Hazelwoodl
1t is cruel of you to give me this pain
You ought not to have come herel I've
been trying to overcome what l felt for
you. was getting over it--and now you
come and l shall have to begin afresh'
"No, you shall not begin. You own you
love me little. love you most passion
ately! My darling Lucy, let us love each
other and be happy."
81 happy with you, after that letter."
"How cruel to remind me! Don't you
know that it was written wholly and sole
ly because
"oh!' cried Lucy, "spare me all that!
! know it so well.'
"But, Lucy, you must have seen that l
loved you"
"Valuable love, indeedw cried Lucy.
at was true--you we're not much more
than girl when first saw youj loved
you then, and have loved you ever since!
So help me God have not known hap
py hour since last saw you" He saw a
movement Of Impotence and disbelief,
and cried, "You do not believe mel tell
you l nearly shot myself one night lately
l should have done it if it had not been
for my uncle. He said he would come and
talk to you"
"No talking can change me- said Lucy.
"Listen to the feeling in your own heart,
which tells you to forgive me and to love
me-you know you would be happier il
you yielded-Dear Lucy you do not know
how good will be to you.'
Lucy was still standing by the sofa-he
was standing by her-her eyes were cast
down; she dared not let them meet his
His voice made her tremble, his words
stirred her profoundly. She saw his hanc
quivering with desire to clasp hers which
was near it; she knew she loved him still
Alas, she knew also that she despiset
him, and that If she lived to be hun
bred, she should never cease to do Sc
when she remembered that letter. Would
it be possible to love him and set it aside
She wondered if that could be.
| What IL she drove him to kill himself