The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-07-10

Can't he hurry"
| do believe 1t is the daily pile Of letters
from home that keeps inc alive; even to
read about home is something. Humphrey
laughs at my Impotence.
"You had letters yesterday Madgie."
eyes, but expect them every day."
There Is only one more house now--only
one---and then he stands under our win
dows, looking over his letters, and after
few moments, walks past slowly and de-
iberately.
With great throb OF disappointment
step back into the room.
sfThere Il no letter for me-"
0You will get one tomorrow, DEAR"
Humphrey says soothingly.
But will not be comforted and he wise.
ly says no more. .--.,
"They might have written"
Tome the glory has gone out Of the SKY,
and the sun is thing of beauty no longer,
shedding only binding glare on the
whitewashed walls and blue sea beyond.
Saddened, cross, and disappointed, more
home.sick than ever, turn and look at
Humphrey.
He IL leaning back in his chair, the news
paper before his face. i can see only his
forehead, from which his fair wavy hair is
pushed back. The obnoxious beard is out
of sight, but know it is there, and / al
WAYS hated men with boards. IL is becom-
ing to Humphreys style of beauty, never
theless will not allow for moment that
it Is anything but hideous. He will not
sacrifice his precious adornment even to
please me.
To-day I am too cross 10 care If his beard
flows even to the skirts Of his coat. The
postman has gone past, and for twenty-four
hours must be without one line or mes
sage from home.
SHOW can kill twelty-four hours"
say half to myself. How can ! make the
time pass till tomorrow mOrning"
Humphreys newspaper rustles, he moves
uneaslly IN his chair, and upon his broad
brow comes little frown. Then he low
ers the newspaper one inch, and as meet
the sorrowful panied expression in his
eyes for moment look back, mutinous,
indignant, and then make amends for my
unkind speech.
"Humphrey do not look like that--it is
not you mean; but / could not be happy
with anybody away from home"
An odd smile creeps into his eyes; he
lays down his newspaper and comes over
to me,
"Madgle will you answer me one ques-
tion?m
eyes," say looking up at the tall fig
ure standing in the window.
dis it only the home you were sorry to
leave?" he asks, and the smile has left
his eyes now.
"Wllat do you mean, Humphrey" say,
lifting grave wondering eyes to his
"You don't fret after anything elseW
He has not asked the question he means
to ask, and wonder what is coming.
"Fret after anything! Do you mean
Crib"
"Madgie, am in earnest. You do not
care for me, l know-nOt in the way
wife should care for her husband; but,
before you knew me, was there any one
elseY"
"Do you mean any other mani"
At the whitening scorn of the last words
he laughs, and 10 do 1.
"No, Humphrey, there never was. You
were the first, and liked YOU very much
until you wanted to marry me-"
"Poor little soul! But, Madgie, do you
know that i began to be afraid there was
SOMEBODY else!"
"Oh, dear, no! wish there had never
none OF the other girls will ever be mar
ried and have to leave home. Humphrey,
you have no idea how dreadful lonely it is.
No man could make up for homep'
81 don't fancy your sisters will echo
your sentiments" Humphrey says hold
ing my left hand in his and stroking it soft
ly "And SO you are lonely, my darling!
j wish l could be father and mother,
brothers and sisters, to you. And it is
who have caused the pain-I who love you
So"
"Never mind, Humphrey" / answer,
smiling bravely. "In time shall be used
to it; just now feel like dog who has
been given away"
He laughs sadly at the smile.
"You will have kind master" he says
But he is too selfish to wish to give you
back again"
l begin to think the old man was right
who called us "poor FOOLS"
"When are we to 20 to the glen?"
My remark brings back the sunshine to
my husbands face.
"Would you like 1t, my pety" he asks
"Or Is 1t only to please mey"
"To please us BOTH" ] answer, laugh
Ing, and stifle for the day my dsappoint-
ment about the letters. OF course, shall
hear tomorrow, and II behooves us to make
the present time as cheerful as possible.
Humphrey goes out to order carriage
from the hotel, and l occupy myself in
changing my dress. The serge costume IL
too hot for the blazing midday SUM- so |
don one Of my trousseau dresses, all white
muslin, embroidery, and pale blue ribbons
IA dress in the days when / was Madgie
Alison should never have dreamed Of. A
shady hat, caught up and twisted pic
turesquely, completes my costume; and |
stand and look at myself,
What apity 1t is am good looking! If
had been plain, Humphrey Carstairs would
never have married me.
! look back very reg retfully into my
blue eyes, and feel no pleasure In the pic
ture before me. Humphrey rejoices in my
beauty because he Is AN artist and likes
his wife to have u pretty face. Very little
its beauty troubled me In the old wild
madcap days, when burned my cheeks
over the heavy jam.making, and tanned
my skin In the hot sun, and took no heed
that my hands were sun-burnt.
And Row, In my youth and beauty, l
gaze sadly at myself, who battered pref
~ face for lonely life with riches to gild
10 and look AZ the tears rising i'm the blue