The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-09-18
CHAPTER Xxx.

great deal OF her time In her own roOm.--
She will not 90 beyond the grounds. |
think her grief is too keen and recent to
make 1t possible for her to 60 amongst
strangers yet.
In q week we have all settled down
again, Humphrey to his painting, Felicia
to quiet solitude, and the tableaux occupy
nearly all my thoughts and time. The in
vitations have gone out; we have written
TO London for the dresses; and wo are all
trying diligently 10 read up our parts, so
that we shall look the characters when the
time comes. Chris takes upon himself
the building and arrangement of the stage,
and Captain Delacourt is stage-manager.
Every morning finds me at Ripley, for
we are supposed to be preparing for u full
dress rehearsal at which the Misses Blake
are to appear, also one or two mild young
men belonging to the neighborhood, suita-
BILE for the insignificant parts allotted to
them. There seems to be truce between
George and Sir Jasper, for there has been
peace between them for fully three days.
Humphrey laughingly declares that he
might as well have no wife, as he sees SO
little of me and every afternoon he comes
over to Ripley, either on foot or in the car.
riage, to take me home.
81 will walk home with you, Mrs. Car
stairs" Captain Delacourt says on one oc.
casion. at is a shame to drag your hus-
band over here every day away from his
pictures"
And so quite innocently say to Hum
phrey one morning, as peep into his ate-
lier' to say goodbye.
"Captain Delacourt will bring me home
so you need not trouble to come over"
Humphrey says nothing; he only lays
down his brush and mahl-stick and rises to
his feet.
"Good-bye," say gayly, and nod to Fe-
licia, who raises her eyes and smiles grave
ly-I often wonder what she is thinking Of,
sitting so quietly at her easel hour after
hour. "Good-bye, Humphrey; shall be
back for afternoon tea.'
try to slip past him as he stands, tall
and silent, blocking up the doorway,
"Won't you let me pass" | say, looking
up at him aughingly and then back at Fe-
licia, who is sitting with her head bent
over her work and great white apron
over her black dress. "llumpmeyw
Not word comes from him; and, with
half start, see that only by a strong eff
fort is he keeping himself under control.
M will come down stairs with YOU" he
says, getting out the words with difficulty,
as IL afraid of saying more.
He opens the door wide. pass out, and
he follows, shutting the door again; and
together we go down the stairs and into
the hall. There we pause, and look one ut
the other, never dreaming of the storm
of passion rising and Surging in his heart
as stand, gay and careless, arrayed In vel
vet and furs, laughing up at him as he
looks at me.
"Why, Humphrey, what is the NATTER"
"Madgie, | wish you to wait at Ripley
till come for you this afternoon"
gaze at him in establishment.
"Of course, you wish it. But why need
you come, when you are so busy at your
pictures"
The veins in his temples stand out sud-
denly like cords.
"Because think am the 6ttest escort
for my wife,"
At the tone in his voice feel the blood
rush to my face; but no dawning Of his
real meaning reaches me yet. Only the old
grievance recurs to my mind, and | try to
set matters straight.
"Humphrey, should like you to come
but fancied that in these short days you
like all the light for your picture"
"My picture before my wife," he says
bitterly. "Madgie, subterfuges do not
suit you. Oh, child, would to Heaven |
had never left you~
What does he meanp With strange
SILVER creep little nearer to him.
"Humphrey, what is it? will stay at
home If you wish. | cannot go and think
all day that you are angry with me-"
"Angry with you" he murmurs, with .
culver of unutterable tenderness in his
voice. "My little Madgle, Heaven forgive
me If have judged you wronglyw
"Did you think did not want to wall
home with you, Humphrey" my falter
ing voice breaks in; and look up will
wet eyes.
"Go my child" he says, and STOPPING
presses his lips to my upturned face.
"Y0u will come for mey" | interrogatc
and, woman-like get the best of the quar-
rel after all.
"Yes, will come," he says, with
strange smile dawning in his eyes.
The stage is complete, the arrangement,
for lighting the tableaux are perfect, anc
oh, triumph Of at THE curtain goes III
and down without a hitch. We are at The
height of bliss when Humphrey walks il
In the afternoon and stands suddenly In the
midst Of us.
al said would see you home" says
Captain Delacourt; and his dark eyes look
suddenly into mine.
"Humphrey wished to come" answer
careessly, not needing the implied reproach
in his tone; "and 1t will save you the
trouble, Captain Delacourt."
Then Humphrey comes up, courteous and
pleasant, talking to George, who is chat
tering away ut his elbow.
"Mr. Carstairs," she says, "you must
come to the rehearsal tomorrow night--a
full-dress rehearsal. The Blakes are to be
here, Jack Harpington, and everybody;
and you are to be sisera to my Jael."
81 will be anything you like" Humphrey
answers, laughing. "Madgie, are you
ready It's getting late"
My husband and drive home in silence.
feel aggrieved--I know not why--and
come TO the unwisc conclusion that Hum.
pnrey's visit to America has not improved
ms temper, or hat the advent of Felicia
urant has made him less tolerant of nv
many faults and failings.
. ame next day sec him studying with
s,ase expression the programme OF the tab.