The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-02-24
THE DAILY BULLETIN.
A WOOD. BLOSSOM.

in New York. Summer time, so only
Just enough fire in one corner OF the
huge CRATE to boil kettle on, and IN
the windows, on shelves in every cor
ncr, great pots Of flowers OF all hues
and sizes frightened up the apartment;
but the brightest ornament OF all was
fair young girl who stood framed in
the doorway, and watching, with raised
hand shading her eyes from the rays of
the already descending sun, the road
that run past the gate TO the nearest
town, some nine miles distant from
Lydcote Farm.
"He is coming, mammal" she ex-
claimed, eagerly, addressing middle
aged woman, who sat by the window
knitting, and running out to meet, and
greet with a loving kiss, the ruddy-
faced man who alighted from gig that
drew up before the gate. "Oh papa, |
am so glad!'
But May Hepburn's eyes lost their
brightness, her features clouded over,
when she saw her fathers usually cheer
full countenance wore a gloomy, care
worn expression, and she said anxious
ly;
Dear papa! have you brought back
bad news to us!'
The worst, my darling" was the
sad reply, as Mr.. Hepburn returned
her kiss 81 fear dear Lydcote must
pass from us after all; leave me with
your mother for a little, child must
prepare her for the worst that can
come
And MAY ran from the house. with
wild desire to escape somewhere
of the sight of her mothers tears, and
of the look of settled despair upon her
fathers face. He had come after
bootless effort TO have the foreclosure
of the mortgage on the homestead de-
ferred until another year, when crops
might be better, so as TO enable him to
meet the interest
The MORTGAGE, q Shrewd but ignor
ant man, was only too G ad at the pros
pect of having Lydcote Farm thus fall
so easily into his hands after years of
patient and persistent toll upon the
acres but lately redeemed from swamps
by Mark Hepburn, who had spent years
in toll that another was now to reap
benefit from.
Onion May Sped-far into the re-
cesses Of Morton Woods. which stretch
ed their cool shades invitingly behind
the coveted fields. At last she reached
spot which had been her refuge be-
fore, when. like to-day, her impulsive
spirit had suffered from extremes,
either of 10y or Sa lness; for gladness
and sorrow are oflcntimeS twin in sensa-
ton at the moment.
May had learned to look upon nature
as the most unfailing sympathzer
and soother Of u spirit like her own,
whose sensitivcness to eXternas was
ever a fresh source of surprise to her
more neutrality-suspicious. parents.
Flinging herself upon bank of moss,
she buried her face in its yielding vel
vet, and sobbed unrestranedly for
time. Then she dried her eyes with an
impatient gesture.
'Why," she exclaimed, "was ] not
born boy? Then | could have gone
out into the world, and turned the tide
of fortune, would have wrested sue
cess from it by energy and persever-
ance. But what is that?'
She sprang to her feet and listened
intently, 1t was the sharp report of al
gun which had struck upon her ear. !
The next moment bushy-tailed SPUR
rel dashed past her in wild alright. 1t
had evidently been made a target for
the shot she had heard, and was flying
for its life
"Poor little thing! | wonder if you
are hurt and seeking a shelter in which
10 Iia ~ Mav's nitvinc, thn,tuhf rs
she watched it glide from tree to tree,
and then pause, painting, and apparent
ly exhausted. 81 will try to catch and
help you. If am girl, can do good
to something more helpless than my
self"
Suiting the action to her thoughts,
she approached it stealthily, until, with
hand outstretched, she felt sure of her
prize; but not escaped again from
the kindly intentioned, but diStrsted
interference of its would be Captor.
May, however, was not 10 be thus foil
ed, and for a time, there was an exci-
ing chase. AT last the little refugee
took shelter in the friendly trunk of a
hollow tree.
May paused a moment, with natur-
nj dread of the reptiles which often
make their habitation in such places;
even our favored land is not entirely
free from them, and yipers were known
TO exist in Morden Woods and the sur
rounding marshy lands. Then she put
her hand in and reached down as far
as the length Of her arm would permit.
Her fingers first touched foreign sub
stance which hung upon a rough spot
on the inside Of the dccayed trunk;
they closed upon il mechanically, and
TO her great surprise, she drew out n
leathern wallet Without stopping to
examine it, she made another endeavor
to reach the squirrel-this time success
fully.
Then with her two treasures she seat
ed herself at the foot of the tree and
began TO investigate the contents Of the
leathern purse. They consisted of some
old spade guineas and other coins of an
Gent date and what was probably
memoranda wrapped around them; but
II was written in a language unknown
10 her
lhrill OF pleasure shot through her
heart as She saw the money
"Now can help, if am a pirl.n was
her first thought "rm sure there's
enough in nil this IN nav OF thu, L,,,,.;l