The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-06-08
THE LIGHT OF HIS LIFE.

W otlit 10 Blu bAt it " ,N'' wv Va
the great drawing-room, watching the
guests as they fitted TO and fro, and
more particularly one, tall, finely pro-
portioned man Of some iive-and-thirty
years of age, with clean cut features
and 'thorough-bred'' air, but an in
deiinable expression of unrest upon his
face that attracted Clare's sympathy.
He certainly was handsome-of fine
physique, with a pale complexion, and
dark, thoughtful, brown eyes, full OF
refinement and intelligence, and close
cut, loosely curling brown hair that
showed the intellectual shape OF his
head.
Handsome, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS could
see that for herself; and Constance Pc
tronel had told her he was very rich,
very much admired, great catch; yet
every one pitied him.
II was incomprehensibl to Clare,
how being handsome and wealthy, it
was possible for Vivian Kilgour to be
an object Of pity! and, looking half
wonderingly, half-shyly at him as he
walked down the long drawing-room,
bowling here and there, she wondered
the more.
Herself, Glare Meredith, was one of
the gayest little spirits that ever lived,
and her blue eyes were forever dane
ing with mischief; her sweet fair face
always alight with the pure happiness
that comes from perfect health, clear
conscience, and cheerful tempera-
ment, while her laugh-well, it was
like all the enchanting sounds you chose
to compare it to-a purling mountain
stream, the chime of silver bells, con-
centrated, idealized music.
She was pretty, too, in u dainty, girl
ish way, with her shining white teeth
behind the ripest, rarest mouth, with a
skin all cream and roseate hues, and a
perfect wilderness of yellow-gold hair,
brushed of her fair wide forehead, and
braided down her back, with the ends
all curl for quarter of yard.
Poor as q church mouse, for she was
the eldest daughter of large fam
lily, but happy and content for all her
lack of wealth; busy from eight in the
morning until six at night: patient, sun
Dy-hearted, grateful that she was sue
ceediDg SO grandly, paying all her ex-
penses, dressing nicely, affording few
little luxuries occasionally, and laying
by little money every year.
The Petronels were old time friends,
and Clare had always welcome in the
big, old-fashioned house, where the
aristocratic visitors elevated their noses
at the pretty little, obscure farmers
daughter, and the gentlemen put them
selves quite out of the way for smile
and gay, careless little nod from the
beautiful golden head, as classic as q
Grecian goddess.
But Clare never cared whit more for
the masculine admiration than the fem
mime snubs, and went on in her quiet
way, sometimes spending her evenings
in the grand drawing-room, at others
feeling perfectly content to sit and read,
or sew, OF chat in Constance's private
sitting room. up stairs-the contest room
in the great big house, with fowery-
and-viny bay-window, where canary
bird sang, and an upright piano, and
cottage organ. and plenty of pictures
and coy chairs.
-, And NiYipn E:l~->--- t--',> 80; -
Clare could not, somehow, reconcile
herself to that; and she was so inquisi-
tive on the subject that she spoke of it
to Constance.
~ cannot understand why Mr.. Kill
gorr is to be pitied, Concie. He has
everything reasonable creature should
want. What do you meanp''
'Just exactly what said, my dear
Mr. Kilgour is all you say, and there
are scores of young ladies continually
angling for him. But haven't you no.
ticed how quiet, and dull, and unhappy
he always isP'
Clare's eyes looked thoughtful.
"Yes. know he is quiet and reserv-
ed; but"
We'll, that is just it. He is of
melancholy-almost moody--disposi-
ton, and know he is Just as unhappy
as he can be. Now you know why peo-
pie pity him."
A little flash Of indignation was in
Clare's blue eyes.
THE idea! Plying man who per-
mits himself such unmanly indulgences
as moods. Indeed, | shall waste no
sympathy on him. The trouble is, Mr..
Kilgour is rich enough to be lazy, and
consequently, dyspeptic and morbid. -
I've no patience with man who will
make himself unhappy for no earthly
reason"
And Vivian Kilgour, passing through
the hall, heard the burst OF grlish
laughter that followed Clare's protest,
and involuntarily paused to listen.
What a glow Of happiness and ex-
hilaration that girl must feel, to laugh
like that. II is tonic In its effect on me.
! wonder II IL is that little Miss Mere
dithP"
And he turned about and deliberate
ly knocked at the door of Constance's
sitting-room. M
MAY come in7 You have no idea
how lonely 1t is for poor fellow down
stairs"
And Constance gladly invited him
In and Clare sang and played for him,
and
It was the beginning Of very pleas
ant time In Viyian's life, and he told
Mrs Petronel, one day, that sight of
Clares face when she laughed, and the
rlch music OF the laugh, were enough
time. oSNN' nv
A..I