The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-08-14


are to he made; and look at him with
grave eyes that somehow do not kindIc to his
plans; and listen with heart that does
not echo TO his hopes Of the future.
"You look tired; shall we 60 to the
drawng-room"
assent; and together we enter the great
shadowy room; and l fit amongst the great
antique pieces Of furniture, and feel very
small and insignificant in the midst OF my
possessions. The only new thing In the
room is piano, ard open it with an ex.
clamation of delight.
"You got this for me- Oh, Hum
phreyW
"Are you boo tired to sing me something
to-night" he asks, coming over and stand
ing beside me.
My collection Of songs is not large. l
sit down and sing the first thing that
comes into my head--"Auld Robin Gray"
When my voice dies away and the room is
still again, Humphrey speaks.
"Why did you sing that, MadgieW
al don't know it was the first song that
came into my head" answer; and, lift
ing my face, meet his eyes, and they are
grave and sad. --
Gam auld Robin GrayW he says.
"Oh, what nonsensew | cry, looking at
his strong Stalwart figure. "Why you are
not bit old Humphreys
.oOnly forty" he says with little smile;
"and 'my love is but lassie.'" And then
he adds in low voice, "Thank Heaven
there is no Jamie to break your heart and
mine! Arld Robin Gray might have been
happy only for him.
The sun il bright and the aUttSns tints
are all brown and gold when ] take my
first daylight peep at my new home, and
see away beyond the trees, or rather be-
low them, broad silver strip that means
the restless sea.
Carstairs is built on a height, and half
the grounds seem to be rocks covered with
shrubs. Under the windows gardens are
laid out in modern style. Old Anthony
Carstairs loved flowers, and his gardens
were his chief delight and pleasure.
am quite cheerful over breakfast, quite
eager TO explore Carstairs. From the
brcakfast-room we can see the white
waves, and hear the roar Of the surf upon
the beach; and ] love the sea, though
have never lived near IL, having paid only
a few flying visits in my lifetime to an old
aunt who lived on the coast. How cheer
full the house looks in the morning sun
shine There are flowers on the table, and
the silver is very bright. Bernard seems
to be man of taste. ] am not bit tired
to-day, and my spirits nave risen wonder
fully,
"Get your hat, Madsie, and come out"
says Humphrey.
fly of, more like schoolgirl than the
staid parsonage suppose ought TO be-
On the way am met by Mrs. Steele, who
hands me an enormous koy-basket full Of
shining keys; and gaze at her III amaze
ment, and then dart back to Humphrey.
ooh, Humphrey, couldn't-indeed /
couldn't" ........
"Couldn't what, my childW
81 don't know" explain incoherently.
al am sure Mrs. Steele thinks l ought to
do housekeeping"
swell, my darling, and so you will,
won't you?"--smiling down at my distress
cd face.
Humphrey, don't knew how--indced
u uaNV uo lNNa noW ehuufu W hheh-
aged"
"Why Madgie, didn't you do the house.
keeping-ordering the dinner and that kind
Of thing q, homey"
"Oh, that was very different Where
there il no money yor know eKaf.ls what
to do--only to make everything RS mI ~
possible. oh, please, Humphrey, 'ct n Ia
Steele remain housekeeper! She . wou'I :
manage everYihinc m""l ~"
avery well, my child But If the din.
ners are bad it will be your fault for shirk-
ing your duty"
Mrs. Steele seems greatly pleased al the
arrangement and so am /; and the cares
and responsibilities rest lightly on my
shoulders.
Humphrey and 60 of to examine the
place-frst the gardens, which by next
summer, Humphrey says, will be very diff.
fcrent from what they are now. There are
rows of lighthouses in the large sunny
kitchen-garden, and the head. gardener tells
us that there is no fruit in the country
round to be compared with the pluns,
peaches, nectarines, etc, that glow and
blush on the red brick walls Of 80 Garden
at Carstairs We wander all over our
demesnc, and stand at last beside the sea,
and look a. the green shining waves rush.
ing up on the strip Of shingly beach,.
It's a wild bit Of the coast, this-clifs and
rocks. and the waves fretting and chatting
at their base.
at is grand in winter" Humphrey says.
"The spray flies over the cliffs, some-
times."A
And then we go back again UP the tor.
tuous little path.
"Take care, MadgieW Humphrey cries.
But | laugh and fly up before him,
and stand looking down as he comes up
the clih.path more slowly and stands beside
me.
"Madcapp he says. "That is what Col.
Trevannon calls you, isn't it?"
eyes" | answer, and grow sober and
grave as remember the panied sad look
In my old friends face, the blame and re-
proach that answered my reckless, miser.
able speech in the library at Ashurst.
"fou have not seen the stables YETI"
ono" l say, and walk across the lawn
at my husbands side.
am unable TO take any interest In my
new home. Asieel only an overwhelming
sense Of WEAKNESS in my husbands pres
ence, not dislike. II does not amount to
anything so tangible as that, try TO care;
] try to think | shall be happy here, and
contcntcd; but the feeling of depression
comes back again and again. Still | am
getting wiser, for | keep my thoughts TO
myself.
81 have got you horse for yourself,