The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-12-03

night, though il was all true. Oh,
hope she won't dieN'
''Who won't diep What is itP"
"Louise Barrett is very ill-delirious
1T is scarlet fever or diphtheria, or
some other dreadful thing. The doctor
is here, and everybody is frightened to
death, except Carmelite lie Verrier, who
has gone TO nurse her.
Harry was thunderstruck. Only last
evening Louise was radiant with youth
and beauty. Then he thought of Car
melite, and with pang. What il she
would catch the infection and dieP II
he had doubted before whom he loved,
he did not doubt now.
As soon as he dared, he called on
Madame lie Verrier. He found her
calmer than he had expected.
Eyes, Carmelite has gone she said
with simple frankness. "There was
no one else, and did not attempt TO
stop her. She risks her life you say.
Well, noJleSSe oJhge, even if there is
no higher motive. But | hope the dear
child has one. | always called her my
little sister of charity She is helpful
in sickness, and so brave"
But Louse's illness, after day or
two, is pronounced to be only violent
cold. She is for while very i'll, never
theless, and Harry cannot help feeling
half. liking for Phil Leary, who is
honestly, utterly miserable about
Louise, and who, selecting Harry as his
confdant. hangs about him all day,
and tells him over and over again how
he adores her, and how wretched he is.
Two weeks of sunny September
weather pass by.
Louise is out of danger, even getting
"~'i, ..i o""mnliie's duties as nurse
grow lighter. They have beeff rather
arduous, for Louise has needed most
careful and constant nursing, and she is
very exacting patient even now. But
to-day Carmelite has escaped, and is
walking with Mr.. Keith through the
fields towards the forest that lies beyond
the green valley She looks a little
pale from WEAKNESS and loss of sleep,
but, Harry thinks, is prettier than
ever.
How sweet the air is," she says,
pausng at the edge Of the woods to
look back at the sunny, sweet land
scape. and drawing u deep breath Of
pleasure and satisfaction. IL am so
glad to have a nice long walk once
morer'
you cannot imagine how Glad | am
to walk with you again" Harry says,
so earnestly that Carnelte looks up az
him with rather surprised glance.
"Then you have really missed NE"
she said, smiling.
II have missed you, and have been
very anxious about you"
You were a great comfort to poor
grandma" replied Carmelite. Il
used TO see you sometimes through
Louise's blinds, sitting on our porch,
talking so coniidentially 1t looked re-
ally like u Irritation, and ! felt anxious
lest you were planning an elopement
with my unprotected grandmamma
during my absence"
Harry laugh, at the girls nonsense,
and then says seriously: "Shall | tell
YOU what we were talking about? The
one unfailng subject Of conversation
was-yoursef. Carmelitc, will you or
der me away if | tell you what told
her?'
THAT depends" Carmelite answers
softly, smiling, yet coloring, as she
sees him gazing earnestly into her face.
'If tell you how dearly love you
If ask you to be my wife-as do
what will you say?"
Carmelite is silent for little while
uo, cUlOr deepens aud then fades away
again. At last with little sigh, sho
looks up at him.
'Oh, are you sure you love me?' she
half whispers, her soft eyes fixed visit
fully on his face.
Harry smiles; but he answers, almost
solemnly:
II am sure, my darling. As sure as
am that | hold your dear hand in
mine. Why do you doubt it?'
because sometimes have thought
it was Louise YOU loved" she says
simply and gently, her eyes still on his
face
mo, dear, it was always you. But
YOU drove me to her for consolation
sometimes, when you were so cruelty
cold to me-"
Carmeite smiles, and her color comes
back brightly,
But, indeed, was not cold in my
heart" she whispers y. was only
afraid of loving you"
"Then do not be afraid any longer"
he answers with a happy laugh.
And so, with her lovers arm around
her, they strayed on till evening came,
and the full moon rose over the noun
tain.
And far across the hills they went
In that new world which il the old.
And Louise says she'll never forget
Carmeitcs kindness. And she's going
to keep her word, and make poor Phil
happy who isn't half u bad fellow, as
they say in England, after all.
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