The daily Cairo bulletin., 1881-05-20


curl and curve Of her delicate lips /!
She had none of her former restless
thoughtlessness; the very spirit OF re-
pose seemed pervading her entire char
acter.
In her absence she had been the idol
of her city relatives and she followed
and worshiped of large circle OF in
tellect and fashion, and now the ac-
complished, self-possessed woman met
again the lover OF her early girlhood.
Since his heartless desertion OF Ellen,
he had buried his mother and married
his sisters, and now dwelt in solitary
grandeur in the old homestead. wit
Messed the meeting. He happened in
ut an evening party, evidently not
dreaming OF such an encounter till the
hostess electrified him by an introduc-
ton to his ci-devant lady love. He
turned deathly pale, and actually shook
with agitation; but Ellen never lost her
queenliness for o moment, her eyes
never quailed, and the hand that she
extended while remarking carelessly
that they were old friends, never trem-
bled
All present must have seen that he
| was deeply struck and instantly sub
dued by tho rare combination OF natur-
al and artificial destinations which she
presented. He hovered round, and
gazed upon her in silent stupor OF adj
miration.
Is From that time, gradually and tlmid-
", like a school-boy who has played
truant, the naughty Grahame stole back
to his allegiance, Ellen, till it was evi..
dent that he loved with oil his soul, and
for once, with all his pride. He had
fancied our little Nell as pretty play
thing, but he now adored the elegant,
perfectly developed woman as a god
dess. He was her most devoted, her
knight, her slave, here, there and ev-
erywhere at her bidding, till grew in
dignant at her not rejecting his hon.
age, at her permitting his presence, for
! would sooner have seen her welded
TO wild Seminole At last, with the
freedom Of other days, l entreated her
at least to relieve my suspense. She
answered by placing in my hand let
ter, to which she had just replied. 1t
was from Grahame. Itclearly revealed
that under the influence Of real pas
sion the writer had found his real ma
ture He seemed to have lost his pride
in his love, and while daring to offer
the fervent devotion of his future life,
to be filled with humiliation and con-
triton for the past, dwelt on the re-
morse which had pursued him since
their parting, alluded to the interference
of his family, acknowledged that he
had first loved her beauty merely, not
knowing her worth, yet called heaven
to witness that he had since known no
other love, and closed with an appeal
to her womanly sympathies, so tender,
wild and passionate, that l dare not
dream it had been in vain.
GLOW did you answer p' l asked.
81 rejected him."
"Thank heaven! But whyp"
She quietly placed in my hand min
iature. saying: "This is the only man /
will ever we'd"
| l gazed from the picture to her in
amazcment. The face was new TO me,
and by no means handsome one.
And yet as looked with earnest atten-
ton, grew to liking it exceedingly.
A something fascinating and endearing
appeared TO emanate from it; the brow
wore the stamp OF nobility and the eye
was alive with intellect.
"Why, Nell" | exclaimed, "who can
this bep'
"Mr Frederick Aymes, of Boston, q
poor artist and protege of my uncle,
and soon TO be my affianced husband"
"And why is he not now P" l asked.
because wished to remain free till
I had consulted my early friends, as l
told him-until had again met James
Grahame, my first love, as told my
self"
"Oh, no. the mystery is out You
were weighing love against love, and
the first was found wanting, eh?"
"Yes," she replied with an emphasis
so hearty as to leave me no room for
doubt.
One week from this time Ellen re-
ceived two letters; one was from Gra-
hame, bearing his adieu-he was about
revisiting Europe-and the other from
Frederick Aymes, announcing his spec
dy coming. The first Nelly hurried
through and laid aside with a sigh OF
pity, but the second she read and re-
read with tears and smiles, kissed, and
literally "laid to heart"
"Did you not say, Ellen" asked J.
"that Mr.. Aymes was poor?"
YES" she replied, "he has only his
profession"
"Will your uncle favor his suitP'
"No-and l can expect nothing from
him."
Then, Nell, you will have to resign
fashionable society"
"No matter; l shall see the more of
Fred"
"You must give up expensive dress"
'Oh, Fred admires simplicity"
"You cannet keep carriage"
"But we can have delightful walks"
"You must take small house and
furnish II plainly"
Eyes; but cozy, elegant furniture
would be out of place in cottage"
"You will have to cover your floors
with cheap, thin carpet"
"Ah, then, l shall hear lis step the
sooner"
l caught her hand and kissed it rev.
erently, and pressed it TO my heart.