The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-09-16
MY NARROW ESCAPE.

Twas eighteen, and had come to a
crisis in nv life; the life of a hitherto
INDUCED and perfectly happy girl; it
was no less serious a crisis than this
I was or fancied myself TO be in love,
and on the eve Of separation from my
lover.
Young Arthur Elton. He was in re-
atty five years my senior, but for some
reason people always called him
young" greatly to my annoyance;
for spirited girl, when she has made
I'D her mind TO take man for "her
lord and MASTER" doesn't quite like TO
see other people looking down on him
and condescending to him, it to some
foolish boy.
1t wasn't Arthur's fault. He was of
that gentle, loving, yielding nature,
that other people invariably either
slight and "put upon" or patronize
and caress. Very handsome, in a some-
what effeminate style; something OF an
artist, poet, dreamer, and an enthusiast
in everything, the very latest OF his
many enthusiasms being his love for
me.
Really, he was so earnest, so almost
desperate about it, that he quite took
nv heart by storm. had known him
all my life, but had never even thought
Of being in love with him until few
days before we were engaged.
And Just at that time he had become
o sort of hero in our little country
world. by the choice he had made Of
career in life. He had been, in de-
sultory sort of fashion, educated for
the Church; not that he had any special
fitness for the calling, but because-an
old friend of his fathers being cler-
gyman--his ideas had CHANGED tc take
turn in that direction. Now, he had
suddenly developed an ardent anxiety
for the heather, ana resolved to go to
India as missionary.
Now. Twas an enthusiast, too. When
he pleaded to me to accompany him,
to devote my life to him, among savage
tribes in far-off lands, l never paused
to consider what one-sided arrange
ment this would be, or how far from a
bright or happy life was this he offered
me. He pointed out to me the grand
career for which Heaven had designed
us. We should pass our lives in the
service of God and our fellow-creatures,
and mutually sustain each other on
this narrow road which should lead so
many heathens to heaven.
So my imagination caught fire. How
great, how infinitely more noble was
such fate than the quiet domestic
happiness Of wife and mother, that
was the ordinary, commonplace wo-
mans lot! So we were engaged, and
offered no objection to Arthur's ear
nest entreaty that / should marry him
at once, and--he was TO sail in three
weeks-go with him.
But here the matter fortunately pass
ed out Of our control, and became SUBJ
ject to the consent Of our families
Need say that 1t met with opposition
from the start.
Mother said she "would sooner lay
me in the graver' In vain | talked
"high and holy ends" and 'calls from
Heaven" She declared that the high
est and truest aim and end of wom-
ans life was TO do her duty in the sa-
cred sphere of home, and raise up
children in the love and fear of Heaven.
Arthur, on his side, had no better
fortune. His father, having large
family, hadn't shilling to spare, and
the old clergyman, who was paying for
his outfit to India, laughed in his face,
and asked him how he proposed to
feed and clothe me when he got me
therep Feed me! Pretty language
from minister. We were willing to
devote ourselves TO the service of
Heavens savages, and nobody would
extend to us helping hand.
IF John were only here" / sighed;
for ! began to feel very much in ear
nest under all this opposition. and to
feel that Arthur and | and the poor
heather were all martyrs together
John has got lots of money, and Is so
good-natured. I've almost mind to
write to him, Arthur, and ask him for
the means to 60"
had been long time making up
my mind to say this to my lover, sup
posing that, as a matter Of course, no
would shrink from taking me on such
terms, or being laid under such oblipa-
.lons to John Hayden. | expected TO
see see, MN shrink sensitively, and declare,
WIN proper manly independence, that
snouia not appeal to John. Nothing
why notP" he cried, quite EAGERLY.
Hayden has lots OF money as vo,,
say, and 1t won't be giving il 70 70 ro, YOU ~
to mo, but 70 those unhappy be,th h
And if-as used to suspect. I;n1is
John wanted to marry YOU himaon
what an opportunity are we giving him
70 exercise the virtue Of sclf-sacrhceW
l don't know how felt as | heard
him. Startled at tho GOODNESS Of that
last idea-thrilled at the very thought
Ut had never occurred TO me) that dear
old John Hayden had admired me-.
and curiously disappointed in my lover.
How could he so contentedly consent
to my receiving money and service
from another mans hands especially