The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-06-05
CHAPTER XIII,

=" sou Thlnp harrington again, III 10
were only for once, to know If he still loved
her, TO hear only few words from lips that
had 80 long been dumb, Florence thought
must bring her back some comfort scanty
though II might be; but for Philip Car
rington to be dead 10 her, and yet living,
was uncomfortable; and, as Lady Ravens
carriage, rolling down Oxford Street,
passed the very bricks and mortar where
ut that moment Miss Worthington's hearts
treasure was perhaps enshrined, the old
familiar street, the windows from which
she had looked on that one happiest day In
all her life, brought back the past with
sickening thoughts all too quickly; and
the suspense, the deathly silence, were tor
turing.
Florence would not compromise herself
In any way, yet she would try to still her
heartache with q CLEAN of comfort. She
would plead for u line, written by himself,
so that he could not refuse It. Her resolve
was taken; but eyes she could not battle
were watching her, an influence beyond
her power to defy surrounded her; for La
dy Raven kept unceasing guard, and her
vigilance was rewarded at last. The few
lines expressing little but sisterly interest
but yelling how much passion were
written, and some precaution was taken
although Miss Worthington never stopped
to suspicion. For many reasons she pre-
ferred to keep all correspondence with the
Carrington's rs far as possible from her
aunts notice; and she did not wish that
she should know now Of her letter to
Philip. With beating heart and light step
Florence laid the letter on the hall table,
where all letters for the post had TO be
placed.
Her ladyship was supposed to be in the
enjoyment Of her afternoon siesta; but in
reality her brain was planning q splendid
trousseau at the least possible cost, and a
brilliant wedding-an arrangement which
she thought her kindness merted, and
which might give her some months sojourn
yearly In Lady llarcourt Vcrnon's house.
These thoughts kept her wakeful. She
heard Florence's door open, and the rust
lingsilk and the light step pass her bou-
doir. She waited for her ncce's entrance,
but she did not come; and then she listen
ed more eagerly, only TO hear Florence de-
scend still lower---a proceeding so unusual
that 1t BODIED mystery at least. The step
passed again, and then she heard her
niece's door shut.
Lady Raven was always velyet-shod her.
self, while the carpets were velvet.piled
and gathering her rustling train In her
hand, her ladyship went nolselessly down
the stairs, and found Florence's letter, ad-
dressed, as she had feared, 10 her obnox-
ious cousin, Philip Darlington, lying I'M
derneath one Of her own epistles. She re-
Elected for moment, and then remounted
the stairs, but returned few minutes Ia
ter with letter In her hand, also address
ed to Philip Carrington--the writing sim.
liar to Florence'S bold scrawl--containinq
no love-words, but only wine importers
list placed In plain envelope.
The ruse was still incomplete. The real
letter was taken, and Lady Raven soon
possessed herself Of the contents, the
harmlessness Of which rather relieved her
fears; but 1t was better suppressed, she
thought. Another letter was written, her
bell was rung, and the footman summoned;
and he was told to take it with the other
In the hall, without delay to the post-she
wished them dispatched by the evening
mail.
Florence who was on the qui vive, lis
tened too, and was relieved 10 hear the
"other letter" In the hall referred to. Hers
was safe then and gone. In few DAYS at
farthesta crumb TO satisfy her hunger must
reach her. She would know if her cousin
considered the scauty faith between them
brohs"---if 'hn, hald her still in resnect or
contempt. Nevertheless her conscience
told her that Philip might we'll be angered
1T the levity Of her letter after their last
parting; but if his anger found vent In
words, at least they must give her relief
For his pain she cared little.
The days passed YEARLY, even though
splendid toilets were donned three times
each day, and Miss Worthingon's beauty
was a constant theme, and her fascnations
afresh after her years secu-
sion. Once again Lord Harcourt Vernon
was unremitting In his devotion; and his
Intentions were patent to the world, and
10 Miss Worthington herself perfectly in.
telligible. A week passed, during which no
ettcr had arrived from Philip Darlington
few lines from Maud, accepting
Florence's excuse that overwhelming en-.
yagcments had prevented her from driving
20 Fulham. At last suspense became I'M
and, prompted by her good or
'vil fairy, she wrote promising to see them
It Fulham three days later, at the time
The knew they would all be at home, The
est was painful one, but she thought 1t
might be conclusive.
Lady Raven could raise no objection
Ter niece had been wonderfully moderate
n her desire to revisit her cousins; her
'nly suggestion now was that they might
lriye thither together. Lady Raven would
emain In the carriage or enter the house
IS Florence liked. But the latter little
jared; her only aim was to see Philip, to
cad what his eyes told her, TO relieve the
ntolerable craving of her heart, which
he had repressed so long that 1t now
aimed complete ascendency over her. She
vas sure to see him, she told herself; he
would be less able to resist the temptation
4 another meeting than she herself. But
he little knew him.
Philip, having sought and pleaded for
Ter love, had accepted his rejection; this
he again had vagucly~withdrawn and
hen bound him to silence and banished
i'm, till 1t might please her sudden caprice
o recall him. II was humiliation enough
or any man, and Philip Darlington was
10 humble lover. Her letter too was an
insult, II she regarded It In the right light.
Tho letter Of ordinary cold friendship to
he man she had vaguely promised To mar.
y whom she had bound TO silence, and
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