The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-09-04
CHAPTER XVII.


"Only three days. and Bee and Lena
will be with me! We are at breakfast,
and |. The post-bag has just
come in; and behind the great silver urn
am reading letter from Bce--a long let.
ter, full of wild delight at the prospect Of
coming to Carstars; and she gives graph.
ic and amusing description of Lena's dread
that their wardrobes will not be considered
fashionable enough for the gay neighbour
hood.
"Madgiew
Humphreys voice breaks in upon my
letter-reading, and there is something in
his tone that tells me ii is not an ordinary
question he is about to ask.
"Well," say, pceping round the urn,
"what is it, HumphreyW
He has letter in his hand-a foreign
letter apparently, judging from the thin
blue envelope.
"Madgie," he says again trying to speak
carelessly, but looking at my face all the
time to see the effect of his words, "what
do you say to trip to New York;"
ITO New Yorkw echo, with eyes open.
ing in amazement. "What do you mean,
Humphrey
He looks down at the letter in his hand,
and then up at me again.
al have an old friend named Grant dy-
ing in New York of consumption. This
letter Is from him; and he asks me, as a
last favor, to come and see him before he
dies, and be guardian to his only sister,
poor tellowW
| listen blankly to his explanation, and
then turn my eyes away from my husbands
face.
"Humphrey must you go?"
He gets up and comes over to me.
"Listen, child. When was i'll in Lon.
don, years ago, with no friends, no one to
care if lived or died, Grant nursed me
almost night and day for two months, and
worked himself to shadow to procure
wine and luxuries for me. Don't you
think l ought to 60! We shall not be
away more than six weeks or two months"
W--with gasp in my voice. Do
you mean that am to go, HumphreyW
eyes," is all he says, gravely and stern
ly, and puts his dying friends letter into
my hand, and then walks away to the win
dow, while read the faint blotted hand
writing, the last touching appeal of man to
man and heart to heart.
Slowly read the letter, and slowly l
fold it up.
"Humphrey, think you ought to CO."
say In fearful voice, with stress on
the "you" which he cannot fail to under
stand
He does not answer Immediately. |
look over at his tall figure standing in the
window, and wonder what he is thinking
Of and why Le does not speak. The silence
becomes unbearable, and break it at last,
timidly and uncertainty.
Bee and Lena will be so disappointed.
would you mind If stayed at
nome with them"
He turns round suddenly.
"Great Heaven, Madgie, do you mean to
drive me mad" And then, as rise tony
feet and stand smitten dumb with wild
frightened eyes at the first wrathful words
that have ever passed his lips TO me, he
cries out, with something like sob in his
voice, "Child, child, you will break my
heartW
do not speak, only look back at him,
with fast-coming tears and gasping, catch
ing breath. Did seem glad ut the prospect
of being alone at Carstairs, with my sis
tiers for company! Perhaps showed glad
ness in my face. ] was hardly conscious
Of even feeling one throb of pleasure at
the prospect; but Humphreys jealous pas.
sionate eyes are keen. Tears roll down
my cheeks.
Madgie, Madgie, where is all your brave
ryl Wife, don't you know it is your duty
TO accompany mey"
1t hurts me to hear the pititul stress on
the word "duty' as it falls from his lips.
any dutyW falter with a throb of pity
for us both, and go one step nearer to him.
"Your wife must not fail in that, Hum.
! phrey."
awe must go at once" my husband says
passing his hand YEARLY across his fore
head; and sigh, and think of the long
| journey before Us.
Just for ono second my husbands arms
clasp me tightly; he bends his face over
mine, and keeps it there.
"Madgle, Heaven help us both if only
duty keeps you by sidew
What is the good of my saying any
thing. No words of mine can make any
| difference.
By-and-by he comes and finds me writ
ing few hasty lines to Bee to tell her OF
our sudden strange journey. Not one word
do | say in blame Of my husband; but, in
spite of myself, one tear has fallen on the
paper and left bistered stain. Hum
phrey looks sorrowfully at my woe-begone
face.
"Madgie darling, it won't be so long af-
ter all; and then you can have the girls for
the whole summer If you like"
"Am very foolish" | say, and smile
up at him little. One of my repentant
fits comes suddenly, and lean my cheek
upon his hand. "Humphrey, | wonder
when you will begin to hate meW
al will tell you when the time comes
And now, my child, want to start the
day after tomorrow. Can you be ready"
eyes," / answer, with lump in my
throat, but very resoute and determined
to say would be ready In half an hour If
he so willed it.
There is great deal to be done, and Mrs.
Steele is at her wits end and with pang
l hear her giving orders for the dsman-
thing Of the two pretty rooms that have
been gotten ready for Lena and Bee
Boxes are packed, and the whole house Is
In confusion. Chris Delacourt comes over
ana offers to do anything in his power.
think our neighbors believe we are
crazy Tor flying OF to America TO see dy-
ing man and the day before our departure
we are besieged with visitors. Nobody
seems 10 believe that we are actually 20