The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-05-29

She knew that he was. He dropped her
| hand and paced up and down the room.
Nou are very hard with me; you press
me cruelty" she said, and then he stopped
suddenly before her. III.
"Florence, do you love me? Have you
any love for me" he demanded vehement
| ly.
She could not tell him that she had not.
She dared not tell him that she had. She
kept her head bent down In silence.
"Ah, | know--I know p he said sadly.
at Is your irreyoeable decision that you
| will not marry me. You give me no hope
either now or In the future"
How her heart achcd to see the bright.
ness all gone from his face How she
longed to grant his prayerl But she dared
not break down the barrier between her
caste and his.
You utterly reject my love now and
forever" he said; "you Danish me from
you. Is IL SOP"
81 don't wish to Danish you'll like you
too well,' she admitted. "But cannot
marry YOU" she added sorrowfully.
"Thank you; but your presence will
now be uncomfortable to me. do not think
could suffer to be played with, In the
way you think possible even by you, Flor.
ence. But we must talk little Of the fu-
ture," he went on calmly. "IIaye you
fully decided to leave us"
"Yes, i have promised to 90 to Lady Ra-
ven directly she returns"
"And does my mother know this" he
asked.
"She does not know the date OF my
aunt's return or Of my departure"
| Sand may ask when you expect 70
join Lady RavenY
"The Goth Of February.
"And this Is the 18th Of January. A lit
tie more than four weeks you will remain
with us them"
Her heart sank when she heard the GER
tain limit put to her stay. She had hth-
erto left 1t unsettled even to herself; she
could not bear to know that the decision
was irrevocable; but she knew IL was so
now,
81 think you will grant me this request,
Florence; it is to keep my dismissal at
present from my mother. A little later
she may know it; but, whilst you remain
with us, it will be more pleasant for us all
thob shS oHOulu lul 10 aware VI TIC lIulU
You need not fear because Of my presence
or course | cannot utterly desert my
home; but the next month will not see
much of me here. For q week can en-
ploy myself nearly night and day ut bust.
ness; after that shall be at Rugby for
fortnight, which may be extended 10 three
weeks. Work will be the best thing to
make me forget the siren who lured me on
in spite of my better sense, y he said sadly.
81 suppose you will not be inclined to for.
give me when tell you that wish had
never seen you. You have not spoilt all
my life, but you have dimmed and sadden-
ed my future for me-"
"Let us be as we were, and forget all
this wretched conversation" Miss Worth
ington interposed.
"rhank you'll No; your visit over, you
would certainly forget Inc, while should
perhaps be hoping that you might think Of
me. 1t is better as it is; suspense Is the
most intolerable pain that we mortals have
to bear. You will do what | wish, Flor
ence, by saying nothing for the present to
arouse my.motherS suspicious; it will be
less embarrassing for you, and will save
those hold dear all pain too.' lie took
out his watch. "Halrpast tiye," he said.
"My father will soon be home, and must
say goodbye. shall have to be al bust.
ness all this evening, and will just run
down stairs to my mother first. Let
us shake hands for what may be the last
time, Florence" FIJI
He took her hand 'carelessly and coldly
fora moment. She claspcd his eagerly, but
could feel no answering pressure.
"You have my most earnest wishes,
Florence" he said, 'dhat the future may
bring you all the happiness you expect to
find in it,"
In another moment he was gone and Miss
Worthington was left alone, with every
nerve in her frame throbbing. For Sec
ond it was in her mind to recall him, to
confess her love, to subdue her pride; the
last however was too deeply planted in her
nature. She might bear her pain, she
thought, though she could hardly realize
1t yet; but she could not east away her
birth-right of high caste. With her beauty
and high breeding, she could not wed
tradesman.
The winter twilight looked very dreary
and cherries to Florence as she glanced
without, and the morrow, even now, APP |
peared hopeless and dismal; but she had |
decided. A certain limit was put to her |
stay in the home which had been so pleas. |
ant to her. The sooner the interval was
over now the better. She began to long
for the weeks to pass. She looked round |
the pretty room in which she was stand. |
ing, and her eyes could not rest upon o |
spot which did not remind her of her cous. |
in Philip.
GLOW can bear it," she thought; but
she had chosen, and could not now 90
back.
AS she unused the door below was shut
gently, and her listening ears could catch
the sounds of hurrying footsteps on the
gravel, and the click of the garden gate
She knew that all hope was now shut out
from her. With aching brain and heart,
she wondered whether she should see Phil
lip again.
Her pride might be very dear to her, but
might not steadfast happy love, shorn Of
oil position, all useless splendor, be far
swecter' Who could tell, she thought the
tears ran quickly down her face, and drop.
ped upon her clasped hands.
"Where is Philip" "Where are they
ALI" Maud and Ethel Darlington asked,
their fresh voices bringing with them a
breath Of frosty winter air.
Florence had been too absorbed in her
own thoughts to escape unseen to her room,
and Ethel soon discovered her crouchcd In
low chair in u dark corner