The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-10-16
CHAPTER XVIII.

Felicia together-for these seem TO be
friends--and Bee and / side by side as in
the old days.
"Madgie," she says, "what good fell
low Humphrey Isl l think he worships
you more than ever"
"Yes," | return family, bending my
head little. "What are you going to
wear tonight, Bee"
"My blue-and-white muslin. Oh, Mad
gle, what shall we do at home again after
Carstairs?"
"You won't 20 homo for a long time yet,
Bee, and who knows but you may never
go back at all?'--laughing as ! speak at
the bushes that surge over Bees face.
"Madgie?" she says at last, "may | ask
you question:"
"Of course. What is it?"
Bee raises her long-lashed eyes to mine.
"Madgie--you won't be angry2-I often
think you don't look happy"
There is rush of tears to my eyes, and,
without thought, the truth comes to my
lips.
81 have never been happy, Bee, since
left home"
"Oh, Madgiew
Then | turn and look straight into her
great wondering eyes.
81 ought not to have said that, Bee. 1
never meant to let any one dream that l
was not as happy as--as | appeared to be;
and want you TO try TO forget what l
have said"
Bee shakes her head.
~ could not forget it, Madge; but you
know that shall never say anything about
1t to any one else--and that will be Just
the same as If you had never told me-"
"She takes my hand in hers--the left
hand, with the gold band cleaning on It
and this action alone shows how widely
different our relations are one to the other,
In the old days Bee and never held each
others hands, or attempted caresses Of
any kind; now she strokes my fingers
softly, looking the while piteously Into my
face.
"And we oil envied you so much, Mad
gie" And then, lowering her voice, she
asks, "Don't you care for himW
"Bee, you could not understand. | do
care for my husband more than he can ever
know; and there is really nothing. But
you remember never wanted to be mar
ried; was SO happy at home with you
ALP
seeks no further enlightenment. / am
afraid the trouble is on my face and In my
eyes when Humphrey comes to the garden
to where we sit.
"Not gone to dress yet, Madgiey have
been at Ripley, and Chris has friend
staying with nina Mr.. Darlington; so |
told Chris that you would be very glad to
see his friend tonight, and he is to bring
him"
Lena and Felicia come saunterlng UP
arm in arm.
ave are TO have a stranger at dinner to-
night" / say; $50 put on your prettest
dresses. Mr., Darlington may be prince
In disguise"
"Mr. Darlington
Why does Felicia gasp out the name and
turn whittier
"Felicia" | exclaim and we gaze at
her In astonishment, as she stands with
strange look on her face and her brown
eyes wild with some sudden emotion
scare you Ill, Felicia" asks Humphrey,
stepping forward.
His voice Is kind; there Is friendly anx.
iety-nothing more; even | can detect
nothing else. In dazed startled way Fe.
hcia puts her hand up TO her head.
eyes, have headache. 1t Is the heat,
think will so and lie down.
She looks Ill, and trembles yisibly; and
cannot help but think that Mr.. Caring.
ton has something to do with the sudden
illness.
Holt an hour later | come slowly down
the stairs, dressed for dinner, in long
soft white dress that makes no sound, no
| In IA hul
watching the evening sun cleaning
thr 'ugh the stained glass window, and
the sunlight lying in patches on the floor,
purple, crimson, blood-red, and golden,
fickehing and changing.
Thel library door opens suddenly, and |
see FSlicia blinded with weeping, and
,vaahHr, hrey with grave troubled face look
G sAfs"n bor.
"You will keep our secrety" Felicia
says, sobbing "PromiSe me, Mr.. Car.
stairsW
"You may trust me, my child" Hum.
\phrey's strong deep voice answers her
gently.
Then Feicla's black dress sweeps across
the hall. She does not see me and | 70
straight to the library.
'iluhpHTcy, WnHt uO~ felCla mehnI
Why Is she crying'"
Humphrey pushes his fingers through
his harlan action with him that usually
betokens some perturbation Of mind
"she does not wish to meet this Mr.. Car.
nngton," he says at last; and raise my
eyebrows IN surprise.
"Not wish TO meet Mr. Darlington -
WhyI Did she know him berorey"
There isa pause; Humphrey Is evident
ly choosing his words.
eyes; and Felicia would rather Mr..
Darlington did not know she was here"
"she has confded In her guardian,
supposeW
eyes" he answers, tho color rising to
his forehead.
lie vouchsafes only one short word, and
my wrath Is reused.
"Perhaps, while Mr.. Darlington Is In the
neighborhood, Miss Grant would wish TO
assume fictitious namei" toying with the
flowers In my dress ~ speak, and steal.