The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-10-20


long summer days and moonlight nights
to reveal to me the truth-Donald loved
her Yes, my unce's dream bade fair
to be fulfilled. Should itP To my own
heart | swore never!
One evening she was i'll, confined to
her room with severe nervous head
ache. He came as usual, and, when
told he could not see her, was about TO
leave.
But when he stopped for a few mo.
ments' conversation with my uncle,
crossed to the piano and began TO sing.
In ten minutes he was by my side.
burst into an imprisoned love-song-
my hearts misery and longing found
vent. let the last notes die in sob,
then | arose and slipped my hand
through his arm.
Take me into the air." | whispered
IL am stifiingr'
Together we crossed over to the win.
dow opening upon the verandah; but, as
he walked, he staggered like a man in
toxcated with drink.
"DonaldN' | whispered.
"Hushn' he said. you are witch?
and turned TO leave me,
donald | cried again. IF | were
indeed witch, could make you love
me. Look at me, Donald, Am hid
eous in your sight?'
His breath came short and quick.
"Donaldr' | said again, but now my
voice had sunk to whisper, so low that
even the night winds failed to catch it
kiss me, just once!'
This time he did not start away. My
words enthralled him He bent his
handsome head. In another moment
his lips would have touched mine, when
a little hand swept away the curtains
from the window. Pale and wondering,
Rita looked out at us from the shadows
Of the room. In an instant Donald had
sprung to her side. had forever lost
him. Neither missed me as passed in
and away from them, though heard
her say.
Il felt better, and there was some
thing so strange about Nina'S song 1t
startled me. aud | came down to see. y
Before she slept that night she knock
ed at my door.
81 want to tell you how happy am,
she whispered, as she kissed me. TO
night, Donald asked me to be his wife
Tonight; vet only little while ago, as
/ stood in the window, Nina, and saw
you both together, was almost jealous;
but never shall be jealons again. Don
aid says. Ii j. so strange, too He Is
so eager for our marriage. Hebegs that
it may take place almost at once. He
Is going abroad, he says, and wants to
take me with him
| don .u.| how answered her; but
at last she left me alone. Ny brain was
on fire, My blood ike molten lead
coursed through my veins The weeks
that followed were weeks Of torture.
Everything va. hurried preparation for
the wedding.
laughed as watched it an. l alone
knew that it never should take place. |
did not even longer strive to exercise
my power over him ! fancied como
times that people watched me strangely
but ! was very guarded.
Well, it was the night before the wed
ding. ] had said Goodnight" ano
gone early TO my room. 1t opened into
Rita's with a communicating door.
When she came up stairs Ipretended to
be asleep, but she bent over me and
kissed me,
An hour after, got up and crossed
over to my table. There | took up a
pretty little Venetian dagger-a toy
which had belonged to my mother. |
smiled as | felt its sharp blade.
1T will not hurt" | whispered; but
she will sleep the sounder."
Then ! softly opened the door and
entered her room She lay on the bed
asleep. One white, rounded arm was
thrown above her head and her lips were
smiling
only stopped to look at her, and
think how lovely she would be dressed
in her coffin in her wedding-dress. Yet
| was far more lovely than my rival
| Ny rival Yes, that was the secret. II
was for this she must die.
Where was her heart? There, and
there only must | strike All, ! could
see it beat | raised my arm.
Another moment and it would have
fallen, but in that instant someone seiz
ed it from behind and wrenched the
weapon from my grasp. / turned, &c
look into my uncle's white, stern face.
From that moment, and for long
weeks and months, remembered moth.
ing more. When regained conscious.
ness found myself here-here behind
grated bars, and With human eyes al.
ways upon me.
Rita is married, they tell me, but | dc
not believe them. Some day Donald
will give me love for love! Cold and
possinnlo1s, what can she teach him OF
the hearts true fire? One of these day.
he will waken to the truth, and come t.
claim me As his bride. Why should
try to take my life? He is coming.
am content TO wait--yes quite con.
tent, and so l smile and let them call me
mad.
-----~~zD E