The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-08-08
NELLIE'S BANNER SCREEN.

"Nellie, Cousin Nellie, | say! Have
you not done that banner screen yet?n
cried Maud Lester.
And Cousin Nellie, don't forget my
letter in the package" said Vera,
Nor mine, Nellie darling" piped
Dora, the youngest of Doctor Testers
four pretty daughters. There they are
all three letters; and there are two notes
for you by-the-by. One is from Broth.
er Robert, think. ! cannot imagine
why he should write to you, though.
The other is circular, or something of
that kind. They will keep till YOU fin
ish that won't they, dear? do so LONG
TO see II completed. Good-byer
Dora danced away after her two sis
tiers.
Nellie Garston, her orphan.cousin.
| paused a moment in her work and took
up one of the letters the one that Dora
had aScribed to her brother Robert.
In trouble again. | daresay, for the
hundredth time, and wishes me to break
it to Uncle Martini she thought 81
wonder what uncle would say if the
girls should attempt to go on as Robert
does for a single daygn
Before she had time to look at the su.
prescription Of the letter, delerential
servant stood before her.
III you please, Miss Nellie, the house
keeper says would YOU Just step down
to her room, and see if the wedding.
cake looks right? She wanted the other
young ladies to come, too; but she new
er S"ut me upstairs until they were
gone. Aud she says she shall 90 clean
out of her mind if you don't come at
once
II will be there directly, Louisa"
said Nellie, putting down her letter on
the edge of her tiny embroidery frame
Very fair, and sweet, and girliSh she
looked, as she ran down to Mrs. Jen.
kin's sanctum, with that pleasant smile
upon her face, But hers was u happy
and sunshiny heart. She had been
adopted Il ponniless, lonely orphan, by
her uncle; and she considered no sacri-
flee too geat to make to insure his COM
fort, or the welfare of any member OF
his family.
But for uncle, | might have been
starving and homeless to-day" she told
herself now, as she glded through the
hower-dcckcd house. 81 ought to do
everything the girls wish and if |
thought Dora was really in earnest
when she raves so about MIR Vernon
But she is not Of course. need not
make myself unhappy by drawing back
from his offers of friendship until her
heart is far more engaged than it is
now, wonder il he viii come thiseve-
ningP And what could it have been that
he would only tell me here at homeP"
1t was the eve of her eldest cousins
wedding. Ethel, q joyous, handsome
brunette, was the first of all the sister
hood to be wooed and won. As sho |
married wealthy merchant, some thirty
years her senior. whose whole future !
life would be spent in ministeringto her
lightcst fancieS, her friends naturally |
overwhelmed her with presents of the
most expensive kind. Nellie of course
could not afford anything that would
cost money, but for several weeks past
every moment of her spare time had
been employed in the elaboration of "a
most acknowledgement banner screen,
and when she bad duly admired the
wedding-cake that Mrs. jenkins would
allow no one but herself to touch, hur-
ried back to finish the embroidery, and
then put the delicate work away.
II was nearly dusk when she took it
from its frame. She placed the farewell |
letters of the sisters in its centre, and
summoned a servant TO see IL properly |
packed and delivered to the BRIDES Ia
dy's-maid.
Then she went YEARLY upstairs to
dress for dinner, reserving Roberts let
ter for the morrow.
Happy will be the girl whom he
does choose! Not because he Is so rich.
but because he is 50 good" she said to
herself, as she entered the great draw
ing~room with the bridal party. ut tho
appointed hour, and saw. as she half-