The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-08-20
CHAPTER XVIII.

proves himself a man of his word
There are, evidently, mo two waysn
about jenkins. Seeking the seclusion
that her chamber grants" about ten
o'clock tonight, after a somewhat
breezy evening with her mother-in-law,
Mona describes upon her hearth-rug,
doing bllssfully, two huge hounds
that raise their sleepy tails and heads TO
welcome her, with the utmost condo
sCensloll, as she enters her room.
Spice and Allspice are having real
good time opposite her bedroom fire,
and, though perhaps inwardly astonish-
ed at thelr promotion from a distant
kennel to the sleeping apartment of
their far mistress, are far too well bred
to betray any vulgar eXaltation at the
fact,
Indeed, it is probably fear lest she
shall deem them unduly elated that
causes them to hesitate before running
to greet her with their usual demonstra-
| tive JOY Then politeness gets the bet
ter OF pride, and, rising with a mighty
effort, they stretch themselves, yawn,
and going up to her, thrust their soft
mu2zleS into her hands, and look at her
with their great, liquid loving eyes.
They rub themselves against her skirts.
and wag their tails, and give all other
signs of loyalty and devotion.
Mona, stopping, caresses them fond
ly. They are part of her old life. and
! dear, therefore, to her own faithful
heart. Having partly undressed, she
sits down upon the hearth-rug with
them, and, with both their big heads
upon her lap, sits staring into the fire,
trying to while away with thought the
hours that must elapse before Godfrey
can return to her again.
III is dreary waiting. No sleep comes
TO her eyes; she barely moves; the dogs
Slumber drowSlly, and moan and start
In their sleep, fighting their battles
DER again, - 1t may be, or anticipating
future warfare. Slowly, onlinously. the
slipped into eternity; midnight is at
hand.
At the sound of the twelfth stroke the
hounds stir uneasily, and sigh, and
opening wide their huge jaws, yawn
again. Mona pats them reassluingly
and llinging some fresh logs upon the
fire, goes back once more to her old po-
sitlon, with her chin in the palm Of one
hand, whilst the other rests on the sleek
head of Spice.
Castles within the fire grow grand and
tall, and then crumble into dust; castles
in Mona'S brain fare likewise. The
shadows dance upon the walls; silently
imperceptibly, the minutes fit away.
One O'Clock chimes the tiny time
piece on the mantel-shelf; outside the
sound is repeated somewhere in the dis
lance in graver, deeper tones,
Mona shivers. Getting up from her
lowly position, she draws back the cur
tains of her window and looks out upon
the night It is brilliant with moon
light, clear as day, full of that hallowed
sOltneSs, that peaceful serenity that be-
longs alone to night.
She is enchanted, and stands there for
"A minute or two spell-bOund by the
glory of the scene before her. Then a
desire TO see her beloved lake from the
great windows in the northern gallery
takes possession of her. She will 90
and look at it, and afterwards creep on
tlptOe to the library. seize the book she
had been reading before dinner, and
make her way back again TO her room
without any one being in the least the
wiser. Anything will be better than
sitting here any longer, dreaming dis
nal day-dreams
She beckons to the dogs. and they
coming NJ to her, follow her out of the
room and along the corridor outside
their soft, velvet paws making no sound
upon the polished floor, She has brought
with her no lamp. Just now, indeed, il
would be useless, such "a wide and ten
der light does heavens lamp fling up
ON floor and ceiling, chamber and cor
rider.
The whole of the long north gallery
is Hooded with its splendor, The orie
window at its farther end is lighted up
and from it can he seen a picture, liv
ing, real, that resembles fairy-land.
Sinking into the cushioned embrasurt
of the window, Mona sits entranced
drinking in the beauty that is balm &c
her imaginative mind The two dogs
witt" heavy sigh, shake themselves
dllu then drop with a soft thud upo,
slle moor al her feet, her pretty archet
Zee. thni are half NAKED Gnt ,',ito =.
snow, thelr bluc slippers being all toe
loose for them
Below is the lake hathed in moon.
shine. \ gentle wind has arisen, anC
| IlUllt NdNtltlN SllNPI-lUlptu are TOll1lL
inward, breaking Themselves with ten
der sobs upon the shore,
"rhe lloor Of heaven
Is thick inlnid with pOtipcS Of bright gold
The floor Is pale, nay, almost blue
little snow is sifted lightly on branch
and grass, and iyied wall. Each obiec
in the sleeping world is quite distinct
"All things nrc calm, and fnir, and passive
earth
Looks rs II ullcd upon m angels lap
Into IA breathoss dewy sleep; 30 attn
That we can only say of things, they be-
The cold seems hardly TO touch Mona
SO wrapped she Is in the beauties of tn
night. There is AT times n solemn III
/ deiinable pleasure in the thought Una
we are awake while all the world sleep
!, eth, that we alone are thinking feeling
, holding high communion with our oW
hearts and our God. a.
The breeze is so light that hardly
trembling of the leaness branches breai
: the deadly silence that regns all aroun'
!. "a lone owls hoot
@ Tho waterfalls faint drip,
. Alone disturb the stiffness OF the scene
Tired at length, and feeling somewh
;, chilled, Mona rouseS herself from d
~ reverie, and, followed by her two ialt
i full guardians, moves towards the STA Ia
y case. Passing the armored men IN
4 stand in inches all along the walls,
!" little sensation of fear, a certain Dell
~ In the uncanny, runs through her. ,
J, looks in a terrified fashion over her y
:. shoulder, and shudders perceptibly.