The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-07-16

and he says the duchess Is gong, ana
half the county"
"You dance, of course" says Lady
Rodney turning to Mona.
"Oh, yes" says Mona, Frightening
even under this small touch of friendli-
ness. Pm very fond of it, too. can
get through all the steps without mis-
take"
At this extraordinary speech Lady
Rodney stares in bewideiment,
"Ah, waltzes and polkas you mean?"
she says, in puzzled tone.
"EhYn says Mrs. Godfrey.
"You can waltz"
"Oh, mop shaking her lovely head
emphatically, with smile. ITS coun-
try dances | mean. Up the middle and
down again, and all that moving her
hand in soft undulating way us
though keeping it in accord with some
music that is ringing in her brain,
Then, sweetly, Did yOu ever dance a
country dance"
Never says Lady Rodney, in a
stony fashion. II don't even know
what you mean"
MOP arching her brows, and look
ing really sorry for her. "What pity.
They all come quite naturally to me. |
don't remember ever being taught them.
The music seemed to inspire me, and |
really dance them very well Don't |,
Geolf?n
IL never saw your equal" says Geof-
FREY, who, with Sir Nicholas, has been
listening to the last half of the CONVEX
sation, and who is plainly suppressing
a strong desire to laugh.
"Do YOU remember the evening you
taught me the country dance that said
was like an old-fashiOned minuet? And
what an apt pupil | proved. | really
think could dance it now. BY the bye,
my mother never saw one danced
She alphabetically "has not been
out much. Let us 60 through one now
for her benefit
Yes, let u.s. says Mona. gayly.
'Pray do not give yourselves SO much
trouble on my account says Lady
Rodney. with intense but subdued in
dignatlon
lit won't trouble us, not a BIZ" says
Mrs Godfrey, rising with alacrity. Il
shall love it, the floor is SO nice and
slippery, Can any one whistler
AT this Sir Nicholas gives way and
laughs out loud, wherein Mona laughs
too. though she reddens slightly, and
says. "Well. of course. the piano will
do, though the fiddle is best of all
Violet. play us something SAYS
Geoffrey, who has quite entered into
the spirit of the thing, and who doeSn t
mind his mothers horrors in the
least, but remembers how sweet Mona
used to look when gong slowly and
with that quaint solemn dignity of hers
Through her steps
i shall be charmed says Violet;
hut what is a country dance: VIII
~7Sir Roger do;'
NO. Play anything monotonous.
that is slow and dignlied besides, and
IT will answer; III fact, anything at all, "
says Godfrey largely, at which Violet
smiles and seats herself at the piano.
swell. just wait till tuck mp the tail
of my gown, says Mrs Geoftrey, airily
flinging her pale blue skirt over her
white bare arm.
You may as well call il train; peo-
pie like it better says Geotirey. I'm
sure don't know why, but perhaps it
sounds better
There can scarcely be any question
about that, y says Lady Rodney, unwill-
ing to let any occasion pass that may
permit slap at Mona.
Yet the Princess D. always calls
her train tail, - says Violet, turning
on her pano-stool to make this remark,
which is balm to Mona's soul; after
| which she once more concentrates her
! thoughts on the instrument before her,
and plays some odd Old-fashioned air
that suits well the dance of which they
have been speaking,
Then Godfrey offers Mona his hand,
and leads her to the center of the pol
| iShed floor. There they salute each
other in rather GrandlsOnian fashion,
and then separate.
The light from the great pine fire
! streams over all the room, throwing a
rich glow upon the scene. upon the girls
| flushed and earnest face, and large hap
py eyes. and graceful rounded figure
hetrayng also the grace and poetry OF
her every movement.
She stands well back from Geoiirev
and then, without any of the foolish
unlOvely baslfuneSs that degpnerates
sooften into awkwardness in the young
begins her dance,
II iSa very curious and obsolete, il
slngulMy charming, performance, full
of strange bows and unexpected turn,
ings, and courteSics dignllled and deep
As she advances and retreats, witt
her SrcHc figure drawn TO its fullest
height, and her face eager and intent
upon the business in hand. and witt
her whole heart thrown apparently into
the successful accomplishment of ben
task, she is looking far lOyclier than she
herself is al all aware.
Even Lady Rodney for the moment
has fallen prey to her unprecedented
charms aud is leaning forward anxious
ly watching her. Jack and Sir Nicholas
are enchanted.
The shadows close them in on every
side. Only the freight illumnes Tho
room, casting its most brilliant anC
ruddy rays upon its central figures un
ill they look like beings Conjured ny
from the olden times, as they fit to ant
fro in the slow mysterious mazes of thu
dance.
Mona's naked arms CLEAN like snov
in the uncertain light, Each movement
of hers is full of grace and Ucrce. lIel
entire action is grace.
The music, soft and almost mournful
echoes through the room; the feet kccl
time upon the Oaken floor; wcird-lik,
the two forms move through the settled
gloom.
The door at the fartheSt end of TN
room has been opened, and two people
who are as yet invisible stand upon Tin
l,..1I a., 4, t.I, a.,