The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-10-29
dow pane-perhaps it was that she had

curtain. lnfOugn nllny grey CLOUDS u
faint moon was struggling to shed its
rays. and by It's dim light she saw the
trees swayed and rocked in the night
wind, saw the dead leaves whirled into
the air in n column; but something was
moving IN the shadow Of those funereal-
looking frs, coming on towards the
window; ii was no fancy
The girl paused one brief second, and
then softly undid the fastenings Of the
easement and opened it.
who goes there?n she said, in low,
distinct voice, and almost before the
sound had died away mans form came
ont into the light, and with one swift
stride he had reached the window, and
the girl would have laid her hand on
his to draw him in but he warned her
away with gesture that made her
shrink back, and he sprang into the
room, shutting the window after him.
There was an instant's deathly 81
lence; in it you might have heard her
low quvermg breath coming as if each
respiration was forced from the throb-
bing of her heart,
she stood looking at him with dilated
eyes and white drawn lips her hands
pressed over her breast, her form shrink
ing and CHASTITY horror in her face-the
shadow Of that look which never again
left the depths Of the dark eyes.
She stroye to speak, but her dry lips
moved only, no words came from them,
and then in her agony she stretched out
her hands to him, and he fell back with
a strong shudder and turned away his
face from the piercing questioning OF
her eyes.
TEL me-" she gasped under her
breath, a despairing Snppllcation in her
voice, tell me 1t is not true. Oh, Cod
ii is not true. There is not blood be-
tween usF'
lie made her no answer, but sank
down into a chair near and hid his face,
trembling from head to foot. Ever
weak he had not even now the kind Of
reckless courage that can fight Oft the
horror of disgrace and death.
Erica. don't fail me now, " he NUT
tered, with white trembling lips. Re
member Your oath. There sno one but
you. If You east me off, shall 60 and
give myself up; there'll be nothing
else.
1t was true then. II had been no
fancy. that black cloud hanging over
her. enyeloping her now in It's folds;
the fear that haunted her was now
tItongcd to awful certainty. She had
| thought that any certainty would be
better than suspense Well, It had
| come now. and She scarce knew which
| was the liercer agony,
Yet, at least, with knowledge came
| the necessity OF and power for action
| There was something her spirit could
rise to meet; and hcWildered, dazed III
most by that knowledge as she was, she
| did not suCCnmb under it, though there
| Dashed before her, rs clearly as If every
step had been ilMmued by electric
| light, the inevitable Issue, the one course
she must tolloW-the one laid on her,
| She deemed, If she We're to be faithful
| 10 her trust.
IL have been hiding since last night. -
Arnold said, sitting up and speaking
rapidly, aud his eyes lickered unCer-
tainli, AMI never looked straight at Che
slender, gentle form before him. As
she stood, moving a little to and fro, il
seemed to her that with every move.
ment her life must have ceased TO be.
| I've been up at Mats cottage, Erica
| He was near. I've saw ALI
| lie saw all? she repeated, di2zlly.
:" Yes, yes" lie spoke eXcitodIy now
and twisted his fingers together very
restessly. Erica, swear you will never
breathe word to Philip St John. He
would have no mercy, even for yOur
sake He would hunt me down. Oh
Erica, he covered his face and the
drops stood ON his BROW cannot, !
cannot face that, TO be dragged down Ia
a felun's death did not mean to do
that at first and then he loaded me
with curses. He had lost on that cursed
horse Fenton, as | have, aud | hated
| him for his brothers sake
"What had be or his brother done t.
you?o Erica said, speaking in measured
tones, with no change of face, only The
lips moving.
~ hated him said Arnold, hercely
| "because he was ever ilinging hi,
| brothers name at me, and hated hi
! brother because he stood between You
and me. All the same, ~ he added, sink
ing back again. and speaking with I
kind of sullen detection, II wouldn'
| have hurt him: we had both been drink
ing champagne, and our blood was a
hot as fire, and so-and So
He stopped, shuddering again il
every limb.
"Ididn't think he was dead at first,
he went on after a moment. "Oh
shall ever get that face out of m
thoughts2N
But when you struck the blow, 70,
meant to kill him, " said the girls loy
tones.
He sprapg up and walked away TO TIN
window and back again before he an
sWered her, savage CLEAN in his eyes
Don't drive me like that, girl; per
haps | did. What then? Hadn't h
accused me and reproached me? In
not a poltroon to stand anything MAJ
may like to say Why do you look s.
at mey'
She made u step forward, and laid he
hand upon his arm and he started bacl
with a half cry, as It's icy chill strucI
through him.
Don't touch me- he said, whisper
ingIy; "your hand is pure; mine
us mWderer's hand, she said. bit
terly, YES, ! know it; can it polute M
more to touch YOU, than to know tha
the same blood flows in our veins? lis
ten, Arnold, and answer me truly, OF
as Heaven is my witness, will not sti
hand or foot to save you from Justice
When You wrote that line to me yester
day, when you said, He will be away
did you mediate wrong against Walter
Was your thought that Philip would b