The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-09-03

tremulous tone, fare you quite sure the
note was from that--that manY
Quite sure" returns her future
| mother-in-law, grimy. IL never speak,
Dorothy, without foundation for what
| say"
Dorothy, feeling snubbed, subsidies
into silence and the shadow that Ell
vel0pcs the lounge upon which she IS
| sitting
To The surprise Of everybody, Geof-
frey takes no open notice of his moth
er's speech. He does not give way to
wrath nor does he open his lips upon
any subject. Ills face is innocent Of
| anger. horror, or dlStrust. II changes,
| indeed, beneath the glow of the burn
ing logs, but in manner totally uneX-
pected An expression that might even
be termed hope lights ii up. Like this
| do his thoughts run; Can it be posi-
BILE that the Australian has cayed in,
and, fearing publicity after last nights
fdScO. surrendered the will to M0naF'
Possessed with this thought, which
browns all Others, he clasps his hands
behind his back and saunterS to the.
window. shall he 60 and meet Mona
and learn the truth at oncey Better not,
perhaps; she is such clever child that
it is as well to let her achieve victory
without sucC0r Of any sort.
He leans against the window and
looks out anxlously upon the darkening
twilight. His mother watches him
with curious eyes. Suddenly he cleo
trifes the whole room by whistling in
light and airy fashion his fayorite song
from MADAME Fayart.N 1t is the
"Artless Thing. and nothing less, and
he whistles it deliberately from start to
finish.
II seems such direct running COM
mcntary ON Mona's supposed I'll deed
that every one AS 10y "A single impulse
looks up. Molly and Jack Rodney eX-
change covert g'mCeS; but for the de-
preston that relgns all round, think
these two would have given way to
fry Oluus merrimeut,
"By Jove, You know, it is odd says
Godfrey. presently, speaking as one
might who has for long been following
out a train of thought by no means UNI
pleasant, his sending for her and that,
there must be something III 1t. Rodney
didn't send for her for nothing. II
must have been To- Here he checks
himself abruptly, remembering his
promise to Mona to say nothing about
the scene in the library, 1t certainly
means something, he winds up, a little
tauely.
no doubt" returns his mother,
sneeringly.
My dear MOTHER says Godfrey,
coming back to the freight, what You
insinuate is too ridiculous to he taken
any notice Of ~ Every particle of his
former passion has died from his voice,
and he is now quite calm nay. cheerful,
But at the same time must ask you
to remember you are speaking OF my
wife.
II do remember it, replies she, bit
terly.
Just at this moment light step run
ming up the stairs outside and across
the yerandah makes itself heard. Every
one looks eXpectant, and the slight dis
pleasure disappears from Geoifreys
face. 4 slender, graceful figure APP
pears at the window, and taps lightly.
open the window, Geotf, cries Mo-
ma. eagerly, and as he oheys her com
mand she steps into the room with a
cert ain touch Of haste about her move
ments, and looks round upon them ear
nestly some peculiar expression, born
of glad thought. rendering her lovely
face even more perfect than usual.
There is a smile upon her lips; her
hands are claSped behind her.
II am so glad you have come, dar-
linz, says little Dorothy. taking off her
hat and laying it on chair near her.
(eoffrey removes the heavy lace that
lies round her throat, and then leads her
up TO the hearth-rug nearly opposite TO
his mother s armchair.
Where have you been, Mona?' he
asks, quietly, gazing into the great,
honest, liquid eyes raised so willingly to
his own.
You shall guess" says Mrs. Geof-
frey, gayly, with little laugh. Now,
whore do you Think
Godfrey says nothing. But Sir Nichs
olas, as though impulsiyely, says
"Tn the wOod?'
Perhaps he is afraid for her. Perhaps
it is a gentle hint to her that the truth
will be best Whatever it may be, Mo
ma understands him not at all. His
mother glances up sharply
why, so was. SAYS Mona, opening
her eyes with some surprise, and with
an amused smile, what a good guess,
and considering how late the hour is,
too"
She smiles again. Lady Rodney,
watching her intently, tells herself if
this is acting, it is the most perfectly
done thing she ever saw in her life,
either on the stage or off it.
GeofIrey's arm slips from his wife's
shoulder to her rounded waist.
perhaps, as you have been 50 good
atyour first guess You will try again, :"
says Mona, still addressing Nicholas,
and speaking in tone Of unusual light
heartedness, but so standing that no
one can see why her hands are so per-
sistently Clasped behind her back
Now tell me who was with
This is thunderbolt They all start
guiltily, and regard Mona with wonder.
What is she going to say next?