The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-12-31

~ hlllHtis
ut was no small job to clean out that
oven, can tell YOU" he laughed, "Be-
sides all the dust, and cobwebs, and
fallen mortar, those children of Aunt
Caroline's, when they were here last
Summer. had played in IL, and about
I filed il with berries, flowers, and mud
pies; and they left some dolls clothes
in it; and found letter ofyours there,
Rose. | don't suppose it is Of any ac-
count Some old oncp" rather ques-
tionly, as he drew the yellow, smeared
envelope from bis pocket and handed it
across the table to her
mo; not Of any account said Rose,
giving one glance at the address, and
thrusting il into her pocket, and taking
big swallow of tea to keep her last
mouthful Of cake from choking her
well, | got it clean Mt last, and built
a roaring fire in il, resumed her cous-
in, land III rake it down and carry
out the first batch Of pies for you, after
I've seen the cattle fed.
Thank you That's nice nodded
Rose. May be excused nowP"
And away the girl flew to her own
room to tear open the letter Reuben had
brought her, and which was addressed
in Ralph Dornton's handwriting. She
had said, truly, that it was Of no ac-
count--no account, now--but she could
not rest until she had read ii.
She had but a moment 10 spare, but
it was long enough TO read tho brief,
fervent lines
"ROSE,-I am compelled to leave homo very
suddenly withima few hours, 10 see my mo
thar. She has had sudden and dangerous re-
lapse and my duty 10 her ncccssitatcs my GO
Ing without even farewell 90 ynll. How
shall endure three or four weeks Of absence
from you don't know, for have learned 10
love you go dearly that sm only happy whom
am with YOU. write this instead Of saying
it, because cannot wait until my return to
know whether am ~ dear 20 you as YOU, my
darling, arc TO me. ] have dared 10 hope that
you love me aud will marry me. II my hopes
are founded upon truth will you write 10 me
immediately saying YOU accept Inc az
Your faithful lover,
"RALplI DORNTON
up. S.--If you cannot say'Ycs' TO oil | hopo
aud ask do not write me at all"
And to realize that she had put from
her forever the cup Of happinessl She
bathed her head with icy water to still
its throbbing, aud thrust the letter over
her heart, it might be to ease its aching,
and went down and slipped softly out of
the side door, aud ran nearly all the way
to Hardwood, which was half
mile from the farm. There she handed
note to the servant, and started rap
idly for home again, The note was adj
dressed to Mr. Dornton; and as that
young man was reading in the sitting
room, it soon fell into his hands He
tore it open to find another envelope,
and upon it, written in a girls fine
hand:
This never reached me tl to-day
ROSE MERTON"
He glanced at the letter, his letter TO
Rose IN June, and then with very saw
aye exclamation dashed out 10 the boy
who had been sent to the farm with il,
and frightened the lad into coniessing
that be did not deliver the letter TO Miss
Rose in person, but to two little girls
who were playing in the yard
1--WE half mind TO thrash YOU with.
in an inch Of your lfeM he muttered, as
he flung a saddle on his horse; land !
may yet, too
Then he dashed away into the dark
ness And as he fairly flew over the
frozen road be came up with Rose be.
fore she reached the gates of her home.
Rose is It your he cried throwing
himself from his horse. Aud though
she made no answer he knew, and
caught the tired, trembling girl in his
arms.
at is YOU, darling Tell me that
that do not como too late" and he
knew BY the way her head sunk upon
his shoulder what his answer was.
A few minutes later Rose and her
lover walked into Aunt Susan'5 pres
ence with such bright faces that they
had no need 20 confess their secret,
though She did declare, afterwards, that
she never was 50 Illustrated in hei
life"
And Rose thought there had never
been such a happy day IN any girls life
as was that New Years Eve in hers,
when the old lady kissed her kindly and
said:
well, I'm glad for you, Rose, Yes,
I'm glad, dear You ought to be happy,
and | know Mr. Dovu,on will do all in
bis power To make YOU SO.