The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-03-10
WHOM DID SHE LoyE2

Do love himpn said Alexia Gray,
meditatiyely lifting her blue eyes up TO
where the convolvulus leaves made zig
gag lines Of golden green against the
midsummer sky. Indeed, Madge, 1
don't know whether do or not?''
lyon - don't - Rnows" repeated
Madge Fielding, with a face OF grave
apprehension.
..How is one to tell?" said Alexia,
wrinkling her pretty forehead. "And,
besides, you ought not 10 take one So by
surprise know like him dreadfuly
--and I'm almost certain that l love
him-a hitler
in that case" said MaTige, severe
young mentor of nineteen. ''why are
you encouraging Mr.. Haynes"
I'm not encouraging himm said
Alexia with the prettiest and most in
famine innocence. Il only gave him
some Marechal Mel roses, and told him
how gratited l should be if he would
write in my album Hes genius.
you know. and has published book Of
poetry. Besides, ike Mr.. Haynes ever
so much. and am not by any means
certain that he is not my chief iavoriten
'And how about Paul Reyere?" re-
lentlessly persisted Miss Fielding.
There il is again" said Alexia.
"When get to bothering my brain
about it, think that prefer Paul. He's
SO animated, you know, and SO anus
ing. One never gets stupid in his So
ciety--"
"Alexia, hold your tonguer cried
out Madge in frenzy OF Indignation.
''How dare you talk III that ridiculous
manner? Don't you know that you are
the most unprincipled little coquette
that ever flirted FAM"
''Ir' cried Alexia, coloring TO the
roots Of the soft little fringe OF golden
brown hair that maniled her forehead.
"Yes, you. Here you have acknowl-
edged, with your own lips, that you are
amusing yourself with three gentlemen
at once each of whom is deal too good
for you, with no intention whatever be-
You'd the passing amusement of the
hour"
1t isn't truer' exclaimed Alexia
stamping her foot on the ground, and
looking very much like human hum
ming-bird in passion. "And won't
stand here and listen to your wicked,
cruel words, Margaret Fielding"
Madge stood out there among the tall
white lilies and crimson-creSted sweet
williams, after Alexia had disappeared
behind the conyolyulus vine, and frown-
ed intently at the distant church spire.
Poor Ralphr' she said to herself.
"He has given his life's happiness into
the keeping of a girl who does not know
whether she has heart or not"
So she went back to Major Charters
and told him what she had learned. For
Aladge was the Major con fdante,
and cousin, who had been brought up at
his side, and believed in him with staunch
and loving loyalty.
Forget her, Ralph" said this sage
adviser. "Who would value the affec-
ton of q girl who don't know whether
she loves you or notp You are one OF
three among whom she finds it impossi-
BILE to decideI'
Major Charters looked gravely at
Madge. Dark, tall, and handsome, he
seemed a prince among men,
''But you do not know how dear she
is to me, Madge," he said quietly.
The girl shrugged her shoulders i'm
patiently.
''There is only one thing in the world
more incomprehensihle than man.
said she, "and that is a woman. Where
IL your pride, Ralph? DO you intend (
allow yourself to be made plaything o
in this sort ofwaypn
AL nj NJ ~ "a ro,,autaI c1o,vly
'sNo, certainly not You are misappre
bending the drift Of my remarks. II she
90 much enjoys the society Of Mr.. Hay
nes and Mr.. Revere, will not interfere
with It, II Is, perhaps. better that
should withdraw from the field atonce
Madge clapped her hands approvingly
II admire your spirit, Ralph" salt
she. "Alexia is a darling, but she ha
no business to play at battledore an,
shuttlecock with mems hearts"
Major Ralph Charters had been YER
happy In the old stone house on the hill
until Alexia Gray Huttered, like a brigh
living butterfly, into the sweet seren
quictude of his horizon, and first touch
ed the hidden chord of love in his heart
at is impossible he said 10 himself
"Here have lived thirty years withou
ever finding woman's smiles necesSar
TO my happiness, and is my Who'll
scheme Of happiness to be thus upset
asccond?"
Love, like any other disease, GOO
hard with those who are no longe
young-and Major Charters found hin
self hopeless captive to pretty Alexia'
charms before he quite realized il BIZ
be had goodly heritage Of pride TO ia
back upon, and when he heard,
Madgc's words, that he was lone Of III
thrco," he quietly decided to wi,hdra
from the lists.
my wife must be very certain Oh,
she loves me-" he said. .'and me alone.
IA week passed awsy--two weeks
v and AlGxia Gray began to be dimly co,
acious Of something wanting in u
completeness Of her life.
Things seem awfullv dull" said 81
t.--~-- ..-,--
NN}ll 4lVtt NOV Iiii. .lHIfiN.