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

Mona, | AN so bored that ! shall die
presently, unless yon suggest some
remedy
"Your brother Is better at sugges-
tons than am, SAYS Mo- \, gently,
who is always somewhat SubGued when
in the room with Lady Rodney
"Nolly, do you hear lhatp Come over
to the fire directly, and cease counting
those hateful rain drops, Mona believes
in YOU. Isn't that joyful newsI Now
get out of your moody fit at once, like "A
dear boy"
II shan't," says Mr. Darling, in an
aggrieyed tone II feel sighted. Mrs.
Rodney has of 1nqlice prepenSe secluded
herself from public gaze at least for an
hour. can't forget all that in one mo-
ment."
Where have you been?' asks Lady
Rodney, slowly, turning her head to
look at Mona. "Out-0f-d0orS2' Her
tone is unpleasant.
mo. In my own room, says Mona.
son. Molly. do think of some plan to
cheat the afternoon Of an hour or two"
persists Doatie, eagerly.
II have it, says her brother, with all
the air of one who has discovered new
continent. Let's talk of graves, Of
worms, and epitaphs.n
At this Doalie turns her back on him,
while Mona breaks into a peal of silyery
laughter.
Would you not like to do that?" de-
mands Molly, sadly. ~ should. I'm
quite in the humor for it.
Il am afraid we are not, y says Violet,
smiling too. Think Of something else"
well, if you all Udl insist upon a
change. and desire something more
lively, them
"For heavens sake, let US ait upon the ground,
And tell rad stories OF the death Of kings
Perhaps after all you are right, and
that will he better. 1t will he rather
effective, too. if uncomfortable, our all
sitting on the polished floor
Fancy Molly quoting Shakespeare"
saws Godfrey, who has just entered,
and is now leaning over MOnas chair.
He stuupS and whispers something in
her ear that makes her flush and glance
appealingly at Doatie, Wherein Miss
Darling, who is quick to synpathi2e,
rises. and soon learns what the whisper
was about.
ooh, how charming" she cries, clap
ping her hands, The very thing! Willy
did we not think of it before? To teach
Mona the last new step, II will be de-
licious." Good-natured DOatie, as she
says this, springs to her feet andulus
her hand into Monas. Come she
says, before tonight. | promise you,
you shall rival Terpsichorc herself"
"Yes, she certainly must learn before
tonight, y says Violet, with sudden and
unexpected interest. folding and put
ting away her work as though bent on
other employment. Let US come into
the ballroom
do you know no other dances but
those-er-very Irish performances"
asks Lady Rodney, in a supercilous
tone, abiding to the country dance Mo-
ma and GeolIrey had gone through on
the night of DOatie'S arrival.
NO. have never been toa ball in
all my life, - SAYS Mona, distinctly. But
she pales a little at the note Of contempt
in the other 5 voice UnConsciOusly she
moves a few steps nearer to Godfrey,
and holds out her hand to him in a
childish, entrcating fashion.
He clasps il and presses it lightly but
fondly to his lips. His brow darkens.
The little stern expression, so seldom
seen upon his kindly face, but which is
inherited from his father, creeps up now
and alters him perceptibly
"GOu mistake my mother he says
to Mona, IN peculiar tone, looking at
Lady Rodney, not at her. MY wife is,
| am sure, the last person she would
choose TO he rude to; though, confess,
her manner Just now would miSlead
most people.
With the frown still on his forehead,
he draws Mona'S hand through his arm,
and leads her from the room.
Lady Rodney has turned pale. Other
wise she bctTays no chagrin. though IN
her heart she feels deeply The rebuke
administered by this, her iavorite son.
To have Mona be witness of her de-
feat is gall and wormwood to her. And
silently, without any outward gesture,
she registers vow to be reyenged for
the insult las she deems it, that has just
been put upon her.
Dorothy Darling, who has been listen
ing anXiOusly to all that has passed,
and who IS very grievcd thereat, now
speaks boldly.
~ am afraid" she says to Lady Rod
ney, quite calmly, having little way Of
her own of introducing questionable
topics without giving ofiense, - am
afraid YOU do not like Mona
At this Lady Rodney filings down her
guard and her work at the same time,
and rises to her feet.
Like hertz she says, with suppressed
vehemenCe. How should | like a
woman who has stolen from me my son,
and who can teach him TO be rude even
to his own mother"
ooh, Lady Rodney, am sure she did
not mean to do that.
81 don t care what she meant; she has
at all events done it. Like her. A per
son who speaks of Jack Robinson, and
talks of the long and the short of it.
How could you imagine such a thing
As for you, Dorothy. | can only feel re-
gret that You should so far forget your
self as To rush into friendship with a
young woman so thoroughly out of your
own sphere
Having delivered herself of this
speech, she sweeps from the room, leav-
ing Dorothy and Violet slightly non
pluSSed.
"Well, | never heard anything so alb
surdlo says Doatic, presently, recover
ing her breath, and opening her big eyes
to their widest. "Such TRADE, and all
for nothing. If saying Jack Robinson
| is social crime, must be the biggest
sinner living, as say it just when ]
| like. | think Mona adorable, and sc
dons eyprv opp plgn Don't Won think