The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-12-13
DAISY.

A clear and ringing whistle rose and
fell and rose again, a pleasant sound
to hear, upon the evening air; but the
girl who stood knee deep in clover be-
side the meadow fence looked sombrely
down as the joyous notes struck upon
her ear.
Poor fellow! dear fellowm she said
to herself. 1T is so hard to 90 against
him when he is as light-hearted as
that
A moment more, and Ralph Arm.
strong, her lover, vaulted lightly over
the intervening bars and stood beside
her..
Straight, sturdy, brown, something Of
the contrast between himself. with bis
superabundant life, and the wee woman
waiting there, seemed TO strike him.
"Why, my little Daisy" he said, with
a playful touch, turning up her chin
until he could look into the soft eyes,
that straightway filled with tears. why,
DaisyT' he repeated, in an altered, vex-
ed voice. II thought when | saw you
out here that you were glad to have me
come. Never mind you will be when |
tell you the news, have paid off the
last instalment on the farm, and there's
to be an end Of your drudging your life
away, No more cooking for dodgers
or sitting up half the night to look out
for Rick Is he up to his old tricks
again? Is that what has taken the col
or all out of your face?"
''He was away all night" said Daisy,
in n low voice. "ile never got homo
until noon to-day. He is asleep, and,
oh. Ralph! am afraid to have him
wake. 1t is so much worse now that
Miss Winter is here
Didn't tell you how that would
be?n reminded Ralph. not very kindly
"But, luckily, il don't matter You can
get rid Of her as soon as YOU please, and
we will have the wedding when? |
won't be put of very long, my DEAR
Daisy turned her face away to the
gathering dusk.
"Oh Ralphr' she cried piteou4Iy,
"Be contented to wait,
TO wait! What for? For Rick to
drink himself to death? For you 10 grow
old before your time with the hard
work Of taking care Of yourself and
him? Palsy once and for all, you'll
have TO choose between your sot OF
brother and me. If you are bound to
put him first now and for ever"
The unfinished threat fell upon other
ears besides those it was intended TO
reach. A dogcart rolled almost noise
lessly past on the thick green turf Of the
lane upon which the meadow bars gave,
and Dr. Lloyd. lifting his hat TO Daisy,
shot keen glance at the young fellow
standing sulkily at her side. He was
gone in moment, but somehow Ralph
Armstrong experienced feeling of
shame which kept him for the time from
pressing what he had been about to
urge He turned and walked towards
the house with Daisy,
II was shackly, tumbe.down cot
tage, with moss and lichen breaking out
in patches over the decayed weather
bcarding, and creaking porch from
which the rustic benches had long ago
rotted away. The picturesque aspect
of the old placehad taken Miss Winters
fancy, and so little, fair-faced Daisy had
found the weekly addition to the sum
which she earned with her dressmaking
was all that now went into her shabby
purse,
There was a muiiled cry of Daisy!
Dasyr as those two approached to-
gether; then once, twice. the report of
pistol, together with the sound Of shat
tered glass, was borne TO their ears,
Its Rick" cried Daisy, breathlessly.
81 locked him in his room. Do 60 and
talk to Miss Winter, Ralph, till get
him quiet again"
She was off as she spoke, Miss Win
ter had come to the door, half in alarm,
aud looked inquiringly al Ralph rs he
approached.
"Do you think he is doing anything
rocklessp" she asked
Nothing worse than smashing q
window or two; it's his fayorite way Of
calling his sister Pity he cant put his
balls to better use"
II wonder that you leave her to be
the victim Of his whims,' said the lady
with a straight look at him.
"l?n said Ralph, with Shrug Of his
broad shoulders,
Perhaps he did not mean to disolaim
such an intention on his pat, but il
looked like it. How could he tell Miss
White that the only reason he had not
taken Daisy away months before was
because Rick had outwcighed her liking
for hHnp 1t was sore subject with
Ralph at the best, not one he would
choose to parade to the world at large,
Two hours after that, Daisy stole out
into the moonlight, utterly wearied With
the scene through which she had passed.
All her efforts had been fruitless TO en-.
tice Rick back to his bed, He sat on a
bench in tho kitchen, limp and stupid
after that fit of violence, and Daisy stole
out, as | have said, to breathe the
heavy sweetness of dying roses, and
brush their dewy leaves with her heated
face The shadows lay thickly upon
the porch, but there was stir there,
and Miss Winters voice said softly:
"Good-nightr'
Goodnight" returned Ralph. "fll
show you tomorrow where the maiden.
hair fern grows"
He came whistlin@ down the path to
find Daisy standing by the patc.