The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-08-27

|
| Mona is vaguely wondering.what tho
| end OF IL all will be, And then at last
the silence is broken. A noise upon the
| gravel outside, quick rush up the bal
cony steps; some one energies from the
gloom Of the night, and comes into the
room through the open window Mona
utters a passionate cry of relief and Joy.
| IL is GeOlireyl
Perhaps, just at first, surprise is too
great to permit of his feeling either as.
constituent or indignation. He looks
| from Paul Rodney TO Mona, and then
from Mona back TO Rodney. After that
| his gaze does not wander again. Mona,
running to him, throws herself into,hs
| arms, and there he holds her closely, al
ways with his eyes fixed upon the man
he deems his enemy.
Al for the Australian, he has grown
| pale indeed, but is quite self possessed
and the usual insoIent line round his
mouth has dcepened. The dogs have
by no means relaxed their vigil, but still
crouch before him, ready for their dead
| lySpring at any moment. IT is q pic
| ture, almost llfcless one, so mOtionless
are all those that help to form it. The
fading fire, the brilliant lamp the open
window with tho silent night beyond,
| Paul Rodney standing upon the hearth
| rug with folded arms, his dark insOlent
| face lighted up with the excitement Of
| what is yet 10 come, gazing doGantly at
| his cousin, who is staring back at him,
| pale but determined And then Mona
in her soft white gown somewhat in
| the foreground. with one arm from
which the loose sleeve Of the dressing
gown has fallen back, leaving the fair,
| rounded flesh to be seem thrown around
| her husband neck, is watching Rod
| ney with an expression an her face that
is half haughtineSS, half nervous dread
| Her hair has loOSeued, and is ripping
over her shoulders, and down far below
her waist with her diSengaged hand
she is holding it back from her ear,
hardly knowing how picturesque and
| striking is her attitude, and how IT be-
trays each perfect curve Of her lovely
figure,
Now, sir, speak, she says, at length,
in rather tremulous tones, growing fear
full of the heightened silence. There is
dangerous vibration in the arm that
! Godfrey has round her, that gives her
warning to make some change in the
scene as soon as possible.
For an instant Rodney turns his eyes
on her, and then goes hack 10 his sheer
ing examination Of Godfrey. Between
them the two dogs still lie quiet but
eager.
"Cal of the dogs says Godfrey to
Mona in A low tone: There is no long
er any necessity for them And tell me
how you come to be here at this hour,
with thls-tclloW.
Mona calls of the dogs They rise
unwillingly, and. walking into a distant
corner, sit there. as though still await
ing chance of taking some active part
in the coming fray. After which Mo
ma, in few words, explains the situa-
ton to Godfrey.
you viii give me an explanation at
once, says Godfrey, slowly address.
ing his cousin What brought you
hereYo
Curiosity, rs | have already told
Mrs Rodney returns he lightly. -
1.-The window was open, the lamp burn
ing. | walked IN TO see the old room.
"WhO is your accomplice?' asks
Godfrey, still with studied Calmness.
you are pleased to talk conun-
drums says Rodney, with a shrug. II
confess myself sufficiently duh TO have
never guessed one ~
81 shall make myself palmer. What
servant did You bride to leave the win
dow open for you at this hOur2'
For brief instant the Australians
eyes flash tire; then he lowers his lids
and laughs quite easily
\ you would turn farce into q trag-
edy he says, mockngly why should
bride a servant 10 let me see an old
| room by mdnlghty'
"Whv. indeed unless yon wished to
possess yourself OF something in the
old ToOmro
Again ! fail to understand says
! PAUL but his very lips grow liyid. Per
haps for the second time, and with the
same delicacy You used at first, you viii
C0ndescend to explain
us it necessary saws Godfrey, very
insolently in his turn II think not
BY the bye is it your usual practice &c
proWl round peoples houses at two
o'clock in the mornmg2 | thought al
such festive habits were confined Il
burglars, and blackguards of that or
der
I'VE are none Of us mfallible,n SAYS
r Rodney, IN curious tone, and speaking
as If with difficulty. "IOu see, ever
you erred. Though 1 am neither burg
= lar nor hlackguard l. too enjoy a walt
s at midnight
"LIar'' says Godfrey. between his
teeth, his eyes fixed with deadly hatred
, upon his cousin Liar and theft
lie goes few steps nearer to him, anC
then waits
Thief echoes Paul in a terrible
r tone. His whole face quiycrs, A muir
= derous light creeps into his eyes.
Mona, seeing 10, moves away from
4 GeoliIey and going stcaIthilyup to TIM
r table, lays her hand upon the pistol
that is still lying where last she left it
with quick gesture, and unseen, sh,
i. covers 1t with a paper and then turn
= lIel attention once more upon the tw,
! men,
'Ay thief!' repeats Godfrey. in a low
, voice but fierce. 1T was not wilhou
purpose you entered this house to
night, alone, unlimited Tell your story
: 10 any one foolish enough TO bcdieve
, YOU. do not What did YOU hope Ia
, llndr What help towards the gaining
Of your unlawful causeyn
! "Ihlef' interrupts Rodney, repeat
ing the vile word again, MS though deaf
to everything but this degrading accu.
, sation Then there Is a faint pause
Z and theu--
- Mona never afterwards could cav