The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-02-12
IN THE CLEANING.

than TINS eternal mist ana dl1ZZle! ltE
absolutely intolerable l wonder where
everybody isl"
With an impatient shrug of her grace
full shoulders, Geraldine rose and walked
to the window. The prospect was not en-
livening-seet and rain striving for mas
terry against the biting north wind sodden
grass-plots and pools Of water; leafless
trees, looking weird and ghostly in the
dim twilight; rain beating against the
glass in sudden splashes as the swirling
blasts of wind scattered the showers in
heavy drops.
"What dismal prospectw was the girls
verdict as she stood and watched the
driving clouds of rain and sleet "And
have nine more days to spend in this
dreary place. How can Alice endure itl
Nothing-no, nothing in the world should
ever make me live here How it does
rain! Yes, lie there and die!" she said
with spiteful glance at a poor little bat
tered snowdrop which the wind tore off
and flung upon the window-sill.
Then she went back to her seat by the
fire, in utter discomfort with herself and
all the world. She gave listless glance
round the beautiful room, every article in
which betokened, wealth and taste, and
seemed to protest against the dullness and
ill-temper which oppressed her,
The freight fell upon the folds of her
white dress, CLEANED upon her golden
brown hair; and shone brightly on the
beautiful face and stately graceful fig
ure, on the deeply fringed violet eyes
and slightly sarcastic and decidedly cross
looking mouth. She took up screen Of
white downy feathers to protect her face.
"What can Alice be doing all this time :
Making nursery maid of herself as usu-
al, suppose"-with a contemptuous curl
of the red lip-"with two nurses looking
on! / wonder she can be so absurd. |
wish"
Here the door was noiselessly thrown
open, and merry mischievous- looking
damsel trotted boldly into the room, a
most dilapidated doll Rugged closely in
her arms. She danced up to the fire and
clutched the delicate folds of Geraldine's
dress with her small fingers.
"Auntie. auntie, me dot new frock-
look" she cried, lifting up her short skirts
of embroidered muslin for Inspection
"Me ruined away from nurse to show it
TO co."
But the moment was unpropitious for
Mollie. Geraldine only extricated her
dress and put the mischievous fingers
aside, without noticing the new frock
"Mollie, where is mammal"
"Me knows; she's making Jack say his
prayers. Me did run. Look at my Katie,
auntie. She's got the dipferia, and she's
going to have powder in currant JAM
and the little sprite kissed the dolls d.
lapdated face and held tenderly towards
her aunt.
But Geraldine was in no mood to SYM
pathize as she usually did with poor
Katie's numerous and novel ailments.
mo, no, Mollie; don't tease" she said,
putting the doll remorselssly aside.
Nowise abashed, Molle dropped down
in the middle Of the white hearth-rug and
seated herself and her dolly costly upon
the soft fur, the child's golden curls gleam-
ing in the freight and her merry mis-
chievous eyes CHANGING up every now and
then at her aunt.
"Me shall have a watch and new dollie
Tomorrow she said conhdentially at last
''but me will always Tub my own Katie
won't me, darling r-giving her old doll a
vigorous hug. ats my birfday, and me
will have such lots Of valentinesl Shall
90 have some too, aunte GeraH"
mo, no. Hush, Molie!" exclaimed Ger.
aldine quickly. "What was that3'
Her ear had caught the click Of the
heavy iron gate outside as II swung back
ward and forward Some one had passec
through; and in few minutes the top O
an umbrella appeared above the shrubs
as its owner walked swiftly up the drive
towards the house. A softened expires
sion passed over the beautiful fair face a.
Geraldine bent towards the fire.
"Ah. we'll" she said, signing. at will bC
change at least in this dismal monoton
GUS day! ! am glad he has Gomez
But when, few minutes afterwards
she rose to greet the visitor her face wore
Its former look Of listless Indifference and
the stately grace OF manner was ever
more marked than usual az, after brei
"Good evening, Mr.. Scarsdale," she seated
herself again on the low couch and mo.
toned r. him TO take the seat opposite.
With quiet courtesy Mr.. Scarsdale took
the place indicated, totally ignoring or moi
seeing, the scornful air Of Indifference.
"Ah, Miss Spoilt, you heref" he said
and he drew Mollie, nothing loath, on tt
his knee.
His grave composure irritated Geral
dine.
"a horrible day, Mr.. Scarsdale, as al
days seem TO be here' Is II always 80 il
the country" she asked,taking the feath