The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-02-05


the only son Of his mother, and she wild
ow! He had died from saving her from
the consequences of her own stupidity
Her thoughts were so bitter that she
wished for any sound to break the still
ness. but no sound whatsoever was audi
bic toher senses but the breathing of those
in the room.
At length Hugh Richmond began to
move. "The exhaustion is passing away"
said Lucy.
mo, it's the hot fit coming on" said tho
nurse.
Lucy was almost glad of it--this power
Of suffering was link to life. He asked
for water, and reproached them for Civ
ing him warm water Then he complain
ed of the sea, at wears my brain out
If it would but stop moaning while
counted ten-even that would rest my
head; but il won't, Moan, moan, moan
1t will go that way till it kills me-"
His voice was feeble and weary, his ac-
cent most piteous. Lucy did not hear the
sea; she began to sing to him in low,
sweet voice. No one ever knew what
an effort it cost her to do it. He listened,
and forgot about the sea, and gradually
some painful lines in his face smoothed
themselves away. He looked at Lucy,
and said, "Whoever you are, you are kind
but if you want to be really kind to me,
do put a stop to one thing they do to me
every night e. Miss Clavering-you
perhaps know her-my mother always
said she was an enemy to both Of us, but
never believed it till now. Every night
Miss Clavering comes here, and just when
! want to go to sleep she wraps her long,
wet hair round my throat until cannot
breathe, and when l cry out, she wraps it
tighter and tighter, until | am choked.-
Every breath draw then sends a burn
ing pain right through my chest, and /
feel cut in two by a red-hot sword, and
still no one will help me. That nurse,
there, is in league with her, and will stand
quietly by, and let her do anything she
likes to torture me-" His voice was now
quite strong again, and his eyes were
bright with fever. "They talk about my
being ill-that woman and the doctor |
mean--they pretend to be sorry, but they
could cure me if they chose to stop her.
1t is nothing but having that long bit of
wet hair wrapped so tightly round my
throat which makes me so i'll. They will
not keep her away or force her to unfasten
it, and it is wet and cold, and chokes me-"
"That is how he always talks said the
nurse, ''poor dear gentleman"
ut is the truth, though! She pretends
that it is not, and so does that fool on
knave of doctor, but l ought to know
best, for feel it. feel it now, tight and
choking me. II is Miss Clavering's
hair, tell you! 1t got wet when we were
out all night on the Grand Bey-that is
why wanted so much t. see her by day
light. wanted to try if i could not per-
suade her not to do this She does it ev-
cry night, and that's why cant get well
that is what is killing me-"
"Do not talk that way, please sir" said
the nurse.
That is your help, is itl' cried he
excellent help! Don't talk, you sayi
But | must talk must be heard! Moth
ing chokes you like hair 1t makes itself
into such tight strong rope" He clutch
ed Lucy's hand, and cried, "Will you stoT
her doing til"
why, sir, this is Miss Clavering her
self you are talking to-! 1t is Miss CLAW
ering who is sitting by you Look at her
She is plying you as much as she CAM
She doesn't want to do nothing to hurt
you" said the nurse.
He looked at her in doubt and alarm.
Lucy let her hair down, and said, II am
Miss Clavering; but / promise, as you
ask it, never again to do anything to hurt
you. Feel my hair it is quite dry now, SC
| do not want toy wrap it round your throat
any more" She took his poor parched
hands in hers, and made him touch hen
hair, "Feel it," said she, at has got quite
dry and warm. will fasten it up tight.
ly, and you shall see me do it. Look what
"a number of strong pins / am using, ant
how safely l am fastening it."
He watched all she did with eagerness
He had forgotten almost everything which
had happened on the Grand Bey, excep
the one fact that when the sailors me
them and took Lucy from his arms ont
long coil of her hair had to be untwsteC
from his throat. Somehow or other it hat
then wrapped itself tightly round it, anC
the remembrance of this had haunte,
him and played a terrible part in increas
ing his illness. When her hair was frml,
fixed in its place, she made him feel i
once more, and said, "Now that can do 20
no harm" He seemed perfectly salts
fed, and made no more complaint of bein
strangled by her, but he still complaine
Of being kept by force in burning bee
He now seemed much exhausted, and la
as if partly unconscious, Presently Luc
saw him clutching at the bed-clothes, q
if to draw them upwards. Some one Ia
once told her that this was sign of al
preaching death, and the sight made he
thrill with terror. She could not bear
see it. She drew his hand away and heI
it tightly in hers She would hold it no
until he died.