The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-08-13


| opals are perfect. Just like moonlight.
| By the Bye as if it has suddenly oc-
| CURED to her, did you ever see the
lake by moonlight i mean from the
mulloned window in the north galley?"
"The lake hereY No." says the
duchess.
Haven't you?n in surprise. "Why,
it is the most enchanting thing in the
world. Oh, you must see it; you will
be delighted with it. Come with me,
and ! win show it to YOU" says Mona,
eagerly, rising from her seat in her i'm
pulsive fashion.
She is plainly very much in earnest,
and has fixed her large expressive eyes
lovely as loving-with calm expect
ancy upon the duchess. She has alto
gether forgotten that she is a duchess
perhaps indeed, has never quite grasped
the fact. and that she is an imposing
and portly person not accustomed to
exercise Of any description.
For moment her Grace hesitates,
then is lost 1t is to her a new sensa-
ton to be taken about by young Wom-
an to see things. Up to this it has been
she who has taken the young women
about to see things. But Mona is so
openly and genuinely anxious to bestow
favor upon her, to do her, in fact, o
good turn, that she is subdued, sweet
ened, nay, almost flattered, by this art
less desire to please her for cloves
sake" alone.
She too rises lays her hand on Mona's
arm and walks through the long room,
and past the county generally, to 'see
the lake by moonlight Yet it is not
for the sake of gazing upon almost UNI
rivaled scenery, she goes, but to please
this Irish girl, whom so very few can
resist.
where las Mona taken the duchess?"
asks Lady Rodney of Sir Nicholas half
an hour later.
she took her to see the lake. Mona,
you know, raves about it, when the
moon is up"
"She is very absurd, and more trouble
some and unpleasant than anybody |
ever had in my house. OF course the
duchess did not want to see the water.
She was talking to old Lord Dering
about the drainage question, and seemed
quite happy, when that girl interfered.
Common courtesy compelled her, sup
pose, to say yes to-Monas-proposi-
ton. y
II hardly think the duchess is the
sort of woman to say yes when she
meant no. says Sir Nicholas, with
half smile, "She went because it so
pleased her, and for no other reasOn.--
] begin to think, indeed, that Lillian
Chetwoode is rather out of it, and Mona
is the first favorte at present. She has
evidently taken the duchess by storm"
"Why not say the duke too?" says his
mother with cold glance, to whom
praise of Mona is anything but ''cakes
and ale" Her Irritation with him is
very apparent. 1t is disgraceful. Every
one is noticing and talking about it.
Godfrey alone seems determined to see
nothing! Like all underbred people,
she cannot know satisfaction unless
perched upon the topmost rung of the
ladder"
You are slightly nonsensical when
on the subject of Mona" says Sir Mich
olas, with a shrug. Intrigue and she
could not exist in the same atmosphere.
She is to Lauderdale what she is to
every one else,-gay bright, and utterly
wanting in self-conceit ! cannot I'M
derstand how it is that you alone refuse
, to acknowledge her charms. To me she
is like little soft sunbeam floating here
and there, and falling into the hearts Of
: those around her, carrying light, and
,, joy. and laughter, and merry music
with her as she goes"
"You speak like lover" says Lady
Rodney, with an artificial laugh. do
| you repeat all this TO Dorothyp She
must find it very interesting"
Dorothy and are quite agreed about
: Mona replies he, calmly. "She likes
her az much as | do. As to what you
say about her encouraging Lauderdale's
attentions, it is absurd. No such evil
thought could enter her head"
At this instant a soft, ringing laugh,
that once heard is not easily forgotten,
comes from an inner room, that is care
fully curtained and delcately lighted,
and smites upon their ears.
1t is Mona's laugh. Raising their
: eyes, both mother and son turn their
heads hastily land quite involuntarily)
, and gaze upon the scene beyond. They
are 50 situated that they can see into
the curtained chamber and mark the
, picture it contains, The duke is bend
ing over Mona in manner that might
, perhaps be termed by an outsider slight
! ly empNSSe, and Mona is looking up at
him, and both are laughing gayly,-Mo-
ma with all the freshness of unchecked
youth, the duke with such thorough
and wholesome sense Of enjoyment as
he has not known for years.
, Then Mona rises, and they both come
! to the entrance of the small room, and
= stand where Lady Rodney can over
hear what they are saying.
| "Oh. so you can ride, them" says
Lauderdale, abiding probably to the
cause Of his late disaster
! Sure of course, - says Mona. "Why,
used to ride the colts barebacked at
r homen
, Lady Rodney shudders.
Sometimes long again for mad,
, wild gallop straight across country,
where nobody can see me,--such as l
used to have, goes on Mona, half re-
gretfully.
= And who allowed you to risk your
: life like thatY' asks the duke, with sim
pie amazement. His sister, before her
| marriage, was not permitted to cross
, the threshold without guardian at her
side, This girl is revelation.
! mo one, says Mona. II had no need
, to ask permission for anything. l was
free to do what | wished.n
She looks up at him again with some
J fire in her eyes and flush upon her
|, cheeks, Perhaps some of the natural
lawlessness Of her kindred is making
hap 10 syi Il l,,,,