The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-07-09

|
lips. Her hair is little loose, but emi
nently becoming, and altogether sht
looks rs like an exquisite painting a'
| one can conceive.
Take of your hat" says Godfrey
in n tone that gladdens her heart, 50
! full il is OF love and admiration; and
having removed her hat, she follows
! him through halls and one or two ante
rooms until they reach the library, into
which the man ushers them.
II is a very pretty room filled with
| subdued light, and with blazing fire
at one end. All bespeaks home, and
warmth, and comfort, but to Mona N
| her present state il is deSOlation itself
| The three occupants of the room rise
as she enters, aud Monas heart dies
within her, as u very tall statuesque
woman, drawing herself up languldly
from a lOunging-Chair, comes leiSurely
up to her. There is no welcoming
haste in her movements, no gracious
smile, for which her guest is thirsting,
upon her thin lips.
She is dressed in black velvet, and has
a cap Of richest old lace upon her head.
To the quick scnsibiities of the Irish
Girl il becomes known without a word
that she is not to look for love from
this stately woman, with her keen,
scrutini2ing glance and cold, msmlllng
lips
A choking sensation, rising from her
heart. almost stops MOna's breath; her
mouth feels parChed and dry; her eyes
widen. A sudden fear Expresses her.
| How is il going to be in all the futureI
| Is Gcollrcy s-her own husbands
mother to be her enemy?
Lady Rodney holds out her hand, and
Mona lays hers within it.
so glad you have cOme,' says Lady
Rodney in a tone that bellies her words,
and in a sweet silyery voice that chllls
the heart of the listener I'VE hardly
thought we should see You so soon, the
trains here are so unpumctual hope
the carriage was IN time
ut was rather better than | antlci-
pated, thank you, not in the naughty
tone adopted by her half an hour ago,
but in an uunerycd and frightened
whisper
AT this remarkable answer to a very
ordinary and polite question, Lady Rod
uey stares at Mona for moment, and
| then turns abruptly away to greet
| Godfrey. Whereupon Captain Rodney,
coming forward. tells Mona he is glad
TO see her. kindly but carelessly; and
then a young man, who has been stand
| ing up TO this silently upon the hearth
| rug. advances, and takes MOna's hand
in "a warm clasp, and looks down upon
her with very friendly eyes,
At his touch at his glance, the first
sense Of comfort Mona has felt since
her entry into the room falls upon her
This man, At least. is surely Of the same
! kith and kin rs GeOtfrey, and TO hin
her heart opens gladly, gratefully.
He has heard the remarkable speech
made To his mother, and has drawn his
| own conclusions therefrom "Ge0tirey
| has been coaching the poor little soul.
and putting absurd words into her
| mouth, Wlth-as is usual in all such
casesa very brilliant result So he
tells himself, and is, as we know, close
| to the truth
He tells Mona she is very welcome
and, still holding her hand, draws hel
over TO the fire and moves a big arm
chair in front of it. in which he EN-
sConces her. bidding her warm herself
and make herself las he SAYS with {
kindly smile that has still kinder mean
ing in it) quite at home.
Then he stOOpS and mfaStcns hen
seaIskin Jacket. aud takes it OF her, anC
in fact pays her all the little attentions
| that lie in his power,
you are Sir NichOlasW questions
| she at last gaining courage to speak.
and raising her eyes to his fun of en-
| treaty. and Just touch of that pdthO-
that seems of right 10 belong TO the
| eyes Of all Irish women.
YES, returns he, with smile. II
am Nicholas He ignores the former
| title. Godfrey | expect, spoke 10 YOU
| of me as old Nick; he has never called
| me anything else since we We're boys.
"IIe has often called you that; but,
-shyly-''nuw that have seen YOU,
don't think the name suits yOu bit
Sir Nicholas is quite pleased, Their,
is a sort of unconscious ilattery in til,
gravity of her tone and expression tina
amuses almost as much as IT please
him. What a funny child she is! an'
how unspeakably lovely! VIII DOatil
like her?
But there is yet another introduction
TO be gone through From the door
way Violet Mansergh comes up to (teof
frey, clad in some soft pale shimmerin,
stuff, and holds ont TO him her hand.
"What time you have been away!
she SAYS, with Il pretty, slow smile, tha
has not a particle of embarrassment o
consciousness in it. though she ls quit
aware that Jack Rodney is watchn!
her closely Perhaps, indeed, she is SO
cretly amused at his severe scrutiny.
you will introduceme to your wifeY'
she asks, after few minutes, in he
even, tYtiUlHte voice, and is then takcl
up TO the big armchair before the ire
and introduced to Mona
Dinner will be ready in a few min
utes; of course we shall excuse YOU
dressing tonight says Lady Rodney
addressing her son far more than Mona
though the words presumably are mean
for her. Whereupon Mona, rising from
her chair with a sigh of relief, follow
Geoifrey out of the room and upstairs
"Well2' says Sir Nicholas, Us Il dead,
silence continues for some time ate
their departure, what do you think .
herYn
''She is painfully deficient; postiyel
without brains says Lady Rodney
with conviction. What was the an
swer she made me when | asked ahou
the carriagey Something utterly out
side the mark.
She is not brainless; she was onl
a