The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-12-21

sHOulu nave Salu DclOTe lllat my SIS
ter was an heiress. had no DOVER
not even that OF beauty; but Geoffry
Branscombe, l would have sworn, was
not u man to be bought or sold, to buy
and sell; and yet, if not, his eyes had
lied, for they had told mo that it was
me he loved
don't know just what came to me
in that hour that moment, but though
| realized, or thought ! realized, his
baseness, yet could not snatch from
my lips the cup whose sweetness slaked
their thirst. | held it there and drank.
We spoke no word of love, but every
day found him by my side. | was no
longer lstless; was brilliant, even
merry. | laughed and sang, as one
might laugh and sing at the feast of
| death.
And so fortnight passed, and still
he fingered; but his return was fixed
for the morrow. On that last evening
we wandered down upon the beach, sill
vered by the moonlight Standing in
its rays, he turned and faced me, clasp
ing his hand over mine as it lay upon
| his arm.
"Mabel, he said, II love you, child?
You are but child, and | a man who
has outstripped you in the race of life
by twenty years. But will you give
yourself to me, dear? Has it been my
own blind fancy which has given birth
10 the sweet hope that alone might
make your happinessP"
IIa nauvnJ thap .uaitino. So, 49,, ~,
swer Only minute passed, but had
wakened from my dream. had not
thought his baseness ever could fnd
words; had not thought my sister
would know his perjury.
Only minute, but had torn out my
heart and tramped it beneath my feet.
turned upon the man with hot, fierce
passion; ! forgot that | had led him on;
forgot my own baseness, my own love.
What burning, scathing words | used !
know not, but when had finished he
offered me again his arm, from which |
had withdrawn my clasp, and we walk
ed back in silence to the house. Yet,
AS he left me, still without word.
felt, strange to say, only my own guilt.
He had not borne himself like one con-
victed of a wrong.
The next week went home Alice
was the first to meet me, and that night
she crept into my room, and knelt
| down beside me as she had done once
| before.
"DarlingH' she whispered, next
month | am to be married, and you are
to be my only bridesmaid"
II cannot" | answered, Don't ask
me, Alice. 1t would kill men'
"Do You really love me so we'll, dear?
But YOU will not refuse me this? 1t
would mar all my happiness, Mabel,
and | am so happy. When you have
seen Harry-when you 4earn to know
and love him for himself-you will I'M
derstand."
Harry gasped. "Who is he?"
Harry Harry Stretton; the man |
am to marry. Why, Mabel, you told
me you knew it all. Is it possible you
did not know?n
And then she told me of the engage
ment which had been entered into dur
ing her Christmas visit-an engage
ment finally ratified aud approved by
her guardian whilst was so i'll.
1t had been this she had been about
to tell mc-this had refused to hear.
Oh, the burning shame with which
listened at last! And then wild i'm
| pulse seized me to tell her all the truth.
She should know how mean, how pitia.
BILE | had been, even though ! bought
her hate and contempt, as doubtless
had bought Geofi'ry's.
did not spare myself as told the
story. In silence she heard it through,
and then she sealed my lips with the
kiss of love and pardon
All night battIed with my misery
and remorse. Alice expected her lover
the next day | felt dare not meet
him.
In the afternoon she came into my
room
someone wishes to see YOU in the
library, DEAR she said Will You 90
down?n
She spoke SO quietly that suspected
nothing, and asking no questions went
downstairs, and crossed the hall to the
room designated,
! thought it empty for moment as
closed the door behind me, but at the
sound someone stepped from the win
dow.recess someone who advanced
one step and then stood with wide-open
arms waiting to close about me.
No need for me to tell the story, as
hid my face upon his breast, and felt
his kisses rain upon my hair, Alice,
my noble, darling sister, had told it all
Did deserve my happiness? Perhaps
not, but it was mine-mine at last, rs
was the great, noble heart of my sisters
guardian,
Alice had her wsh-I was her only
bridesmaids but after the ceremony
was ended which made her Harry STREET
toms beloved wife, took her place be-
side the altar, no longer bridesmaid but
bride. Henceforth my sisters guard
ian was mine.