The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-03-29

gained, you will find she has lost her
youth, her simplicity, and all that native
freshness you so much admire. You
shake your head doubtingly, chp "Eph-
rain Is joined to his idols; let him
alone Seeing is believing, however.
With such heart as yours, pity you
when your idol lies before you fallen
and shattered.'
And Ralph Emery looked with real
concern into the thoughtful face OF his
friend.
An hour later, they were whizzing
rapidly toward the country, where their
attention was arrested nj station by
the entrance Of n lady. Grand Burch-
ard started! Something reminded him of
Amy Ludwick? There were brown eyes
and glossy curls, worn in the old, child
ish fashion, but now they certainly were
old maidsh and unlecoming. Her face
was pretty, still, but it lacked some
thing to make it Interesting, and Grant
Burchard could not but acknowledge to
himself she was ovcrdressed and unre-
fined In appearance. He instinctively
shrank from acknowledging to his friend
that this woman looked ike the one he
had loved And though his eye caught
the name Of "a. Ludwick'' on her trav-
cling bag, he shrank from renewing the
acquaintance, as he might have done by
a word. lie was contrasting this unin-
tcrestng woman with the simple girl in
the sweet-brier glen, when an old man
entered and addressed her as "Miss
Ludwick"
Ralph Emery now started and looked
into his friends face.
"Ah! | remember the name, he OK
claimed. us that the divinity of your,
dreams?'
II fear it is" was the dcprecating an
swer.
where have you BEEN" asked the
farmer.
Been down to the city to do some
trading was the answer.
Her voice was coarse and harsh, and
Ralph Emery smiled, but it was no sml-
ing matter to Grant Burchard, this de-
thronemcnt OF the beautiful idol he had
carried all these years.
Getting ready. s'pose?" queried
the farmer.
"Ready for WHAT" asked Miss Lud-
wick, with blush and silly laugh.
you've concluded not to wait for the
chap that went away n few years ago, l
hear, and that young man coming to
! your house every week don't mean any
thing. | s'pose," said the old man, with
m intelligent smile
81 don't see it." was the quick reply,
Is she tossed her head and simpcred.
Grant Burchard groancd.
Success TO the young man who
comes every week. said Ralph Emery,
fcrvently, "and YOU might as we'll say
Amen Grant, for | think chat last bit
OF slang has cured YOU"
Verify Grant Burchard was in an UNI
enviable frame of mind. IIcwas like one
who has rcvcled in delicious dream of
beauty, and awakcs to stern and
wretched reality. lie was thinking it
all over, as he lounged with his friend
upon the porch of the eountry-hotel,
where he stopped for the night, when
his revcrie was put to flight by the fra
GRANGE of sweet-brier--a perfume that
always came to him laden with sweetest
memories.
The parlor was in shadow, but they
heard the floating sound of woman's
garments, and sweet low voice, chat
ting intelligcntly with an elderly gentle
man. The conversation was OF sutli-
cicnt length to prove that this lady with
the starry blossoms of swcet-brier twined
in her hair was woman of original
thought and rare cultivation The old
man asked for music, and the lady
swept the piano keys with skilful Gng-
ers, and filled the room with rare,
sweet melody. AS the last note died
away, and tho soft garments noatcd out,
Grant Bnrchard exclaimcd
"My Amy should have had o voice
like that"
Ralph Emery thought of the harsh
and discordant tones in the rail-car, and
with smile that made his companion
vince. quoted the slang phrase; Il don't
SEQ it."
The next day, Grant Burchard and
his friend stood at the gate of the Lud-
wick homestead. 1t was fine old
place, and the garden was pretty sight
with It's rare and beautiful flowers ar
ranged with exquisite taste. Grant had
thought Of his visit for years, when he
shouM come alone to claim Amy, but
now hc was glad to bring his friend,
that no mention might DO made of
claims. A lady stood in the garden
path. She turned, and there were the
dark curls, brown eyes, and ungracefpl
manner of the neutrality-suspicious. Of
the previous day. Grant Burchard step
ped forward.
Good morning, Miss Ludwick."
II was sadly cold and changed from
the fervent Amy" he had always call
ed her in his thoughts.
Good morning, sirs," responded that
harsh voice, while scared look camo
into the brown eyes rs she regarded the
MISUNDERSTANDING strangers. Amin
ute moro and she exclaimed enthusiast
icslly:
why, Grant Burchard, If it amt
you! How glad / ami"
And she gave him hearty shake, and
poured forth torrent of questions As
she led him into the house, and went to
call the family.
The gentleman glanced about the par