The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-03-19
THE GIPSY'S CURSE.
mr. the AUTHOR OF "GUILry WITHOUT
:, CRIME" "THE wREcKERs OF
KRNA doom" ETC.
~ CHAPTER I.

pOTtAnce occurred at ccartn ADDot, plc-
turesque struggling village among the
Cumberland hills, eight miles from the
nearest railway station and an equal dis
tance from the nearcst town. Year after
year nothing more remarkable than death
or . birth, . party at the Larches, a school,
feast at the Rectory, broke the monotony
of existence In the remote district, and the
sudden arrival, from "foreign parts" Of
the Lord OF the Manor, the master Of the
Court, who owned nearly all the property
for miles around, threw the whole district
into fever OF excitement, which was in-
creased by the fact that no one expected
him.
lie visited the Court at rare intervals,
and the last time he came, was about five
years back. The people at Scarth Abbot
said IL was q shame for him to go wandering
all over the earth, so as to be quite an alien
among his own people. But then the
Court was great lonely, rambling place
for man scarcely more than thirty to In
habit, and with neither mother, sister,
nor wife; for the owner was still unmar-
ricd, though he was the last In the direct
line, scarth Abbot gossips shook their
heads when asked why the Court had no
mistress, and told dismal story.
Before the news Of the Lord-of.thc.
Manor's return was fortnight old anoth-
er shock went through the inhabitants Of
Scarth Abbot.
1t was asserted that Miss Durnford, the
maiden lady who lived at the Grange, was
about TO receive new inmate In her house,
hold, in the person of niece from "some-
where abroad" Wonders would never
cease, said the gossips. Miss Durnford
was first cousin TO the Sabines of the
Larches, who were very great people in
deed, and had been at Scarth Abbot since
the time Of James ]. Consequently tho
newcomer must be second cousin TO the
Sabines.
Tho villagers however knew nothing
about her except her name, and Miss
Durnford either knew no more or would
say no more; for she was no friend to viii
lage gossip, and never stopped to feed it.
The Doctors wife contriyed to discover
that the young lady whose arrival was
considered so important was coming from
Canada, where her uncle held Govern.
ment appointment, and that she was sent
over to her aunt because she could not live
in the cold climate Of the Dominion; but
here even indefatigable Mrs. Frampton
came to y full stop, and could get 10 far
Their.
All in the village knew, when, one eve
ming In July, Miss Durnford's carriage
drove away towards the station, which
was at Moorstown, that 1t had gone to
fetch Miss Costello, and all turned out
when the carriage came back, to try to
catch glimpse of the foreigner. But the
landau was closed, and nothing was visible
except portmanteau OIL the box.
The carriage passed, through the high
iron gates, swept up the drive, and
stopped before the deep arched doorway
Of an old red brick house with mullioncd
windows, and with turrets and buttresses
jutting out where one would least expect
to find any excrescence.
At tho top Of the broad low flight of
steps leading to the door stood tall rath-
er angular looking woman Of perhaps fifty
i've or sixty, dressed in black satin robe
Of old fashioned make, and with lace cap
on her smooth gray hair. A pair Of grave
kindly brown eyes looked out from be-
meath thick and still black eyebrows, and
the gazers' somewhat formal demeanor
could In no degree be associated with
harshness or primness.
Out Of the landau, before the footman
could jump down to open the door, sprang
girl, graceful rs q fawn and attircd in u
trayeling.dress of the last Partisan style,
who bounded up the steps to meet the old
lady's outstretched hands.
"Dear auntie," said sweet young voice,
chow good of you 10 come to the door to
receive meW
"Good Of mew echoed Miss Durnford,
putting her arms about the girl, who was
taller than herself. GLOW else would
you have me TO receive my sisters childW
kissing the girl fondly M she spoke
"Come in, my dear; you must be very tired
snd very hungry"
"Neither the one nor ths othcr," was
the merry response. "Oh, this dear old
house hope l shall not turn you topsy.
turyy, auntie! We Transatlantics are so
free-and.casy that may do all sorts Of
dreadful things; and am perfect cata.
mount"
Miss Durnford smiled indulgcntly into q
face lovely enough to win its owner par
don for far worse escapades than any a
gently.nurtured girl Of sixteen was likely
TO commit, and she said kindly
"Well, well, we'll see; but dare say
The Grange will be better for a revolution.
Old maids--in the country especially
grow selfish and Darrow.minded, living
alone, and with 10 ono 10 think OF but
themselves; IF you do upset the prim order
OF things little, 1t will be the better for
me-"
"You would never grow selfish auntic,"
said Miss Costello, scanning her relatives
face with steady but by no means impcr.
tinent gaze. al dare shy l shall tease you;
but won't II I can help IT,"
Miss Durnford laughed; II was not Of
ten she had anything to laugh At, and this
exercise was novel and pleasant.
"Comc TO your ROOM" she said, "and
will ring for Mary, the parlor.maid, to wait
on YOU"
al don't need her, auntie, thanks.
don't trouble maid much ut home. On"
--as Miss Durnford, after ascending a
short flight Of stairs, opened an oaken door
--"what darling old.world room! did
miss the old things In Canada so, auntie--
everything was new and staring"
"Do you remember Europe 10 WELL"
asked Miss Durnford, AZ the girl threw OIL
her hat and jacket.
"Ob, yes, auntici We have been out
there only five years. was seven when
we went TO vienna; and We were there
ell uncle got this appointment In Canada.
l. sot tlto ,,ta.a vasv ,nlA la, ,.,l.t..s,I