The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-02-08
ford gave when she happened to glance

1.-The Lady of Lyonsr' she said to
herself; show very strange, and he is
studying it, too! Can it be, yes, it must
be, the Claude Ethel wrote me of! She
was right about his good looks; but
what business had he TO laugh at mep
| would like TO shake himp Then the
thought of shaking that great fellow
was so absurd that she nearly laughed
outright. With an almost unconscious
sigh she shut her book, rearranged her
wrap, and kept her eyes out Of the win
dow until her destination was reached.
"Oh, Connie, how good of you to
come so soon! Your telegram made me
so glad that had to come down for you
myself" and Constances friend, Ethel
Devereux, kissed her, regardless of
lockers on. She did not see one OBJ
server however, and gave start of
surprise.
"Why, there's Mr.. Armytage! He
must have come by your train. Let me
introduce you. Mr.. Armytage, Miss
Beresford, otherwise Claude and Pau
line"
us it possibler' and pair of very
grave eyes looked down at Constance as
She gave her hand Had | known it
sooner, what pleasant journey / might
have had"
Il knew it," she replied, "but you
seemed to find it sufficiently enjoyable"
"How did you know itP" he asked,
quietly ignoring the latter part OF her
speech.
Il saw your book and guessed the
rest"
"Well, we must not stand here all
day." chimed in Ethel. "Sorry | can't
offer you seat, Mr.. Armytage, but |
have only.the pony phaeton. You will
be over this evening, of course"
81 shall come with pleasure" he re.
piled.
isn't he splendid, handsome, grand,
Connie?"
"Really, Ethel, you use strong Ian
guage for one poor man. Are you in
love with him, dearP"
"Oh, no; | leave that to you. | did
not write you the latest news, because |
wanted to tell you myself, that am en-
gagged"
ITO cousin Frank at last? Oh, l am
so glad! When did it happenP"
''Just couple of days before wrote.
Now we will be cousins as well as friends.
Have you nothing Of the kind to tell
me?n
Nothing. / have had three propos-
ais this season, but all have been for my
money, am convinced. How l hate
that money! Ethel, if you love me, do
not speak Of it, or tell living soul here
that am an heiress. Do let me enjoy
this visit at least"
1t was three weeks later, and the
eventful night The audience was gath
cred in the large ballroom, and the play
was in progress. At the end of the Sec
ond act Claude and Pauline were called
before the curtain, and having made
their bows, they retired behind the
scenes, apart from the others, where
their conversation showed how they had
improved their three weeks acquaint.
ance.
"Oh. Paulinel If it were but true!
you were as truly mine, as Pauline
Lyons was Claude Melnotte's! But.
him, what have I to offer! Nothing,
While you, like Pauline, have been used
TO every luxury. Yet l love you, love
| volt"
They were called, and not again did
he have a chance to speak to her until
at the end of the fourth act; but when
he did he heard ringing in his ears her
impassoned appeal;
"Claude, take me! Thou canst not
give me wealth, title, station-but thou
canst give me true heart. Twill work
for thee, tend thee, bear with thee, and
never, never shall these dips reproach
thee for the past" 1t seemed as though
she was appealing to him in earnest
as though the play were reality.
Pauline, do you, did you mean it?'
he asked, when they met again, and
with a sudden blushing face she bowed
assent.
could have done otherwise?" she
asked him later, as they wandered
through the grounds while others danced.
you were too proud TO ask me, and |
could not let you 90, so | acted as my
heart impelled, hoping you would read
the truth, yet fearing"
He placed his first kiss on her lips.
"Good, and beautiful, and true" he
murmured, as he looked in her happy
eyes.
Three weeks more went by, and on
the morrow, there was TO be a general
breaking up. Gerald and others had left
the previous week. Constance was
lounging in big easy chair in dimly-
lighted drawing-room, when, at the
sound of voices outside, she listened, on
catching her lovers name.
Daring dog, that fellow Armytage.
Think Of his presuming to come up
here and play the gentleman.
Wonder where he got the money!"