The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-07-30
CHAPTER XXIII.


land; the twilight is coming on apace.
Shadows come ana go, ana eerle
thoughts Cypress the breast
whilst the scritch-ow, scritching loud,
Puts the wretch that lies In woe
In remembrance OF shroud."
"What wretched EVENING"" says
Violet, with a little SILVER "Geoftrey,
draw the curtains closer
"A fit ending to miserable day"
says Lady Rodney, gIoomlly.
might has always the effect of max
ing bad look worse, says Doatie, with
a sad attempt at cheerfulness. "Never
mind; morning will soon be here again"
But why should night produce mel
ancholy?' says Nicholas, dreamily. 1T
is but reflection of the greater light,
after all. What does Richter call it?-
The great shadow and profile Of day
1t is our own morbid fancies that make
us dread it,"
Nevertheless, close the curtains,
Geoffrey, and ask Lady Rodney if she
would not like tea now" says Violet,
soto roce.
Somebody pokes the fire. until a Grim
son light streams through the room.
The huge logs are good-natuTedly in
clined, and burst their great sides in an
endeavOr to promote more soothing
thought.
"What amiserable day we have hadm
says Molly rousing himself, ITS been
raining since early dawn. | feel right
down cheap, very nearly as depressed
as last night when Nicholas stuck me
to dance with the 4Esthetic'
Lady Lilias Eaton. you mean?' asks
Lady Rodney. That reminds me, we
are bound to 60 over there tomorrow.
AT least, some Of us
Mona must GO says Nicholas,
quickly. Lady Lilias MADE point Of
it. You will 60, Mona?'
Il should very much like to GO says
Mona, gently, and with some eagerness,
She las been sitting very quietly with
her hands before her, hardly hearing
what ispassing around her-lost, buried
III thought.
Poor infant 1t is her first essay
SAYS Molly, pitifully. wait till to-mor-
row evening, and see if you will feel as
you do nOW. Your cheerful COM
| plaiSance in this matter is much to be
admired. And Nicholas should be
| grateful But | think YOU will find one
dose of Lady Lilias and her ancient
BriionS sufficient for your lifetime.
you used to be tremendous friends
there at one time says Godfrey.
never out Of the house
II used to stay there occasionally
when old Lord Daintree was alive. if
you mean that says Molly, meekly.
"As far as can recolleCt. | was always
shipped there when naughty, or trouble
some, or IN the way at home, and as a
rule ! was always in the way. There is
a connection between the Eatons and
my mother, and Anadale saw good
deal of me off and on during the holi-
days. II was a sort of rod in pickle, or
dark closet, that used to be held over
my head when in disgrace
Dorothy from her corner laughs gay
| ". Poor old Noll, y she says, lit was
his unhappy childhood that blighted his
later years, and made him the melan-
choly object he is"
We'll, you know. it was much toe
much was really says Mr.. Oar
ling, very earnestly, Mrs Godfrey
| won't YOU come to my reScue?'
Mrs, Godfrey, thus addressed, TOuses
herself and says, What can | do for
| your in a far-dway tone that proves
she has been in thought-land miles
| away from every one.
Through her brain some words are
surging. Her mind has gone back tC
! that scene in the conservatory last night
when she and Paul Rodney had been to
gether What was it lie had said
What were the exact words he had used
She lays two fingers on her smooth
white brow, and lets a little frown, bOrl
only of bowlldered thought, contract it
fairness.
"A scheme, !" he had said, and then il
moment the right words flash acros
her brain. "a brilliant chance, splen
did scheme What words for an hon
est man to use. Could he be honest
Was there any flaw, any damning claus
anywhere in all this careful plot, S
cleycrly constructed to bring ruin upol
the heads Of these people who hay
crept into her tender hearth
where are you now, MonaY' ask
Godfrey, suddenly, laying his han
with loving pressure on her shoulder
In AtghaniStan, or TimbuCt0o? ia
from US, at least There is a littl
vague rcpr0aCh and Uneasiness in hi
tone ., ,,.
NO, very ltUl NOU,-TedTpI lIldIl NO
think, y says Mona, quick to notice an
variation in his tone, awakng from he
revere with a start, and laying one q
her hands over his. "Geoiirey," eal
nestly, what is the exact meaning c
the word 'schemey Would an homes
man surely he would not talk c
Scheming?'
"Well that is rather a difficult que'
ton to answer, says Godfrey. Nor
sieur de Lcsseps, when dreaming OF
the Sue2 Canal, called it a scheme; an
he, | presume, is an honest man.
Whereas, on the other side, if burgIa
were arranging TO steal all your oil
silver, suppose he would call that
scheme too. What have you on tn
brain now, darling? You are not goin
to delraud your neighbor, hope?'
ut is very strange, says Mona. wit
a dissatisfied sigh; 'but I'll tell you a
about it by and by
Instinct warns her of treachery; con
mon sense bellies The warning. T
which shall she give eary
"Shal We ask the Carsons to on
dance, Nicholas?' asks his mother, 8
this moment.
Ask any one you ike. any one,
mean, that Is not quite impossible,
says Nicholas.
Edith Carson is very nearly so,
think
lis that the girl who spoke to 20,
Godfrey, at the tea-room door?o ask
Mona, with some animation