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

The month was May, and through
my half'opon window came stealing a
soft wind, filled with Summer warmth
and Summer fragrance. The trees in
the garden were full of blossoms. The
early roses were in bloom, but of all this
| saw nothing. My gaze was fixed up
on two figures slowly walking down the
garden-path-a man and u woman,
The man was tall, and strong, and
masterful, yet tender as a mother with
her lirstborn, gentle as a girl in all the
little acts and courtesies of life The
woman was young and very beautiful,
with figure slender and swaying like
u reed as she walked, and dark, lustrous
eyes, which brought TO many a man his
hearts undong.
| iancied the light in them now, as
She lifted them to Geoilry Branscombe's
face. He was her guardian, and he
loved her. She was but my half-sister,
five years my senior, and 50 was not
entitled TO her confidence. Indeed. on
ly little month ago had returned
from school, with my education COM
pleted, in the fashionable sense of the
term, and since then had been very i'll.
Oycr-study, the doctor had said, but I
knew better, TO my own soul could
whisper the humiliating truth, could
pour ont the cruel confession, with
sort Of savage pleasure at the self.in-
ficted torture
IL WAS my heart, not the body, that
sHfcred-thc heart that had for ever
passed into Geohry Branscombo's un-
conscious keeping. loved him--he
who was to be my sisters husband. If
had never suspected it before, Ishould
nave known it by the new light in her
eyes, the new radiance of her beauty
as it burst upon me on the day Of my
return,
And what could be more natural than
that things should be as they werep Did
not guardians always love their wards,
and wards their guardians?
had never read book which treat
ed of such relationship in which such
was not the sequel Of the tale. And
| yot-and yet, did it make it easier for
| me 10 beaTP
turned my gaze away from that
other picture, and lifted myself up from
the depths of the great chair in which
| lay, until ! could catch a glimpse Of
my own face in the mirror opposite.
What contrast! NY eyes, the only
beauty | possessed, looked many times
too large for the thin, dark face; and
my hair, which had been the rival beau
ly to my eyes, was close cropped to my
head
They had cut it off as | lay delirious
with fever and crying that its weight
hurt me-
sank back, with a groan. At that
instant my sister returning, entered the
room.
Mabel she cried Mabel, darling,
l am so happy
And rapidly crossing the floor she
sank down on her knees beside my
chair.
The contrast was too great Never
had ] seen her half so beautiful.
Don't tell me--don'tm | hastily ex-
claimed, and lifted up my hand, as if
to ward off blow, II know con-
tinued. a congratulate you; but don't
say any more"
''You know, dear?' she answered,
look of surprise sweeping over her face.
GLOW is that possible?'
Don't ask me, Only, / know. |
| -'
But could say no more. Ny weak
ness conquered my strength, and Il
burst into bitter weeping.
Poor child! Dear little Mabel" she
whispered, tendery. "Do YOU love me
SO well that you hate TO lose ine9 But
you will not really lose me, dear When
] am married."
Hush | interrupted, II won't hear
any more and, sobbng bitterly, burr.
| cd my face in my hands.
OF course no heroine would have done
such thing; but was no heroine.
was only foolish child, who had lived
but eighteen years, and who could only
look forward TO a long, long fife of lone.
ly misery for loved Geoifry,
He had not meant to make me love
him know that; but when | had
come home for my Christmas holidays,
Alice had been away on visit, and so
l had seen him every day. We had rid
den, and driven, and walked together
and, as have said, his manner held
that unconscious and inherent tender.
ness toward things weaker than him.
self which had charmed my heart into
recklessnesS pouring forth its unheeded
treasures at his feet.
My excitement in depressing all this,
aud seeing the seal set upon my misery,
brought It's own punishment For a
week my life was again despaired of.
Then because did not wish the
boon, strength came slowly back. Ev.
eryday he came; everyday he sent me
flowers, or fruit, or some sweet mes.
sage; but it was all an added torture.
At last, when grew better, the ply
sicians said | must have change, and so
they sent me to the seaside, to visit an
aunt who had q house at Worthing.
was glad to go, Had | stayed AT
home, should have gone mad Alice
and Mr. Branscombe went with me to
the train had babe her goodbye,
and the train was just about to start,
when he put his head in through the