The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-04-29

lllc tnat sHe nelu one IN ner right nand.
My unfortunate luck again! / looked
down at my diamond; 1t sparkled like
the sunbeams and as joyously, but its
dazzle conveyed no intelligence TO me,
only it gave me CLEAN Of hope. She
was so near that | could very easily have
played trick, like that friend Of mine
once played--slip card into her cloak
pocket, Nothing of that kind would
answer with this queenly creature,
perfectly well knew.
! Twas forced TO watch her again leave
me and turn down the street, holding
her dress so deXterously that it quite es-
capped the pavement and disclosed two
neatly-fitting boots.
Perhaps should have said before that
my name is Eldridge; that | am law
yer, and Judge Clifton's junior partner.
In the next Office to ours there are two
young fellows just started in law, who
receive more calls from their lady friends
than retaining fees from clients. One
day, as l was leaving my Office, saw
my lady in gray going into theirs.
must confess to feeling sort of chill,
and then disappointment. did not
like TO know that my dignified unknown
went around visiting gentlemen sotlices,
even thoue1Nthe gentlemen were her ac-
quaintances. Occasionally alady friend
would call upon me, not upon business,
and although | was always polite, l
never encouraged that sort of thing,
and, as practice, / heartily disapprove
of it.
My second thought was more charita-
|ble, One of the fellows might be her
lbrothcr. So much the better. l would
make his acquaintance and cultivate
him. did this after SOME weeks delay
and considerable circumlocution on my
part, and learned that the elder of tho
two men, Mr.. Allyn, had sister named
Maud, and that she was engaged to his
friend and partner. Just think Of my
dismay. Actually engaged to the other
fellow! 1t was sad enough to know she
was bound, but ragged thinking her tho
wife of fellow who had little ambition
and less brains. There was nothing in
the man, absolutely nothing. Why, on
ly week before he had shown o lack of
legal acumen in Casa mere techni-
cality-of which the rawest student
should not have been ignorant. What
women can see in some men-but there,
must not get incoherent looked at
my ring after my disturbed thoughts,
and its rosy CLEAN gave me fresh cour-
age. After rejecting day, resolved
toTemorseessly and determinedly cut
him out-if I could.
Ii was quite in my power to be Of SER
vice to Mr.. Allyn, andin return he asked
me to his fathers house to dinner. So
saw my lady Maud at home, and there,
where true women shine best, found
her more sweet and womanly than she
had looked to mo before. l had pre-
pared myself for our last meeting, but
she had not, and betrayed q little en-
barrassment. did not, however, refer
to our adventure until / had called upon
her several times, and then l ventured
to thank her for coming to the rescue of
my curious diamond. She begged me
with deep pink in her cheeks not to
mention it. | was aSsiduous in my at
tentions, and laid siege to the hearts of
the rest of the family, andquietly began
10 WOO. That | had some influence over
her was proved by the fact that her be-
trothed became jealous Of me, and for
babe her from receiving my visits She
rebelled, after bearing with long annoy
ance from him, and finally she dismissed
him.
ventured to ask her, like hypo-
critic, why no longer met Mr. Furbush
NJ Iap - thnt I ,,,,N 60
his society,"" added, with shrug
1--WE have broken our engagement"
she said looking at the floor.
consulted my talisman. Blessings
upon it. 1t fairly danced in the light.
The temptation was strong, but l re-
sisted it, to beg her to give me the hand
he had lost. waited until one evening
when | was escorting her home from the
theatre, and | told her the story of my
ring, and she believed in its magic more
firmly than | did.
at has failed me yet, Miss Allyn,
and ] am longing to put it to stronger
test
She was so provokingly demure and
unconscious that kept back the petit
ton on'my lips, for l felt my courage,
like Bob Acres, oozing out atmy finger
ends, and again | waited
81 should think you would be afraid
of losing it, she said, few days after.
She was holding the ring in her hand,
moving it this way and that way to catch
the CLEANS
DO you know, Miss Allyn, that l am
constantly afraid of losing it ever since
] first met youP" Then grew bold,
and took her hand and said, please
keep it for me. Let me put 1t on this
finger. Please do and-and-give mo
yourself in return"
She hung her head and blushed, and
stammered little, but she did not say
no,