The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-12-31
A PHANTOM BRIDE.
by the Author of "THE leg CAR
NIvAL."

| Brlng everything, responded LICK,
'and for Heavens sake lose not mo-
| ment let's get on at any price. 1t
seems TO me-" he added to himself UNI
| der his breath, THAT only by the pres
ent intensity Of gratitude and JOY at the
prospect Of deliverance, can at all es-
innate the previous depths of past de-
spair. That's right, old fellow as
Browne slowly opened his eyes, thaw-
ing in the genial atmosphere OF the
covered cart and beneath the influence
Of Dicks gentle chating Of his numbed
eXtremities; were safe and sound,
thank God! at last. Here, open your
lips, and have another pull at the bot
tie, Heavens! what would have be-
come of us, | wonder, but for the dear
pater's cherry-b"andyY Capital stuff,
Browne, ELI? Cheer up, old man-cheer
upl We shall find ourselves before a
roaring fire in less than no time now.
That's better, ehY and, now, don't lose
a minute, my hearties this to the
men who were slowing the bortmanteau
and packages away at the back of the
cart-"if you reach Burnham Vicarage
within the hour IA crisp flyer shall be
yours before you lay your heads on the
pillow this night!'
Done Wi you, eur" returned Bill
with a knowing grin, as he clambered
up to the boX-seat and gathered up the
ribbons, whilst Tom burst into roar,
stretching forth a grimnly palm. PAY
up, Eur, sharp. We're no moor than a
matter o. twenty minutes fra tn vicar
age gates, tho out o. Burnham direct
| road"
You don't mean it!n returned Dick,
half incredulous. Good Lordl to
there all night, actually within stones
throw of home, but for the lucky
chance which set you in our directionl
Were you going into London this terri
BILE evening, Or
"Lunnon! o this hour o. a Chrisser-
mas Eve.n echoed Tom Indignantly, as
he tlicked tn old mares ears with his
| well-wom whip. We're no SIGH hay
Trims as al that, Id ha' We know, an
our mlssuses a-Waitin' meanwhile at
'ome. Ma ma. We carries as a rule
'twixt Burnham an Wimbledon, our
days work wur over IAN stiff enough
an all it proves a this sayson o. tn
year,, an jist as we wur a-turnin' doom
agin Beech Clump, as is spot wheer
boundaries meet, along o three fine
beech saplings, oop comes little miss,
a-runnin' till yer c'ud most see tn cart
on ur a-thumpin' gen ur bosom. Wull,
no sooner nd we gotten til message
than SEES to Bill, ses |, We mauu fust
---'
Message. What message?" inter-
rupted Dick. I'VE saw no little miss;
we sent no messagel'
For one long moment Tom stared
blankly up into Dicks face, then he
emitted a rcc'onged howl, addressed
presumably To Bill who was walking
alongside the horses heads, encourage
ing and assisting them over the toll
some ground.
"Wha did tell yer, Bill. moo? Dost
heer wha' tn gent says? She wur
naught but pixie, weird imp thing
TIL likes as we've heerd tell on, heer
and heerabouts o. Chrissermas Eve! |
SEES as much at fust, but Bob ses, ses
| he"
"Git out" quoth Bill with infinite de-
rision. albeit he momentarialy relin-
pushed his hold on the bride, and
dropped alongside the cart, resting his
hand on the shaft, and gazing up wide
eyed and open-mouthed into the faces
of its occupants. III so be she wur no
morteal crttur, 'ow COON il then as we
found the conveyance an tn gents all
as we heerd say? Letten alone as
"INt | don't UNDERESTIMATE interrupt
t, ed Nck impatiently. I'VE saw no
hum,. Abeng and yet you say"
/. "A Tttle lass COON runnin' longside
| o cart an SEES she, al gaspin like: A
/ gents opset doom Burnham-road, not
quatter-mile fra tn crossroads, An
you'se to goa at once, an rethcue EN-,
an well paid for tn job ye'll be an all,
| fur he's rect doom rich 'un o. tn rect
: sort an no mistake, or words { same
effect, added Tom, with praise
| worthy desire to be perfectly veracious.
Thin she wur off like shot, an SEES
& Bill, or now / think on t, SEES Bill t
me: 'Wul! we've no choice but to in
vcstigate this matter;' so we turns tn
'osses' 'eads t'woards tn crossroads,
stead O. t'other DIRECTION; but, afther
awhile, ses to Bill, What an it sho'ld
prove ma but a myth? Tn lass wur but
puir weird crittur!
I'm astounded!n exclaimed Dick:
"fOr I'm inclined to swear that we
passed no human being, on the road.
and that no human eye lighted upon us!
| Pm not Of superstltlous turn else,
egadl it's enough TO set one wondering,
and to rouse ones half-forgotten child
ish tendencies towards belief in Christ
mas fairies, sprites and elves. Cabbyl
| say, cabby, are you sufficiently all
there to listen to what these fellows
say, and add your testimony to mine?
+ It's quite impossible, isn't it? that
l."
But prolonged snore from cabby at
the bottom of the cart, snug and warm
beneath the bear-skins and divers
horse-cloths, eitectually demonstrated
the futility of applying for corroborat-
i've evidence in that quarter mean
while, encouraged by Dicks eXclama-
nation, Bill took up the parable in his
turn, and continues;
"IIil she wur a white-faced creetur
an all, uncanny like, an that small.
An she lifted off same way as she
COON; we seed nothing on her appear.
ance or disappearance, so + speak. An
my wife's mother do tell tale as 'ow
years ago, fore DOR time, tn common
'ad used Z be 'aunted by ghosts an
sperrits an'sich like, mostlings o New
Year an Midsummer Ewes SO it's
| Gain enuff that "A night like this