The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-03-21
KITTY BLAKE.

behind white tie and encasing my slim
person in those stereotyped sable gar
ments which cry "Open sesame" at the
portals of society.
NY friends, the wilkins, were indulg-
inc in grand ball, and | could not po-
litely refuse to 90. Vainly | pleaded
necessity for reading up case with
which the eminent firm of Tozer u Bull
some had intrusted me. Vainly | de-
clared to Wilkin, upon the honor of
man and brother, that / was "out of that
sort of thing that had read that par
ticular chapter in the Book of Life clean
through nd 700 USGue dd mdla, and that
] was good for the mahogany; he did
MT, or rather wouldn't, see it, and with
a sense of bitter injury at my heart and
an unmistakable sense of frost on the
tip of my nose, pulled myself together,
dressed hurriedly, and arrived at Har-
lev street in a humor the very reverse of
amiable, and with the full determine
ton of merely showing myself to Mrs
Wilkin, imbibing glass or perhaps two
of sherry, and getting back to resume
the perusal of novel.
Lh0mn1e proposes. The crush had not
been as yet well turned on, so my ascent
to the drawing-rooms was no very diff
cult task.
Upon the lobby Mrs. Wilkin was
standing, behind huge bouquet, and
Wilkin was proving in the immediate
vicinity, with the air of man who has
succeeded in losing half sovereign and
was engaged in looking for it as though
he wanted it very badly.
"Ah, Mr.. Brookley! I'm so glad that
you have come. Freddy told me that
YOU were doubtful all clever men are,
but YOU know | always believe in you
and | look TO your aid to make this af
fair 90 off well. "
/ groaned in spirit This meant stop
ping till all the candles were snuffed
out-untl thc tallow-faced green gro
GERS were paid of-until the milkman
arrived at the area ratings, and until |
should be jbed by disappointed cabbies
as ''the cove as was a-playin' the plan
ner."
"By-the-way, Brookley, there's lit
tie Irish girl stopping here, Miss
Blake. Come and III introduce you as
a friend o. mine observed Wilkin,
dragging me, bon gre, nal gre, toward
mass Of tulle illusion, surmounted by
bunch of white flowers
Now any Irish girl whom Ihad hither.
TO been fortunate enough to meet, had
somehow or another, been always too
much for me,
| held back much after the fashion OF
a dog being led to corporal punish
ment through the medium of collar
and a string-bowed a grim, ungainly
bow, and proceeded TO fiddle with the
buttons Of pair Of soied, bulgy gloves
and to glare in every direction save that
supposed.to be occupied by Mrs. VIII
kin's Hibernian guest.
AT this juncture an attenuated, wax
en-looking half-fed artist hungin chains
and clad in garments shining with grease
and threadbare from age proceeded to
pound away upon the piano, aided and
abetted by pudgy man, who appear
ed to be blowing his whole person into
battered cornucopia, and another con
spirator, who discharged his duties to
society and to Wilkinby dolefully scrap
ing upon violoncello.
This is our quadrille," exclaimed
sweet voice at my elbow, with just
touch Of the brogue pervading it like a
perfume; and soft little hand placedit-
self confdingly upon my arm.
| had not asked her TO dance.-she had
evidently taken it for granted. Would ]
tbat + nnuor lannnIO that nod
sprained my foot9 or invent some patent
and plausible excuse? No! 1t would not
be fair to mine hostess, SO ] sullenly re-
signed myself TO my fate.
This is my first visit in London"
chirped Miss Blake.
"Oh, indeed!'
al live in the wilds Of Connemara.
81 wish you were there just now, twas
my inner thought.
"lt's the widest place on the face Of
the earth, and the loveliest--but won't
| you try TO secure viS-d-UiS?'
| compound with pink-faced youth,
who was in the talons Of tall lean,
yulturelike woman, TO face me in the
forthcoming melancholy ceremony and
to assist in carrying out its sad solemn
titles in all their funeral details.
"llave you ever visited Ireland, Mr..
BrooklcyP' asked Miss Blake, at the
conclusion Of the first figure.
81 should think not. Ireland is a
wrctched mistake"
The moment the words escaped from
my lips | could have parted with good
deal OF ready money TO have been ena-
bled TO draw them back again. They
were childish, rude, ungentleman-like,
and turned TO her to apologize,
The hot flush was upon her cheek, tn,
little hands were clenched until tn,
gloves threatened to "burst up, and he
flashing eyes met mine as she holly re
tortcd,--
3 You must be an English boor to say
$ The pas SeaL commenced, and, to us,
> n stage phrase, Miss Blake event on.
> What charming hgurcl What an ele
CANT turn OF the head What grace il
every movement had committed
thricc-accursed mistake and felt It,
She went through the entire figur
alone She would not deign to take
/, TO touch my outstretched hand. ha
no words nj will 10 cudpel into n prone