The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-07-01
A TRAGEDY;
Oh
THE STORY OF THE CHAIN PIER.
CHAPTER VIII.

From that time | felt that my SuS-
picion was truth. | knew that were
characters so complex that no human
being could understand them. Here
was beautiful surface, Heaven only
knew what lay underneath. There was
no outward brand of murder on the
white brow, or red stain on the soft,
white hand. But day by day the GER
tainty grew in my mind. Another
thing struck me very much. We were
sitting one day quite alone on the grass
near pretty little pool of water, called
button Pool, in some parts II was
very shallow, in some very deep. Lance
had gone somewhere on business, and
had left us TO entertain each other |
had often noticed that one of Mrs.
Flemings favorite ornaments was a
golden locket with one fine diamond in
the centre: she wore it suspended by
small chain from her neck. As she sat
talking to me she was playing with the
chain, when it suddenly became unfast-
ened and the locket fell from it. In less
than a second it was hidden in the long
grass; she looked for it in silence for
some minutes, then she said gently:
81 have dropped my locket, Mr.. Ford;
is it near you. cannot find ity'
us it one you prize very much?" l
asked. ....
81 should not like to lose it," she re-
piled, and her face paled as searching in
the long grass she saw nothing Of it.
found it in few minutes, but ii
was lying open, the fall had loosened
the spring. | could not help seeing the
contents as gave it to her-a round
ring of pale golden hair.
"a baby's CURL" / said, as returned
it to her.
Her whole face went blood-red in one
minute.
The only thing ! have belonging to
my little sister," she said. "She died
when was child"
you must prize it." l said; but |
could not keep the drynesS of suspicion
from my voice.
Mrs. Fleming" / asked, suddenly,
"are you, like Lance and myself, with
out reationsyn
Almost" she replied, briefly.
Strange that three people should be
almost alone in the world but for each
other!' said.
81 was left an orphan when | was
four years old" she said. only Heav-
en- knows how | have cried out upon
my parents for leaving me. | never
had one happy hour. Can you imagine
awhole childhood passed without one
happy hourYn
Hardly" said.
With white, nervous fingers she fast
ened the gold chain round her neck
again.
Not one happy hour she said. II
was left under the care Of my grand
mother, cold, proud, cruel woman,
who never said kind word to me, and
who grudged me every slice of bread
and butter | ate.'
She looked at me, still holding the
golden locket in her white fingers.
IF had been like other girls she
said, "if | had parents to love me,
brothers and sisters, friends or rela-
tives, should have been different. Be-
lieye me, Mr., Ford, there are white
slaves in England, whose slavery is
worse than that of an African child. |
was one of them. | think of my youth
with a sick shudder--I think of my
childhood with horror-and | almost
thank Heaven that the tyrant is dead
|
Now the real woman was breaking
through the mask; her face flushed, her
eyes shone.
VI often talk TO Lance about it," she
said, this terrible childhood of mine.
i was punished for the least offence.
never heard a word Of pity or affection.
/ never saw q look of anything but hate
on my grandmother face No one was
ever pitful TO me; fierce words, fierce
blows, complaints of the burden was
that was all my mothers mother evel
gave TO me- need not say that hated
her, and learned to loathe the life rai,
would have laid down. DO | tire you
"On the contrary, am deeply inter
ested," ! replied.
She went on
My grandmother was not poor, sh
was greedy, She had a good incom
which died with her, and she strongl
objected to spend II on me. She pai,
for my education on the condition tina
when. | could get my own living b
teaching | should repay her. TIanI
Heaven, did sol"
Then you were a governessY" | said
"Yes; began to get nv living nj AZ
teen, | was tall for my age, and quit
capable. she said; "but fifteen is YER
J young, Mr.. Ford, for a girl to be throw
ID on to the world.n ''''0"
q ful girl" said. wy '''''
i, 9, es, 80 much the worse for me.
r one seemed TO repent of the words d
soon as they were uttered.
Il mean, y she added, quickly, 18th,
;, my, grandmother hated me the more {,