The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-10-07
CHAPTER ".

Tie prospect Of visit to the Larches
most agreeably occupied Lena and
Bertha DaltOn's minds during the few
weeks that elapsed after the invitation
arrived. When the happy day came at
last. the day Of escape from London
and its tolls and cares. full Of spirits,
they took their seats in the railway
carriage. Lena dreaming Of conquest
and the possible attainment OF her de-
sireS, Bertha Of the delightful meeting
with kind old friends, and the welcome
change and release from mOnotonous
round of duties.
Mrs. Dalton was the widow of
naval officer. Captain Dalton had done
| good service in his time, and had been
! much respected. During the latter
! years of his life he had been disabled
! by wound received during the Crime
an War, 1t lad not at first appeared
serious, but it had gradually impaired
his strength, until, after some years of
struggle, he had been compelled to re-
| tire. On this he settled with his fami-
| " near Plymouth, where at length he
succumbed to his injuries, about three
| years prior to the visit to the Larches
of the Misses Dalton.
! lie had married when already arrived
at middle age. attracted by the pretty
| face and captivating manners of the
| girl he made his wife, to find out too
! late that but a small amount Of heart
| or intellect lay beneath the captivating
! exterior. Not that Mrs. Dalton was in
/ any way unamiable; she was merely
/ shallow, silly, and sclf-indulgent.
/ With these qualities, it was scarcely
to be expected that she would prove
! either sympathetic companion to her
! husband or a wise administrator of his
affairs Every farthing she could
| wiring from him went 10 meet what she
considered her necessary expenses, and
/ often debts were incurred which endan-
/ gered the peace Of the household. For
/ tuuately, however. Captain Dalton,
I though not self-seeking, was prudent.
/ He had his daughters future welfare
t. consider so, when he died. Mrs.
| Dalton found herself in possession Of
an income that ought to have satisfied
her requirements.
Captain Dalton. with other property,
had inherited a small, old-fashioncd
house in st. Johns Wood-a house for
which ii had not been easy to find a
tenant. Ivy Cottage being vacant at
die time Of her husbands death, MIS-.
Dalton determined TO take up her
abode there, perhaps for once in her
lifr doing wise thing.
Tie elder OF the two daughters, from
being a lovely child. petted and fondled
ly all about her, had grown up TO be a
beautiful woman That Mrs. Dalton
loved her elder daughter more than her
Younger she would have vehemently
denied. But she was proud OF Made
lima. She looked upon Lena as the one
who was to retrieve the fortunes Of the
family. Lena would DE sure to marry
well - said the dOting mother; and Lena
was consequently educated solely with
view to that end
The duty Of disposing Of herself in
the best market being early impressed
upon her mind, Lena easily acquired
the lesson. Self-indulgent, like her
mother, she had more talent and more
strength OF character, inheriting under
a calm and soft exterior somewhat OF
her fathers inneXiblity Of will. She
soon Oulgrcw her mothers weak con
troll, and regulated her life rs she chose,
without much consideration for others.
Bertha was her fathers favorite, He
had wished TO educate his daughters
himself, but, as lrna'S tastes Law in a
direction where he could not guide, he
was induced to place her at school. In
his little Bertha, however, he found
first an intelligent and docile pupil and
afterward, as his health became worse,
the most aiiectionate and interchangeable
of nurses.
Bertha felt her fathers death keenly
, 1t was her first great sorrow She had
never been much thought Of by hcl
mother and sister, excepting as one
necessary to their comfort, one whom
they could not do without-and Bertha
had never been in the habit of thinking
much Of herself--but she felt very des
olate when they FIST moved to st
johns Wood, without the dear protec
tor and companion who had made The
, happiness of her childhood.
Ito b Coattnuodl