The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-08-09
MY SISTERS GUITAR.
By EDYTH KIRKwOoD.
Elvira loves to be in the fashion.


fully, to Ricardo and me, although |
am sure we don't mean to do so in the
least. "l'm the only one of us, she
continues, 'who is just like other peo-
Pile. | observe what is going on in
the world, and adapt myself to the
mode.
And so she was talking one day after
dinner, when we had finished all our
little duties, and were free to follow our
devices for the rest of the day. Our
apartment--bu when | say apartment,
pray don't imagine that want to make
YOU think we live on a French fiat, or
anything of that descriptions only
one modest second-story floor in a large
house, where all the rooms not needed
by the owner herself are let to dodgers;
and the house is always full Our land
lady is no gossip, and we are just quiet
home-folk ourselves Zone of our oddities,
perhaps, and so we know very little of
the other dodgers, Our parlor, bed
rooms and little impromptu kitchen are
down here where am writing; but our
brothers bedroom and studio is way up
at the top of the house, should say in
the attic, but for Elvira's sake will sub
stitute the word ''mansard, which GER
tainly sounds better. And occasionally
Ricardo gives Us little news, such as,
The front-room man sent down his
trunks this morning." or The Ger
man violinist next to me played most
ravishingly yesterday afternoon, " or
some such scrap as that; perhaps if we
had taken more interest in the people
on his top floor he might have told us
more but for long time we felt indif-
ferent about them.
But Ihave wandered flights away from
what | was saying.
Elvira talked so much about fashion
that, after listening patiently for reas-
enable time, answered:
What especial idea do you wish to
adopt now, that you harp so on this one
theme?'
Your expression is most happy,
Marcia she returned urbanely beam
ing on me; ''for it concerns music. In
short, banjos and string things. | am
going to buy one.
"One what, ElyraP Not a banjo sure
lv?"
They are the most fashionable, she
hesitated, land | enjoy the extreme
height of what is in vogue; but fear
could never become proficient, and |
shall buy a guitar; a secondhand one,
OF course.
And so, DOMINIC her hat and drawing
on her long gloves she went out 10 make
her purchase, returning in an hour elate
with success,
Ricardo entered moment after, car
rying a small parcel. Well 'Vira,'
he cried merrily, where's the guitar?
Don't you know that it is the fashion for
people to carry such objects now? Why
didn't YOU bring it home?'
'ltwanted stringing, and one Of the
frets was broken
Ricardo gravely placed his parcel in
her lap. There is something for your
dinner to-morrow-a little tribute,
small concession to style
Elyira took of the paperand disclosed
can OF string beans.
''String things are so fashionable
began Ricardo, meekly, "that | thought
He broke of suddenly and ran up
stairs. Elyira pursuing, and as heard
their scampering feet on the oiled stair
way, a very firm knock sounded at our
other door, and opened it to see a for
eign-looking man bearing an enormous
instrument in dark and heavy-looking
case. He raised his hat, muttered some
thing uninteliigibie, placed the case
carefully i1aide the door made another
obeisance, Said some more outlandish
words, and departed swiftly, leaving
me crcling around the weird object in
dazed wonder Could such ponder
Gus instrument be used by lady, and
was Elvira 50 infatuated by her desire
10 be a Ia mode as 20 buy the horrible
looking thing, And would she never
come downstairs felt half afraid TO
be left alone with il.
Half-an-hour passed and my impa-
tence could no longer bear it.. locked
the door, and mounted the stairs to my
brothers studio, As went up heard
strains Of the most enchanting music,
interrupted by loud talking and impa-
tent tones, and rs ! entered | saw Ric-
ardo standing before his easel looking
now at his work with an air of Satisfac-
ton, and now at Elyira, as she stood
with her ear against the wall Of the next
room The can Of string beans was roll.
ing over the floor
"Oh, sister, said Elvira in loud
whisper, as she saw me approach, "it is
delightful. think Ricardo might have
told US that there were musical meet
ings and rchearsaIs up here.
IL did begin once or twice. re,ortct
our brother "but you didn't take an,
interest But why don't they begin il
there, Wrap
al cant exactly make out, she re
piled; "some fuss about an nstrumen
that hasn't come, or n wrong ins,ru
ment left, or something like that The
are going to defer the rehearsal, an
somebody has gone to make inquiries.
A noise of door opening and closin
and descending footsteps followed thes
words, and then the door opened agai
aud voice cried down; Tell Raphael
that well sent back this tuneess oil
guitar when he sends us the cello; W
have enough kindling wood on han