The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-03-18
ing full in the dukes face.

"on the contrary, they must grow
worse. you reduce man TO the con.
dition OF wild beast, he is very likely 10
lose every redeeming trait Of humanity,
and the possession Of mental powers will
enable him to exceed the animals In
wickedness. These men lose their identi-
ty. They are given numbers instead of
their own names. They are allowed no
intercourse with the outer world; their
nearest relatives lose all traces of them
Oh, 1t is an outrageous way TO treat hui
man beings, no matter Of what crimes
they may have been proved capablel II
Is blot on our prison system"
sand suppose some Of these men were
not guilty" said Adrienne.
"Donot suppose such case it is too fear
ful to contemplate, If the punishment is
an outrage even on the guiltiest wretch
among them, do not care to imagine
what 1t might he TO an innocent man."
The duke seemed annoyed by Adri-
rienne's chance remark, and calling to
the girls to follow him, he turned toward
the house.
Adrlenne seemed fascinated to the spot.
VI want to see their faces, Valentine. l
must see what they resemble after such
brutal treatment, Oh, Valentine, Just
think, If even one Of these men should he
suffering unjustlyw
"Adrienne, you let your imagination
make you miserable. Why give way to
these ideasi Suppose one Of them to he
innocent; what can we do for him--we
two helpless girlsT
"But we. Valentine; we are 80 happy,
and they, by the contrast, appear all the
more miserable
"You dear little enthusiast You would
make good philanthrophist to teach us
our duty TO our fellow creatures. really
believe they are stopping TO rest, out
there on the dusty road, with the hot sun
pouring down upon them"
The girls watched the unfortunate men
as they halted in the road. Travel.
stained and weary, their dusty little red
caps were no protection from the heat,
while the heavy balls which they drag
ged after them made each walk lame
Their powerful forms, magnifcently de-
veloped by the nature Of their duties,
seemed to mock at their downcast des-
pairing features, aged and rigid with toll
and hopeless grief Adrienne gazed in 81
lence, then, catching Valentines hand,
che FASTENED back to the house. The
duke was busy with his letters, which the
chanoinesse had offered to take to Paris.
Father, those poor men are resting out
in the sun; may they come in under the
treesi Say yea"
The duke and the chanoinesse looked
up in Amusement. There stood Adri-
enne and Valentine in their satin draper
les and soft laces, their eyes dilatng
with eager sympathy, their hands clasped
in soft entreaty.
"My dear child, they are convicts-
criminals OF the worst kind
"But they cannot harm us" pleaded
Adrienne, her soft eyes filing with tears
Sand they are men, and can feel the
heat this intense day as much as we do
said the duchess, as usual coming to hell
the weaker side.
swell, call 0Rourke; he was standing
idle there a minute since. Tell him tc
speak to the guard first, before opening
the gates
"And, Valentine, take my purse, child
Money is always acceptable. suppose
"My purse is somewhere there among
the worsteds, Adrienne. Make an equa
division" said the duchess. "Adrienn.
generally has favorite,' she remarked
as the girls opened the purses.
II think deserve some reward" sale
the duke,
you must take it in kisses said Adri
enne, slipping the purse into her side
pocket and throwing her arms aruunC
her fathers neck. mo one will evel
spoil me as you do" she whispered be
tween'her kisses.
what, not even Raoul, my darlingl"
'Oh, dear, no. Raoul is not half as gooc
as you are. my own dear father"
"Adrienne is right" said the chanoi
nesse "There is no love like fathers
The saddest deprivation child can hav'
ia that Of fathers love. Valentine
knows what mean"
"No, no. You have not let me feel its
loss. You have been all TO me that l
could ask or desire. Even now dread
your going away"
what! my sensible Valentine growing
imaginative and timid! That will never
do. Why, you will not have time to miss
me. Henri will be here every day. and
what with listening to him when here
and dreaming Of him when absent, your
thoughts will be entirely occupied. OF
course, you will go to the duchess for adj
vice. IL anything troubles you; but really
! know Of nothing to happen, except a
few lovers quarrels and the usual tender
explanations and blissful reconciliations"
"Come, Valentine, the chanoinesse thinks
you are as foolish as l am. See, those
poor men are coming toward the gate
and 0'Rourke is opening it.
Adrienne WAS of, followed by Valentine
H.. a