The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-11-15

colleges, the salary of which, with my
own income added, making me so fsr at
ease that | resolved to devote my sum-
mer vacation to tour in Europe,
Equipped with bag and hammer,
August found me making a pedestrian
tour to Switzerland, with a special view
to the study Of its glacial system aud
lthology. | avoided the well-traveled
ways, thus escaping the society of all
other tourists. and was therefore utter
Iy amazed when one evening, as | drew
near the little house which was my tenn.
porary abiding place, tall form strobe
toward me out Of the darkness and =
hearty voice cried OUT
jim, Jim Hill!n
What is t?" replied with half
nervous start.
"Ah, | thought it was my old friend
Have YOU forgotten Tom Byrne!'
OF course not for l had met him occa'
sionally since we were boys, and / was
heartily glad to see my former comrade,
always one Of the best Of companions
Il saw YOUR name on the book at the
inn, he explained" and was sure it must
be you. At any rate | thought would
start out TO meet YOU,
But how came YOU here?' inquired
''in this out Of the way corner of the
world
Because it is out of the way, Ma
bel and | are making trip in search
OF the picturesque. You know she is
quite an artiSt?'
So Mabel was with him. My heart
gave curious thump, and for mo-
ment could hardly make sensible
reply.
Yes he went on; "she is so devoted
to her art that it seems 10 quite Absorb
her life. She has not thought OF mar
riage, and does not care in the least fol
the ordinary run OF society She vii
be glad to see you, though" be added
consolingly, las you are a man OF
science.
We walked back together to the little
inn, and presently | was shaking hand:
with beautiful and stately woman
whose bright, dark eyes flashed with
the strange intensity and fire that hao
never seen in any other eyes but those
OF Mabel Byrne,
She greeted me very cordially, anc
after We three had taken an evening
meal together there followed delight
ful evening in the little parlor that Tom
and his sister had secured.
For once in nv life | felt myself
quite at ease in lady's society. In the
first place there was Tom to keep me il
countenance by predominance of my
own sex in the company, then Mabe
did not expect me to talk OF airy moth
ings, that light foam Of the social whirl
pool which | never yet had been able
to skim. She spoke first OF my scientific
pursuits; she showed so much knowl-
edge of the subject that really found
myself talking with earnestness and en-
thusiasm Of the formation OF. the coun
try, and especially Of the glacial system
and the curious marks of its actor
borne by the specimens | had collected.
She, in turn, contributed to the even
ing's interest by telling me Of her work
and showing me ner sketches, which
were really OF very high order O.
artistic merit. There was no school
girl weakness in her handling of the
brush, but force and poetic though
that had won her already honorable
recogn ton in the world of art.
nd bn, ban ~ ha1
paintings until now?" asked Tom.
"No,n | confessed. you know
have been quite absorbed in my specia
studies"
Yes, and you have not seen Mabe
for ever so long, have youp"
mo" replied, mot since that sum
mer ten years ago, when | was at my
grandmother
Jolly times we had, too said Tom
rehectively. Remember that party a
Mrs Edward So"
A sudden rush of blood to my fac,
utterly confused me. stammered
reply, and Tom, to my relief, went OF
with some rambling "reminiscences. Il
was some seconds before dared to look
at Mabel Surely she was blushng
too.
The next morning we all went on ,
trip up the slopes of the mountain
Mabel in a short, gray suit. alpine hat
and stout boots; Tom carrying he
drawing materials. Thus we made this
and many another, delightful expedi
ton.
Life took on new colors for me. Their
was a radiance and glory about it tina
| had never dreamed of before. Ever
day | found fresh reason for admirin
my beautiful companion, and our walk
through the deep valleys and up tn
rough mountain sides were to me lik
enchanted journeys through a realm c
fairies. In this loveliest country in tn
world with this most glorious woma
by my side, l was, indeed, as one tran.
figured by the light of the grand pal
sion that took possession of my soul.