The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-03-04
put under the hammer,

p'icNu was growing supcfstliiOus;
for ! fancied a ghostly pageant was
crossing and recrossing the old mirror
which hung beneath the lady.
"Tlank you ! am looking for
cedar cabinet, which wasamong the ar
ticles ] sent TO Clutchem a. Keep, and
am told it was sent here for sale. wish
10 redeem it at any price
She stopped suddenly as my face
changed. A cedar cabinet! remem-
bercd ii at once. The hurt on my hand
recalled it, also that II had been labeled
for the days sale. She grew frightened
at my hesitation.
'Do not say it is gonc!' she cried
rising quickly and grasping my arm.
"Oh, God would not so allict mel Look
everywhere for it, beg you, pray
youN'
Her hand shook so on my arm that /
could feel The quivering of her fingers
! tried to think TO whom had sold
cabinet that day; then II flashed over me
that there had not been one in the cata-
logue. Had made mistake and sent
II West9 II so, ii could be recovered |
felt glad for my error, but the poor lit
tie woman mistoOk my silence and broke
down completely, and then knew that
some great cause lay beneath her desire
to reclaim the cabinet
at is more TO me than life or death!
II means my children'a honor, Listen,
and YOU will he influenced by my great
need 10 find this cabinet for me. | be-
lieve II contains the certificate of nv
marriage and my childrcn's baptism,
without which cannot claim my hus-
band estate in France. II is not the
money want, but my children must
not be- deprived Of the right 10 their
father nameN
She paused 10 look ut me. felt as if
severe tension on hcrncrvc, had given
way at last, aud quite crushed by the
fear Of her treasures being lost, her re-
serve had broken down and she appeal
ed TO me in her need.
"Flflecn wears ago my husband de-
serted me He was led away by evil
influences, and while for my chidren's
sake would have pardoned him, /
never saw him again, or heard one
word of him until | learned through the
papers that lac was dead and had left an
estate 10 his wife and children. could
not grieye, except that he had died I'M
forgiven by me- have toiled for years
TO maintain my children. So for their
sakes apuicd 10 the LAWYER TO obtain
possession OF the estate. Oh, the shame
Of finding another claimant in Frace to
my children 5 name and honor,
"The careful French lawyer said |
must prove our claim as wife and child
rem by the production Of the marriage
and baptismal certificates And | did
not know where they wcrc The min
istcr was dead and the witnesses had
dishonored my children, and for days
could get no relief from my anxiety UNI
I'll by flash as if from heaven remem-
bered that had placed the certificates
and other papers in the old cabinet |
had parted with to Clutchem & Keep. !
went 10 them; they had sent il here for
sale, and now you
She broke down with a moan of des-
pair. 1t was more than | could stand
That cry and the pitiful story forced me
into action at once.
You shall have back that cabinet,
madam, ! said solemnly, as if devoting
my life TO its search.
"Oh, sir, you will do a noble deed if
you find il for mel she cried gratefully,
looking AT me with beaming eyes.
Her face looked to me as if a halo
came over it, and dimly felt why had
stood bareheaded before her. Truly
had stood in deaths prcsence-the
death of hope and love in this poor
woman's life-thc requiem Of gladness
and impulse
She left me with hopeful smile, tax
ing my hand with pretty grace, and /
watched her go down the shadowy room
into the sunlight Of the street, but the
shadows seemed to fall from her,
| photographed to the Western firm.
They had the cabinet and rectrned il at
once; so that before many days the
nervous little fingers were searching in
the presence Of the lawyer and myself
for the precious papers.
She found them! / shall never forget
her face AS she held them up, The halo
was there as she said Soitly,--
Thank Godm
1t seems to cling to me yet, and to
make me think how much misery our
evil passions can work for the innocent.