The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-12-09

"NO." The lively, needless, indolent
young portrait-painter could never have
been the one she would have chosen for
her protector and companion through
life, affectiOnate, gOOd-tempered, and
generous as she acknowledged him to
be.
Her meditations led her back to the
summer months gone by. st. Lawrence
had surely cared for her then. Had not
her heart many times thrilled under
the speaking glance of his eyes, at the
tender tones of his voice. Why had he
changed? What had she done? What
had happened during the last few weeks
to dissipate the bright dream in which
almost uncOnsciously to herself, she
had been livingY If he had changed,
she could do nothing to bring him
back. If the brief sunlight had gone
out of her life, she could only submit,
and try to bear up bravely. She was
herself suffering what she had made
Douglas suffer. They would both get
over their sorrow in time. She had
often read and heard that time heals all
wounds, though it was hard to believe
1t just then.
Bertha was too courageous, too high
spirited to yield tamely to dependency.
After while she dried her tears and
bathed her face, and, going downstairs
again, set herself to some work that had
to be completed for her sister. After
fixing and arranging and cutting out
for some time, she recovered her out
ward composure; but, her head still
aching, she laid aside patterns and
scissors, and went into the garden, her
usual place Of resort in all troubles.
Ii was lovely afternoon; there had
been showers during the day, which had
refreshed and cooled the air. Soft
white clouds fitted across the blue of
the sky; the trees waved and rustled as
if they were things of life, and greeted
the breeze that swept through them
Bertha had before now whispered her
secret grief to the roses, and taken the
lilies into her confidence. They seemed
to smile and beckon to her, as if they
would have said, Come amongst Us
and be consOled."
Pinch, who had resumed his accus-
toned place, rose as his young mistress
came out, and put up his paws against
her, entreating notice.
Poor old Pinch.'' she said, STOPPING
and laying her cheek against the dog
shining black head. You liked him too.
But he doesn't care for us, Pinch-he
never comes now"
With sigh she could not suppress,
she turned into the sidewalk and along
by the fruit-trees; and here Mrs. Dali
ton and Lena found her when they
returned. They came along. Mr. Fan
court had an engagement, and had been
obliged to leave them, they said.
Lena began to tell Bertha the result
of their visit to the jewelers.. She had
chosen the opal; it was not quite so
fine a one as the original perhaps, but
it was the best to be had, and Mr. Fan
court had given orders to have the ring
made after her drawing. He had
insisted upon making her another
present before they left the shop,
and she had chosen set Of turquOises.
II think, after all. blue is my color"
she continued. MY bridesmaids shah
have white over pale blue silk, and for
get-me-nots. Don't you think that
would be pretty"
VERY pretty" Bertha replied, rather
absently, as they all went together in
to the house.
"And, oh, Bertha, there is one thing
] must tell YOU" said Mrs. Dalton,
throwing off her bonnet, as her custom
was, on reaching the drawing-room,
Lena taking it up and carrying 1t OH
with her own things. After we had
been to the jewelers., we drove through
the Park-there is not much to be seen
there now, of course, as every one IS
ont of town; but the day was 80 fine, |
thought | should like walk in Ken
singtOn Gardens. So we left the
brougham at the gate, and walked
down to the waters side. and there
whom should we see at distance but
Mr.. st. Lawrence. | pointed him out
to Mr.. Fancourt. There's that clever
young artist, Mr.. st. Lawrence, whom
you have heard us speak Of | said.-
You never saw such start as Mr.
Fancourt gave. He turned pale, and
pulled Lena, who was leaning on his
arm, another way, quite roughly. Just
at first thought he must have trodden
on stone and hurt himself. Then |
saw him turn his head and follow Mr..
st. Lawrence with his eyes to see
which way he was going. Mr.. st. Law
renee was walking slowly, and seemed
lost in thought. lie did not see us. l
said to Mr.. Fancourt, Do you know
himY And then he told me that he
recognized him as man he had met
some years ago, but that he was then
passing under a different name. he
said that had better not have anything
to do with him, and that he hoped he
was not in the habit of coming to our
house, as he should very much object to
meet him. | am sorry Mrs. Dalton
went on to say, II certainly liked Nh
st. Lawrence. But there must be
something very much against him, you
see. 1t will be impossible for US to re-
ceive him any longer if he turns out to
be 80 suspicious a character"
II don't believe one word of it, mann
ma" Bertha exclaimed, the hot blood
mounting to her cheeks. 1--WE have
never seen anything in Mr. st. Law
renee that should lead us to think 9th
erwise than well of him; and, after all,
what do we know of Mr.. FancourtW
my dear!" cried Mrs. Dalton in con-
sternation at Bertha's daring speech.
"Of course We know who he is; do
not mean that" said Bertha. "But he
has been acknowledged as Lord Alph-
ington's grandson only few months,
and how do we know what he was be-
fore? How do we know what his life
has been? 1t has always seemed to me
that he is not at all too fond of talking
about it,"
MY dear Bertha, am surprised at
| you" Mrs. Dalton replied, angrily, TAX
| ing ND a fan that Law beside her, and