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

as love can speed him. What about
that accident thought That may give
me time. ! fancy there is truth in that.
Well, | won't trust too much to the de-
lay that promises, | can afford to be
more tender with my wilful little gypsy
now that she is mine"
Where is my letter, Flora? Oh,
where is my letter, had it in my hand
when faintedY Find it for me, please,
am anxious to destroy it at once"
IL can't get it for you. Mr.. Vennl-
more took it out of your hand. Ask
him for it, not me- answered the wom-
an sullcnly, for she knew her lover
would be bitterly angry with her for
allowing her charge to receive a letter
Her half imbecile old father called
herawaynoW, and as she passed through
the stting-room, Rex said:
Can 90 in now, | want to speak to
my wlte?'
"Yes. sir, You can; but entreat you
to deal kindly with her, for she is too III
to bear any more trouble"
Jessie lifted her heavy eyes sCornfully
to her cousin S face as he entered, and
took the vacant chair beside the bed
Ills a manly thing to do, Rex, to
force Your way into a sick woman
room. when YOU know what a dread l
have of your unwelcOme visits, You
have read my letter, ! suppose, and
have come to gloat over my suffering,
my shame. my bitter humiliation, and
cruel disappointment. The worst you
can DO is easily borne now, for | have
suffered the cruellest stab fortune could
anlict me with, and ! still live to endure
the torture you can intilct.
"Cheerup, littlewoman. lm,not quite
the wretch you imagine me- | love you
too well, poor darling, to eNuIt oyeryou
now. Try to think a little better OF me,
dear; indeed | deserve it. Remember
'aIls fair in love and war and many a
man has perilled his soul to win a
weak woman. Get well, Jess; show
your pride is above sucCumblng to the
pain this man has brought you. He
ought to have known you too well to
have allowed anything to lessen his
love and trust in YOU. Forget HIM and
make me happy; we will be married III
Edinburgh directly YOU can bear the
Journey. Ny mother will meet You
there and see that the marriage is ortho-
doX, Only cheer up and try to get well.
Your illness has been "A bitter reproach
TO me- | long To carry you off to sun
uier lands. and see the change bring
back your Old bonuy looks. would be
good to you. dear and make YOU happy,
if you would let me: indeed could, for
! love you, and love is strong to con-
quer'
Rex. ifyou have a spark Of love for
me leave me. | am Wretched, resent
full, and despairjng. If il please God to
restore me to health, ! shall be able to
face my position and understand things
better Just now am worn out in
mind and body. You have brought this
misery upon me, the least you can do is
to let matters mend themselves, II they
are not beyond mending. For me, |
have only one desire. and that is to hide
my poor head from the world, if ! am
not allowed the blessed relief Of dying.
Go, please; | promise one thing, that
is. YOU shall take me to your m0theE
she is al have, the only friend in all
the world now. and Sc has failed me
like all the rest when | had most need
of her
Rex lifted the little hand to his lips
and left her, feeling anything but VIC
tOrlOuS.
Before the week had gone the cousins
We're ON their way TO Edinburgh. JeS-
sic was but a shadow Of her bright,
bonuy self. Rex. with dissatisfied,
worried look in his bold, handsome eyes,
for sure as he pretended to be, the de-
lay bothered him: the game was not
PLAYED ont yet, and who could tell what
turn tickle fortune might take to defeat
him? So far he had been successful,
but looking into JesSie'S changed face
he felt his success had been bought at a
cruel cost, and hard and relentless as he
was, he could not stitle feeling Of
keen self-reproach. for he spoke truly
when he said he loved his cousin.
lie did love her to the best OF his
black hearts ability, loved her and
sinned against all that should appeal TO
a noble nature; Sinned against her
heIplcSsueSs, her innocence, her happi-
ness. and still dared TO say he loved her.
No words of reproach escaped JeS-
sizes lips when she met her aunt s
frightened eyes; she knew how the son
had traded upon the timld, weak ma
turc OF his mother, and while she de-
svsed She pited her.
one morning Jessie was reused out
of the deceitiul calm that had fallen up
on her by Rex, who said, with forced
brayadO:
Jessie, | have made all arrangements
for our marriage, which must take
place next week. DO not make any
fresh obstacles, please, dear; for, IN
deed, marriage with me will be your
best policy
Mrs. Nennmore dropped her book
and looked myiously up into Jessie
blanched face. she had risen and faced
her cousin with two words upon hel
lips, spoken with hopeless bitterness:
$50 soon
My dear girl, it is better so. A pref
ty little scandal is afOat about our IN
nocent escdpdde, and to silence it | pro-
pose that We are publicly married as
soon q, pOssIble,o
with rush the color flew back t.
JESSIE lace, the light TO her eyes, a.
she answered with head erect, swiftly
painting breast, and vivid lips iron
which The breath came quickly:
You have indeed cornered me. Fo
the sake Of the good old name, you
| know must consent TO your terms
/ there is no reason now that | shoul'
not, since the y man | love can de
spi,c me- I .r and understand III
cledill-lI this marriage takes place,
VIII be marriage of outward form on
~, there can he no dear tie of love be
tween rs. | shall be your wife in nam
/ Irly .pI glrn ,l,i,, g,..-. a., anil