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

me. | thought only that my pleasure
in Mabel's society sprang from simil-
arity OF tastes and pursuits, and the
charm of her conversation; but gradu.
ally | woke to the overwhelming fact
that loved her with the one great love
of my life, that seemed to me now to
dare from the days of long ago. to have
been always with me, and to stretch out
into the future to make 1t transcendent-
edly glorious, or long despair.
And yet as soon as had learned my
secret, my former bashfulness came back
upon me with tenfold intensity, and
found myself often embarrassed in her
presence, while at the thought of tell.
ing her my hearts story, though my
brain was smitten through with dazzling
delight at the dream OF successful WOO
ing vet was so overwhelmed that
utterance would, as | was sure, be an
impossbility.
And MabelP Her eyes were very
kind to me. They turned to me with
softened luster that thrilled me with
hope; and yet, if attempted even a
compliment, blushed, foundered, and
was lost
One evening We were talking Of all
manner of subjects, grave and gay, and
so strayed to marriage in general, and
especially to the matrimonial lot OF
some OF our old friends,
You remember Boyd, don't you,
Hip" asked Tom.
Tall, bashful fellow, like meP" ]
added.
Yes" replied Tom, laughing. He
married Miss Cutting, our former school
teacher. | always thought she propos.
ed to him.
Sensible girIr' exclaimed. a
think it is positively woman's
duty sometimes to help a man out,
You remember the book of the
late Dr.. Horace Bushnell, published
some years ago, called A Reform
against Nature?' In it he denounced
the whole woman's rights movement,
but maintained that every woman ought
to have the right to propose marriage
to the man she liked. think he was
scientifically correct"
| spoke with great eagerness, looking
always at Tom; but at the last words
my glance turned to Mabel, her eyes
were fixed on mine, and the look met
there sent the blood to my heart with
such swift, tumultuous rush, that ]
grew faint with confusion, and present
ly rushed out of the room and to bed
though not to sleep.
The next day | went out in the after
noon by myself for scramble through
a damp and very rough gorge, where
Tom and Mabel did not care to accom-
pany me. was half glad to be alone,
Tor was nervous over my audacity OF
the night before; yet at thought OF Ma
bells kindly ewes, so overwhelmed with
binding happiness, that | had to look
many times at bit of rock before |
could see the STRIFE that denoted genera
action.
1t was late sunset when | reached the
inn. The last rosy light was flushing
the distant mountain peaks with that
marvellous beauty which is one Of the
wondrouS charms Of Swiss scenery. !
made my way without pause TO MaOel's
parlor, led there BY force that seem
ed to draw me by power beyond nv
control, Tho room wa, cutie dusk an
she was aioua. AsI entered she cam,
toward me with i quantity OF letters
aud papers in her hands.
These came while Won were away,
she said.
Mechanically took the papers
Among them was a large package on
whcn | dimly discerned the word
Due followed by an illegible stamp.
"You have paid something on this, y
said; how much was it9' and looked
up.
Postage not stated replied Mabel
Promptly, smilingly, she uttered the
words. Then her dark eyes softened
and iaItered The papers and letters
were scattered over the floor | had
caught her in my arms with all the au-
dacity that had been once before mine
in nv ooyish days.
Only now, as | pressed passionate
kisses on her brow and lips. found
voice at last to utter the yearning that
was consuming my heart. -Dlo Le,Ots
M0athy