The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-12-23

Il can't tell yOu," said Mr.. Perkins
81 never heard. | only heard my mis-.
tress call him Pierre--that was what
made me think he was some sort of re-
lation And don't mind telling you
a queer start, Mr.. John, because know
it will go no further. A young lady
called at our place one day to inquire
after this Mr., Pierre about something
that he had lost, and she had found,
she said. My mistress had said to me,
more than once, Mind, Perkins. if any
ore should inquire after that gent,
don't you. on any account, let out that
he comes here And when she sent
for me upstairs to ask if any one
had been to the house the evening be-
fore, she gave ME look, and held up
her finger, SO | stuck to it as no one had
been, in course"
''Of course, Mr. Perkins, quite right"
agreed John. "Ha, ha! | can't help
thinking how clever you are in taking
notice, to be sure. And where is this
Mr.. Pierre now, l wonder? A little
drop more, Mr.. Perkins,"
No, thank you-no more" Perkins
replied, at the same time edging his
glass nearer the jug.
Just a little.n John urged. "This
good old whisky is an innocent as milk,
you know"
We'll, just the least drop" said Mr.,
Perkins.
II wonder where he is" John repeat
ed. II could just fancy should know
him if l met him."
You're not likely to meet him; he's
in France" said Mr.. Perkins. II know
that much.n
I'm France, is he?" Intercepted
John. "Ah. dare say he's native of
France, by the name. l know good
many Pierres in one part OF France;
perhaps il may be the same place. Does
he ever write to your mistressy"
"Oh, yes" replied Perkins; that's
when he wants money, take 1t. My
mistress is always savage when she gets
one of them there letters"
II tell yon what wish you would do
for me, Perkins. Fill your pipe-that's
a good fellow" said John. The next
letter that comes wish you would no.
tice the foreign post-mark, and make a
note of it. AS | said, know a good
many Pierres in one part Of France,
and | should like to see if it's the same
Just out of curiosity, you know"
"Do it? I'd do far more than that
for such good friend as YOU" cried
Perkins, becoming affectionate, and
holding out his hand, which John
claSped in hearty shake.
Your masters gone to town to-day,
hasn't hep Mr.. Perkins resumed, TAX
ing few whiffs at his pipe, and sip
of his punch. Where does he go?
What makes him want to 60 to town 80
often? Mistress is bit Of jealous, l
take it,
"Jealous," John exclaimed, with an
expression of establishment. What a
queer fancy he laughed. why, don't
you know my masters member of the
Philologists' Anthropological Society?
He goes up to town to attend the meet
ings.'
"Lor, you don't say So" cried Mr..
Perkins. "Who'd have thought it
now? | never saw much of him. He
never came much to Westbourne Grove;
but | shouldn't have took him for that
sort
All, you see it's different now he has
come to his rights explained John.
Hell have to go into Parliament. don't
you seey And those that go into Par
lament have to be learned out and
out. y
''Of course" Mr.. Perkins assented.
well, | must be toddling Ny mis-
tress wasn't very well to-day
Indeed. | am sorry to hear it, said
John. What was the matterr'
Why, she seemed faint and all-over-
ish," Perkins returned. Mr.. Faucourt
seed her before he went to town this
morning, and he went and got her
bottle of stuff from the chemists but
it hasn't done her no good yet
I'm sorry she isn't we'll" John re-
peated. IF my masters off again to-
morrow, I'll come along to the cottage
and inquire"
"Do SO, old feller," returned Mr..
Perkins, not very intelligibly, as he
drained his glass.
When he rose to his feet, and found
it not very easy to keep on them, and,
after John had handed him his hat, he
had considerable difficulty in fixing it
on his head. John took him under his
protection, and walked him off, not
leaving him till he saw him safely in
bed in his own room over the cottage
stable.
John looked up at the windows of the
house as he passed out through the
gate. A light was burning in the room
he knew to be Mrs. Lemont's.
Poor woman" John calculated,
softly, as he fastened the gate; and then
he walked quickly back to the inn, and
was ready at his post when Fancourt
returned.