The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-10-18

it proved to be turning-point in their
lives.
On Christmas evening George Bar
rows asked Lucy If she could love him
well enough TO become his wife.
Said he, holding her hand and gazing
frankly, lovingly, and trustfully into
her faces
II cannot say when it shall be, My
dear mother is with me, and must be to
me holy charge while she lives. And
| trust she may live many, many years.
| think you would love her. | know
she would love you. My sister, alas! |
fear shall not keep much longer,
She is failing, and the doctors cannot
help her.
Lucy dear girl! l love you-loye
you, oh, more than can tell; and my
heart has been all your own since first
| knew you. | am doing well in my
business now. As soon as | can get
enough ahead to purchase my partners
interest, and take in his share or inter-
est in the planing-mill at the Falls, ]
shall feel safe to marry. 1t may be
some time yet-perhaps a year; but,
dear Lucy, if you will tell me that you
love me, even q little, and will love me
more by-and-by-'
us that the way you began to love?'
the girl asked, with an arch look, but
with tears in her eyes, nevertheless,
"Oh, no! When my heart had gone
out to you it was your own for ever
more.
And then, with trankntss and
strength Of love he had not expected,
the generous, true-hearted girl reached
up and drew down his face and kissed
him, and then rested her head upon his
bosom, whispering, in HAPPY, joyous
strains:
Il have loved you George from the
first and | will be your wife whenever
you are ready to take me. ~
Thus far they had spoken very calm
ly and sensbly; but during the next
haf-hour their conversation was of in
terest to nobody but themselves; and,
in all probability, it would have sound
ed sensible to nobody else.
By-and-by Lucy asked him about the
planing-mill of which he had spoken.
He explained to her that it was
large establishment, with one of the
best water-powers in the county. There
was saw-mill running six saws,
clapboard and single NIL, a large
planing-mill, where all sorts of work
was done, usually turned )tf by water
power machinery for carpenters use;
also a carding-mill,a grist and Touring
mill.
1T would be a very nice piece of
property to own, wouldn'; it?' the girl
said with the air of one who appreciat-
ed the value of the property,
"Oh, calculated George with an in
tense longing in his look, there are
Two or three independent fortunes in
he whole thing! Thatis-moderate for
.unes. But the planing-mil is sepa-
rate piece of property, and my partGer,
Mr., Towne. owns a third of it; and even
hat is valuable. 1t is a great help to
Us.
"Well, | wish you could own It,
ieorge and | wish | could help you to
purchase it. But, dear love, wnen you
hall have obtained it, | will try to help
.ou take care OF it; as will help take
ARE of your home. George, let us not
vait too long, | can be Drawer than you
hink Let us not throw away these
lappy years Of our youth.
He pressed her to his bosom, and told
her he would think the matter overt
was all new to him he would confer
with his mother, he could not move
against her wishes, and he would de-
eide very soon.
But Lucy herself did the confcrrinL
with the widow. She called upon her
became a daily visitor, and Mrs. Bar.
rows fell in love with her, as her son
had done So the consent of the moth
er was theirs at any moment.
At midnight, as the old year was dy-
ing, with the last moments of the last
day OF December, the bell of the village
church awoke the air with its wild
alaruml And very shortly thereafter,
the lulid light that hung above the set
Element told Of a conhagration.
On the morning of New Year 5 Day
George called TO speak to Lucy Spear
and his eyes were red with weeping,
The large shop belonging to Mr.. Towne
and himself and containing all their
tools, had been burned flat to the
ground.
alas! and alas! Lucy, it is sad
blow. But can struggle up. ! am
young, and strong, and well, and my
courage is good; but, all, we must wait
dear love, for our home"
Have YOU lost much, George, by
this iire?n
Everything that owned in my bus
mess, darling; but my mothers home,
thank heaven, is clear, That | have
never mortgaged'
The girl gazed into her lovers face
for a little time in silence, and evident
~ a struggle was going on within. At
length She took both his hands, and a
wondrous light shone in her azure eyes
and upon her lovely face. 1t was like
the full eilulgence of the MONDAY sun
breaking through the departing mists,
George der love! true heart! / will
keep you in Ignorance no longer |
knew that you could not live in idleness
so have caused to be bought all the
property at the Falls Of Ayr. All the
mills, the stores, the shops, and the
twenty odd cottages, are your own
made over to you legally, and the deeds