The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-05-20

Avn OHc' 'aicHtilic' t'olnctullR very
strange must have occurred since this
morning. Are you going to suffer this
way without an effort to spare yourselfr
81 must-I must bear il alone"
"What! have secret grief that I can
not sharef" His voice was full Of sad re-
proach,
Valentine looked at him utter despair
was in every feature, in her voice and
gestures.
40 not upbraid me. thought was
strong enough to see you once more; it
was so hard to part without a word Of ex-
plantations or farewell"
40 part, valentinei"
ayes; do not ask the cause. We must
part You must forget me, Henri"
The marquis looked at Valentine with
a searching, puzzled expression in his
face. Conld it be possible that some sud
den shock had affected the girls reasoni
Something in her steady eyes and in the
strong, firm mouth contradicted this ex-
PLANTATION Of her words.
Valentine read his thoughts.
81 am perfectly sane, perfectly con.
scious of the meaning Of my words, and
quite sure of the necessity for speaking
as do" she said, in still calmer tones
"You ask me to forget you, Valentine"
he Said, speaking as calmly as he could,
and controlling his emotions. Gould you
forget me if ! told you it was necessary
to do sof'
mo, Henri. l could not. never will
forget you-never!"
"Then why do you require an mpossi.
bility from mel"
because ii is for your happiness. My
misfortunes must not affect you. You will
in time love another; you will be happy,
as you deserve. Later, when you can
think Of me calmly, try and do it kindly.
IL you could know how miserable am.
the horror and the suspense that sur
round me, you would not look so cold. 80
indignant. You would pity me, Henri
Only this morning was 30 happy, and
now-now know that I shall never be
happy againI"
valentine. will you not try for one mo.
ment to put yourself in my placei You
are generally cool, logical, and willing 10
listen to reason. l do not comprehend
this rapid alteration in you. have no
clew to this change in your sentiments in
your intentions Answer me this, have /
in any way caused you this sudden griefr'
"You! Oh, mol"
~ have not offended you, nor lost your
esteem, your lover
mo, you are wholly unconnected with
this trouble, and You must remain 80"
"rhis secret, then, is your fathers"
The vivid color that dyed Valentines
checks verified his surmise. Valentine
made no effort TO answer him. She sat
motionless, dreading his next words
HAS he bound you by any promise to
keep it to yourselff Is it by his advice
that you tell me we must partf
ooh, no, uol he does not know-he has
not told me what 10 do
"Then, Valentine, you have surprised
some secret Of his, and you voluntarily
accept the weight and the misery that
the knowledge of ii entails upon you.
This is not just! 1t is an outrage to thus
injure an innocent girl! will see your
father without delay"
"No no! you must not you shall not
20 TO him! That would ruin everything.
alone must deal with him. You forget
he is my father
sand for that reason you are TO be sac.
rfced. You forget, Valentine, that before
the count returned you became my prom.
ised wife; until release you from that
promise claim the right TO watch over
your welfare. Suppose that you were my
wife now, would you not let me share this
grief, and help you to keep this secretf
In that case you could not leave me, and
II would be my duty TO assist your father
in every way that son can prove his de-
voion and fidelity. Let me do II now,
Valentine. swear to you to keep your
secret, and TO do my utmost TO aid him.
He has been long an exile, a wanderer,
poor, perhaps has had terrible tempta-
tions to resist. care not what this thing
is; con6de II TO me and will help you to
bear the sorrow, shame, disgrace, infamy,
or whatever II may be. Valentine, act as
my betrothed wife, prove your trust in
my love, in my honor"
"You do not know what you are asking
me to do. You cannot imagine such In
fanny, such fearful sin. Oh, II the chan.
oinesse were here!"
"Why the chanonesse, Valentine, and
not the man who has sworn to protect and
defend your"
"Oh, do not know. Something seems
10 tell me that she could help me- This
secret may drive me mad. do not know
how to live through the long night with
II pressing on my brain. Henri, do mad
people tell their secrets"
She caught his arm, staring at him with
dismay in every feature.
ITO h Consinued,l