The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-06-27
HEART TO HEART.

Drawing the soft fur Of her wrap
closer about her, Alice Howard pauses
on the doorstep while she watts kiss
from the tips of her gloved fingers to the
old gentleman who is standing watching
her with such pleased proud express
sion.
Goodbye, papa dear. lido wish you
were going But don't worry about me.
Mrs. Grayson is the best Of chaperons,
and she will see that your little girl
comes back safely. Goodbye"
Another moment and the carriage
door has closed, and Alice is being whirl-
Cd to the festive scene Of which she will
be the bright particular star.
1t is not because she is rich that our
heroine is the favorite that she is, nor
yet because she is beautiful, although
the most Indifferent observer would pro-
nounce her that, with the queenly grace
Of her bearing, and her face with its
brilliant sapphire blue eyes, and her skin
as purely fair and downy as the velvety
petals Of white rosebud.
But it is something besides that at
tracts everyone to Alice Howard, for
goodness and amiability arc stamped up
On each exquisite feature, proclaiming
inmistakably the existance of a noble
character beneath that fair exterior.
She looks more than usually lovely to-
eight, and there is one whose dark eyes
light up with a peculiar glow as they
rest admiringly upon her. -. O..
1t istwo years since Douglas Rhodes
and Alice first met, and their friendship
'ince then has pursued an even, unevent-
tul course, until of late a change has
come. 49, ~
Alice sees thatu upon no other do Doug
ass handsome eyes rest with such a
gentle tenderness of expression, and
hat when he speaks the softest, richest
ones of his voice are for her alone.
Why it is so is riddle not hard to read.
That Douglas loves her she feels and
,opes, for she knows that within her
,wn heart the tendrils OF her warm
ioung affection have long since twined
themselves about his image.
The hours glide rapidly and delight
ully byupon pleasure radiant pinions,
amid sweet sounds and sweeter scents.
"My darling! my queenm the young
nan thinks rapturously, this night
must not pass over my head without my
elling her how deeply, fervently love
ier. can wait no longer"
But Mrs Grayson proves to be the
ost rigid OF chaporons, and no oppor-
unity occurs long enough for Douglas
o utter the words that tremble upon his
ips.
Have you enjoyed YOURSELF" h,
asks, as he stands with his hand on tn,
carriage door
Alice draws a deep breath. ut ha
been lovely she exclaims.
MAY come tomorrow morning
see how you are feeling after your fati
guep' he asks.
''Do look fatgued nowP" she say.
raising her lustrous brilliant eyes laugh
ingly to his.
81 cannot truthfully say that you do,
he replies with an answering smil,
but all the same, with your permission
Twill call in the morning"
Inc next day The Howard mansion
the scene Of two momentous interview
One in the library with the master
house, and another in the tapestry-hun
drawing-room.
There is great bow-window at or
end of the apartment, and there, wi
no other listeners than the lilies, tn
lift their snowy heads from the jardi
ieres, and the maiden by his side
stately fair as they, Douglas tells /
story and receives his answer
A month slips away, and 1t is
changed Alice we see to-day, with &
o.rnation gone from cheeks and lips, al
great tears in the sapphire-blue eyes.
"Be brave, my own; ii will not be I
long"
"But, Douglas, cannot be brave!
has come so unexpectedly, and you q