The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-08-22
HER PAINFUL DUTY,

CplNtu WAS ludl vi u ldll' HluCclul ny
IRE vanishing through the dusky gloom,
while his goodnight words fingered
pleasantly with her.
Remember, Bertha, if you are not
at the picnic tomorrow | shall not care
fg for the whole affair Don't forget
that you have promised me that you
will be there"
Il am not in love with him." Bertha
said TO herself, as, returning to the par
Tor. she sat down in the tender dusk,
letting the curls droop over one slender
hand that supported her head as she
unused and dreamed. "Of course am
not in love with him. she thought,
feeling the warm blood flush to her very
temples at the word II have only
known him month. | wonder if he
really cares so much whether or not l
90 to the picnic?'
She was a fair little Girl with bright,
blonde hair and heavenly blue eyes, and
Mr. Frank Gerome, the handsome young
engineer who had come to Westvale to
attend to putting in the machinery in
the great block Of mills recently erect
ed, thought her the loyeliest creature he
had ever seen in his life, and particu-
larlv this evening, as he went home
ward to the picturesque old farmhouse
where be was temporarily living, and
whose majordomo was Mrs, Cornelia
Crawford.
Cornelia Crawford and Bertha Dem
crest were both women, but there all
analogy ceased. Bertha was seventeen
-Cornelia was forty; Bertha was fresh,
fair and a maiden ornelia, faded and
widow
"A delightful evening, Mr.. Gerome,"
Mrs. Crawford gaiIy said as he came up
the steps.
Yes, be assented
And then Mrs Crawford edged her.
self a little to one side,
Won YOU sit down and enjoy the
moonlight little while?" she asked
persuasively.
Thanks" he said a am in a hur-
ry,"
And rather dissatisfied with the in
different success OF her attempt at So
ciability. Mrs. Crawford turned to an
other Of her boarders, who was sitting
inside the window.
u suppose he prefers cigar in his
own room to the society of ladies, she
remarked.
But maybe he is in hurry to 90
and see Bertha Demorest They say he
is making up to her.
Bertha Demorestrn echoed Mrs.
Crawford scornfully "Why, she is a
mere child, with yellow hair and great
big blue eyes, Nobody could see any
thing in her to admire. "
We'll. YOU know there is no account
ing for taste What say is only what
heard, and | have heard that they are
engaged, or next door TO it. y
u don't believe word OF it, Mrs.
Crawford said energetically.
That Is q ytu please
But whether or not Mrs. Crawford be-
lieyed the rumor, the tidings annoyed
her; and wheu Mr.. Gerome had gone
out later she wen, upstairs, ostensibly
in her character Of clearinghouse
keeper, 70 see that Mr. Gerome was
well supplied with towels and fresh wa
ter, but really to prospect about a lit
tie.
She never looked for the good for.
tune that beiell her She had though
it just possible that Mr.. Gerome Nigh
have written or received love-letter
and possibly laid the torn fragment
conveniently in his waste basket.
But it was not scraps it was an opel
letter--yes, actually an open letter Of
the table, the envelope addressed to Nj
Frank Gerome, and the sheet beginning
MY dear Frank dearest hu,
bandW
As if every muscle in her body wa
suddenly changed TO iron, Mrs. Crav
ford became straight and rigid in an il
slant.
"Oh, my she gasped Don't lie
me judge my fellow-creatures too rash
~ Let me look at the signature. Oh
dear, Oh, my gracious if it actual
isn't Your own loving wife, julie Oh
how faint it makes mel To think
lllllh llC - u IltlIltN MANI
"How thankful am never encoul
aged his sinful attentions, Well, Be
tina Demorest will have her own bolC
ness to thank for this. ! always kne
that girl would come TO harm, with h,
mouth always on broad laugh, f
nothing in the world but to show h,
teeth, just because they happen to |
white aud regular teeth like
not.
yes it's my duty to warn that ri
my painful duty; but Corncla era,
ford never yet shrank from duty"
All, il poor little Bertha Demorest
skin had been less like a rose-petal. h
eyes less lovely blue, Mrs. Crawio
certainly would not have taken su
feryent pleasure in performing b
painful duty.
Bertha was all dressed for the pict
the next morning, and looking as d
tractingly pretty as only blonde c
look in pure white muslin, when NJ
Crawford was shown into the room,
"Ah, you look very nice, Bertha;
remember that all flesh is grass
Yes, ] know it. Did you wish
see me- Mrs. Crawford"
yes Going to the picnicP"
Yes Bertha returned wondering
"a suppose Mr., Gerome is TO
there?n
81 believe So,