The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-11-25

ANOW biiO PiODitiil was SOINtu. lJOusN
lass falling in love with Bertha was
something quite prOvidential, Mrs.
Dalton observed to Lena. Such match
for her elder daughter would not have
been entertained for moment; but, for
Bertha, moderate income with man
Of unexceptionable appearance and
manners, man who would be quite
presentable amongst his future arlsto-
cratic connections, was all that could
be reasonably looked for.
Thus Mrs. Dalton settled the pros
poets of her two daughters quite to her
satisfaction, and plumed herself upon
the happy turn of events, as il it had
been all her own doing. The only one
quite ignorant of Douglass intention
was Bertha herself. She had always
liked him, and, now that they had be-
come intimate, was thoroughly friendly
with him and at her ease--too much so,
Douglas sometimes feared. He would
fain have detected some change Of color
when they met, some shade of embar-
rassment or shyness in her manner.
He was far from deSpairing, however;
Bertha at any rate took pleasure in his
society, and Mrs. Dalton gave him en-
couragement by many little signs that
he understood, though not actually by
words. He persuaded himself she
would not have done this had there
been no hope for him, so he determined
to take heart OF grace and press his
suit.
Since Douglas had been in position
to come forward, st. Lawrence's visits
to Ivy Cottage had become much more
rare. He still made one in the sketch
ing parties, but on such occasions he
now attached himself to Mrs. Dalton
and Lena, leaving Douglas free to de-
vote himself to Bertha This change
was not unnoticed by Lena, who did
not doubt but that at last her charms
had touched his unimpressionable
heart; and her own throbbed only too
wildly as she whispered to herself that
the only love she could have returned
was his.
While st. Lawrence appeared indif-
ferent to Lena, and while her love for
him seemed, even to her, to be in vain,
q fierce conflict had been going on; she
sometimes thought she was capable Of
casting aside ambition, il only she
could hear him say he loved her. But,
now that he was again at her side, now
that, blinded by vanity, she believed
that she had to give only the slightest
token of favor to bring him to her
feet, she recGled from surrendering
the aim Of her life. The prospect Of
wealth and rank again allured her, and
she longed to be able to hold both Fan
court and st. Lawrence captive, so
that, while she mounted to the height
of her desires by the aid of one, she
could keep the other in her train, and
at least prevent the bestowal OF his at
fections elsewhere.
1t never entered St. Lawrence's head
that Lena Dalton cared for him; he
gave her no real reason to suppose that
he regarded her with any warmer feel
ing than that of friendship; he would
have been shocked and distressed could
he have looked into her heart. AS 1t
was, quite ignorant that he was lead
ing her into any misunderstanding. he
corrected her sketches and strolled by
her side, and waited upon her wishes,
though his thoughts were otherwise
occupied; and his frequent fits of alb
sence of mind would have revealed to
any one less self-occupied than Lena
that his heart was elsewhere.
Douglas had noticed that for many
weeks past st. Lawrence had appeared
depressed and unlike himself. and occa-
sionally irritable. He supposed that
suspense, the prolonged waiting for the
| bringing to light of the fraud Of which
| he had been the victim, was undermin-
ing his friends health and spirits. He
therefore devoted himself to cheer him,
and more than ever endeavored to in
duce him to seek change and recrea-
ton.
II don't seem to feel it as much as l
did," st. Lawrence said one day, when
Douglas was exhorting him to be pa
tient. IF it we're not for the sake OF
justice, could be well content to give
1t all up, and 60 abroad again, to Italy
or Palestine, or anywhere out of the
way. If all were set right tomorrow,
l don't know what good it would do
me.n
Then for what in the world are you
moping like a sick cat?" Douglas ex-
claimed. "You seem to be in Hamlet's
vein-'Man delights not me, nor woman
neither Why don't you fall in love?
By Jove, you'd have no time for the
sulks, if you were to set to work to try
to win the heart Of some sweet little
woman like my Bertha. Heigh-hO, |
wish she we're mine! l say, st. Law
renee, do you think that l have any
chance?"
For Heavens sake, Douglas, don't
be hammering on that theme for ever,
or you'll drive me distracted.' st. Law
renee answered, almost angrily, shad-
ing his face with his hand, as he sat by
the table. How should know? Why
don't you ask herr"
And get point blank No for my
palms. Douglas replied, rufiiing up his
hair. 1T is evident you don't under
stand the art of war, old fellow. Did
you ever hear Of fortress being taken
by the enemy's going up and saying,
Please let me have it?' Besides, where
would be the fun? Think what excite
ment, what world of new sensations
one would lose. Where would be the
marchings and counter-marchings, the
erecting of batteries, and directing Of
feld-guns, and all the interest of watch
ing for the first signs OF breach? |
verify believe that one OF the reasons
why wives occupy higher place in the
scale of society than they used to do is
because they are more difficult to win.
Formerly man could buy the woman
he wanted, or else run off with her; she
was only just like any other possession.
| Now-the deuce take it.-one has to GO
beating about the bush for months, and
then perhaps, after all, one may get the
| oank-ap1 bnra'c NJ balm pn, ~