The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-07-12
DISENOHANTED.

bllNNl anu VI loldi, VIC bbld-baut oilllhi
and the snowy napkins, the white ia
ble-cloth and the dainty little feast
spread thereon, the CHEEKY fire in the
CRATE, the crimson carpet, the flowing
drapery, pictures and flowers, ..,
And pretty little Mrs. Norton sitting
behind the urn, as fair and lovely a two
year matron as ever smiled over a table
at her lord and master.
He was iine-looking fellow too, that
husband of hers, and it was very evil
dent that there was no lack of warm af-
lection between them, for all the sub
ject of conversation was one of very
decided opinion, at least upon Mrs.
Norton's part. I'd wi
Just now, she sugared and creamed
Mr.. Norton's second cup of coffee, and
handed it toward him, with little in
dignant yemark.- ..r
but It's too bad, Frank, and | be-
lieve you think so as much as | do"
And she looked suspiciously as il
there were tears in her pretty eyes.
Indeed, think it is just AS bad as
it can be--bad enough for us, but a
thousand times worse for uncle Tom"
1T is ridiculous. The idea of him
falling in love at this time OF life; but
more than ridiculous in falling in love
with such a creature. as Aura Vane!
Frank laughed at Lottie's emphatic
remarks. ''"'.
I'VE mustn't forget that of course the
old gentleman has perfect right to do
as he pleaSes with his own dear. His
being sixty years old does not preclude
him from even marrying Miss Van0 if
he chooses to.
Lottie looked very earnest indeed, as
she answered. s.u.-
II know all that; but why can't uncle
Tom see her as she is, as everybody else
sees her? She's forty, if she's day.
"A very suitable age, you must ad-
NIT, for him, Lottie."
Frank Nortonl How can you, when
you know just as well as do that 1t is
only uncle Toms money she is after2
And to think he promised to leave it
all to baby if we'd name him after him,
and wanted the darling called Roland
so badly, instead of Tommy Oh,
Frank you never will know what a sac
rifce made, And I'll change baby's
name-yes, will--if uncle Tom mar
ries that horrid old thing, who never
had bean nor an offer before in her
life! How ever she contrived to entrap
him, Id like to know" COS
Two bright little red spots were fam
ing in her cheeks, and despite the pas
sionate bitterness of her protest, Mr..
Norton realized there was great deal
of righteous truth in it, and he was
looking grave and thoughtful, just as
the front door was opened, and in a
minute or two uncle Tom himself
came in. 1t."
II am sorry to have been 80 late for
dinner, my dear" he said, briskly, with
a smile toward Lottie; but | have
been driving in the park with Miss
:. yane, and really it was dusk before l
@knewit." ~ p I'D o
r Somehow Mrs. Norton glanced at her
husband as she turiied'the urn, just in
timeto catch the quick glance Of eau
4, tionary warning he sent her.
20 Are you personally acquainted with
Miss Nane, my DEAR" he said, present
ly, after dilating upon thebeauty Of the
= park in its late autumn dress.
~, .'Not at all intimately, uncle Tom
When was little girl she was a
"a gr0wn-up womau, and OF course never
had occasion TO associate with her.
Z AS child, never fancied her, how
ever f t
He laid his knife down in the act Of
slicing off a delicious piece of brown
meat H,a Vi
"You mean to insinuate that Aura is
as old as-aH that?"
Then Frank took up the cudgels in
his quiet, udimpassioned way.
81 don't think my wife would 'iIisin-
nate anything, uncle Tom. She simply
knows ii to be fact, as | do, and any
one else who cares to think at all about
ii, that Miss Vane is past forty years
old. But, then, of course, no one ever
troubles ones self about il" I
Past forty! Frank, | always thought
you had uncommon good sense, and
judgment, and perception, but--past
forty, But perhaps you don't happen
TO know how delicate and lovely her
complexion is--low soft and luxuriant
her hair is-how girlish and charming,
yet dignlied, is her manner"
He spoke as If in great triumph.
That goes for nothing, uncle Tom
Lottie said, more mildly than Frank
had expect Of her. Complexion and
hair can both be bought nowadays asl
II am perfectly aware Of that fact,
my dear, although must admit I had
not thought you capable OF such-slCh
We'll, the less said the better. per-
haps. But assure you have satisfied
myself that Aura is one Of those rarely
preserved women who az thirty--for' I
have it from her own lips that her last
birthday was her thirtieth. are more
charming and mature, and every way
suitable to discerning mans taste
than when young and girlish."
And he looked straghtly, defantly fr
Lottie's eyes.
"Oh, well, she retorted, stubbornly
you'll find out some day"
4 Yes he answered, 81 expect e
find out that the woman who viii homo,
me by being my wife is just what
have said she is in all respects Frank
don't you want tickets for the operi
tonight I've couple to spare, IL yol
want 70 take Lottie to hear Patti. Mis-
Vane and are going :" XIII
s... OF course, Frank accepted the tickets
and after dinner, when lottie went n
10 the nursery with him for their tisua
half-hour Of baby worship, she declare,
she would never call him by his odiou
name again. }I
"IIe shall be mammals darling Ro
land now" she said, holding him In he