The daily Cairo bulletin., 1883-01-07
A WICKED PLOT.

You must be mistaken. Rachel is too
modest and prudent to allow such free
dom to any man."
And Mrs, Appleby glanced defiance
and disbelief at the busybody Of
neighbor who had disturbed her seren-
ity on that calm, still July evening
with piece of intelligence most un-
welcome to the thrifty and somewhat
worldly-minded old lady.
Which appellation, however, Mrs.
Appleby would not have accepted as
properly describing her, though in
years she numbered considerably over
fifty, and was the owner Of freehold
farm in the richest part of Yorkshire,
Sturdy, independent, perhaps little
narrow minded in her thoughts, and
obstinate Of dspostion--fo she had
ruled over her little domain with al
most despotic sway for nearly twenty
years, which length Of time ago she
was left q widow with only one child
Mrs Appleby felt something like
shock Of horror, in spite of her avowed
incredulity, when a prying neighbor
broke in upon her tranquil content
with the news that that child, her
daughter Rachel, whom she had so
long regarded as a mere girl, had been
seen that very evening returning
through Halcombe Woods from a Sun
day.school picnic which she, as one Of
the teachers, attended escorted only by
one companion, Reuben HAYES, the
schoolmaster at Horton Magma; aud,
what was worse than all, that, at GER
tain secluded portion Of the road, where
probably the young pair imagined
themselves perfectly safe from obserya-
ton, thcy were leaning closer together
than the exigcncies Of The path abso-
lu;aiy required and Ms Appleby's in
foTmant further deposcd with some
thing OF malice in her tone, that sho
distinctly saw tweed coat-Slecyc
round the waist OF the modest gaia
dress which Rachel Appleby had don
ned that morning for the picnic.
Il was this last assertion which Mrs
Applcby SO yehemently declared I'M
true: but when her visitor, with many
malicious condolences for the nature Of
her intelligence, had departed. the old
lady lost her confident look, aud would
have then and there taken her daughter
to task, and elected the truth from her
but that Rachel ~ gone to rest, hav-
ing returned from the DAYS merry
making half-an.h0ur before 50 tired out
that her mother had not the heart 10
rouse her when she went into the girls
room and saw her sleeping peacefully
Tomorrow will be time enough, J"
muttercd Mrs. Appleby to herself, as
she turned away and softly closed the
door, and left Rachel To her slumbers.
81 hope it isn't true, after all. Reuben
Hayes! Why, the mans income is only
seventy pounds Il year. Not enough to
keep himself, let alone wife and
children"
And ,heu she too, retired to rest.
Next morning, Rachel Appleby, feel
my happy and content with life, went
singing down stairs and into the room
where all their meals were taken.
Mrs. Applcby did not speak as her
daughter entered, and Rachel, made
wise by experience, saw by the eX-
preston of her face that storm was
coming,
Mrs Appleby waited until the break.
fast was on the table before she uttered
word Then, as she took her seat
behind the coilec-pot, she asked
sharply
Rachel. do YOU know you were seer
walking through Halcombe Woods
yesterday, with Reuben Hayes, and his
arm round your wastP
II didn't know, mother" answered
the girl, who had spirit and determine
ton enough to hold her own, even
against her mother; you might have
seen me, though, if you had looked.
was there
"And YOU are not ashamed toconfes:
it, RachclP"
"Not at all ashamed to confess it, !"
said Rachel.
IF you suppose that III ever give
my consent to your marrying a village
schoomaster you're mistaken" sale
Mrs Applcby; "and the sooner you senc
him packing the better I'll be pleased. ,
Rachers face flushed.
Reuben is gentleman" she said
Though he has had his own way t
make. / honor him for his struggles t
earn an honorable living"
ut appears to me you stand up 70
him pretty earnest" said the widow
with grim smile. "But | don't think
you are quite so foolish as to throw
Silas venncr and good home like hi
over"
Farmer Venncr!" calculated Ra
chel, in tone of contempt II let hin
know my mind long ago"
"But you could get him back cas-.
enough" said Mrs. Appleby. "He''
need only word to make him com
flying over here. He's sensible ant
shrewd, and you might go further an'
fare worse"
Perhaps" said Rachel.
"And it strikes me-" said the widow
"that n man who goes about filing hi
pockets with stones and dirt, and lie
for hours on the ground starn' at II
must have a soft spot in his hea'
somewhere"
"Rcuben is intensely Interested il
ores and minerals" said Rachel II
he finds amusement In examining rock
md nick inr IN stoups xyhv shnuld AZ