The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-10-28

Mrs. Dalton sat in the pretty draw
ing-room of Ivy Cottage on Friday
evening, impatiently awaiting her
daughters return from their visit to
the LarChes. 1t had been a genial day,
redOlent of spring, and the garden was
full Of opening buds and blossoms.
Bertha's flOwer-baskets in the drawing
room looked as if they required their
owners attention. however, no one
having thought Of them during her alb
sence. Mrs. Dalton had been feeling
more and more dull; she found herself
helpless too without Bertha and had
settled il comfortably in her own mind
that another time, when Lena went on
visit, Bertha should remain at home
with her,
The shadows of the fruil-trees we're
lengthcning across the lawn. the clouds
drifting over the sky took tinge of
crimson, and rs yet there was no sign
Of the travellers. Mrs. Dalton looked
at her watch for the twentieth time,
and then she rang the bell,
Sarah, what time is il by the kitch-
en- clOck?' she asked. Il am sure my
watch is slow. Do You think any acct
dent can have happened?'
La. mum. no" replied Sarah. 1T
wants a quarter Of an hour Of the time
for the young ladies to come yet.'
Dear me, does itT' Mrs Dalton ques-
! toned. "You are sure Martha went in
| good time to meet them at the station:"
Shes been gone this half-hOur, um,"
| answered sarah
Very well. Keep the kettle boiling;
/ dare say they will like coffee when
they come in
Another short time of waiting, and
then the vocifeTOus delight of Pinch,
the hOuse-dog, announced the arrival
of the travellers at the door. With great
demonstrations of joy Mrs. Dalton ran
out to receive her daughters. She
scarcely allowed the girls time to put
off their travelling wraps before she as
sailed them with innumerable ques-
tions. How had they enjoyed them
selves? Whom had they seen? What
had they done; What was Sir Steph-
ems new place like: What sort of
neighbors had he? Had they met Lord
AlphingtOn? And so on.
Is this all you have to tell me?" she
inquired in a significant tone Of Lena,
when the girls had done their best to
answer htr heterogeneous.
Yes, mamma, all. Lena replied
with slight flush, as she sunk down
in low chair with her back to the
window.
Mrs. Dalton looked disappointed.
II think Lady Langley might have
thought Of asking some one whom it
would have been worth your while to
meet, she said III an injured tone.
"Oh, mamma, Lady Langley was
kindness itself" Bertha exclaimed.
1T was all very well for you, Bertha"
said Lena. sir Stephen and Lady
Langley always made IA pet of you-and
now Lord Alphington seems inclined
to do the same"
Lord Alphington. You made his
acquaintance them interrogated Mrs.
Dalton.
Bertha did, Lena replied. "He had
neither eyes nor ears for me-
"WhateVer notice he took of me was
owing TO the ring" Bertha explained.
HE only gave ME this because he sup
posed he was going to take the other
from me- AS she spoke, she held up
her finger to show her mother the pearl
ring.
1t is pretty enough said Mrs. Dal-
ton, but he might have given you
something of more value, think"
ION, mamma, | shouldn't at all have
| liked it, if he had offered me something
| of equivalent value; / thought it
| showed 50 much delicaCy ON his part to
give me this merely as a token" OBJ
served Bertha.
you see Bertha will never make her
fortune" said Lena, laughing a little
| scornfully. There is one piece of
news ! must tell you, mamma" she
continued, as Mrs. Dalton poured out
the coffee that had just been brought
in; "On the very day that we lunched at
Alphington Park, Lord Alphington re-
ceived a letter from his solicitor to say
that the young man who claimed to be
his grandsOn-Alr. Fancourts son, you
know--had brought forward his proofs,
and that they were all i'll order. He is
the undoubted heir. Sir Stephen and
Lady Langley have invited us all to
visit them i'll the autumn, so we shall be
sure to meet this Mr. Fancourt.n
Mrs. Dalton nodded her head with a
smile of satisfaction, though her coun-
tenance clouded over rs sine said
Il only hope he may have no entan-
clements; there's no saying whether he
may not be already a married man"
IL don't think it at all likely" Lena
returned. lie has been travelling about
for some years. and there was no men
ton made Of IA WIFE
| fTo h ;Ionfiru6d1