The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-12-08
THE ARTISTS IDEAL.

A small party Of six persons-three
ladies and three gentlemen-were as
sembled in the library Of Colonel Roger
Ashford's pleasant home, The Cedars.
From those open windows you could
view the distant hills beyond, whilst
the balmy summer air floated in upon
each passing breeze.
But at that moment these beautiful
surroundings appeared to give little
pleasure to the occupants OF the library,
their thoughts were seemingly concen-
trated within doors.
One of the gentlemen-you would
have guessed him to be lawyer-was
seated at table where writing materials
were constantly placed.
Another, fine looking man of prob
ably thirty, was examining with critical
eve the well-stocked shelves, occasion
ally taking down some volume for a
casual inspection, while the third, and
owner of that mansion, walked restless
ly up and down the room.
Two of the ladies were seated to-
gether, conversing in low tones, and in
their words we may sketch the story of
the past. s
Poor Eyelyn!'' exclaimed the young
er one, glancing towards the object OF
her compassion, who sat apart, profess
eddy engaged in cutting open the leaves
of some new book. Poor Evelyn!
young, rich, beautiful, yet undervalued,
it seems, by this laggard lover"
wOh, Mrs. Hastings" returned the
ele &trady, ''surely, those are hard
words TO saw
Don't look shocked, dear madame,
for am constrained to say them. IT'S
like scene in a play, or chapter in
some German romance, where the
tapers are lighted, the guests assem-
bled, the minister at the altar, but the
bridegroom comes not!'
Something must have occurred to
detain Keith"
"Detain, forsooth IT'S now three
hours past noon, the time appointed
for signing of papers and other formali-
ties upon this, dear Evelyn's eighteenth
birthday. He ought to have been here
with the sunrise and the opening flow
ers. But | don't believe Keith st. Clair
ever cared for her; and yet, in all her
sweet young life, she has given no
thought to another.
They never met since childhood,
Mrs. Hastings-a circumstance | now
regret, for in this, their early home, she
had been constantly reminded of him,
while he, educated away from us, sell
dom heard her name. They have so
different natures. Evelyn is devoted
and Interchangeable, perhaps too greatly
for her own happiness, while Keith
land though loving the dear boy as my
own son, see his FAULTS is inclined to
be the reverse. My husband and be.
lieved that in promoting this union we
were acting for their welfare; but tbs
an evil, rather than good when we
fallible and short-sighted mortals take
upon ourselves the part of the Desti.
MES"
ooh, dear Mrs. Ashford, do moi
blame yourselves! Look at their por.
traits! What noble pair seem these
two children Of your adoption, as il
born for each other! Then, your own
having died in their infancy, Evelyn,
Colonel Ashford's orphan niece, was
the nearest by natural ties"
At that moment Mrs. Hastings OBJ.
served her husband glance toward
them, and summoned him by little
sign.
"Will it interrupt your studies,n she
enquired, ''if | ask you to take my
place by Mrs. Ashford, whilst / joir
Evelyn, who appears so lonely in hel
chosen nook.
81 have not been reading, dear, but
merely deluding myself that was pass
ing the time that seems to hang sc
heavily upon all our hands-but hush
i hear horses hoofs in the court
yardr'
Colonel Ashford paused in his meas
ured pace to and fro.
''At last" murmured his wife.
But Evelyn, though she spoke not 6
word, trembled in Mrs. Hasting' friend
ly arms.
"A messenger from Mr.. St. Clair, '
was announced as the door opened.
Then the courier, booted and spur
RED and travel-stained from his Ions
ride, entered and handed his missive t
the colonel.
"Keith is not coming" said he
glancing over his adopted sons letter
she writes from some out-of.the-wa,
spot among the Adirondacks. Pra
read 1t aloud, Mr.. Palmer"
MY DEAR FRIEND:-After much refec
ton have decided TO resign all claim B
the hand Of Miss Evelyn Ashford, and ais
, to your. generous proposal to divide you
, estate between US at some future time
May 1t long be the enjoyment OF yoursel
] and my kind second m0thert Miss Ashfor