The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-01-21
A PHANTOM BRIDE.
By the Author Of THE les CAD
NIvAL."


grammeY"
"Ha! that wur afoor, yeer see!"
"Afoor what?"
"Afoor Id knowed you-afoor yer'd
been good { mel"
But what difference did that makeY'
enquired Dick, considerably mystl-
fed.
"Weel, yer said as 'ow 700 was com
in t Burnham, an so-an' So" She
hesitated, looking up shyly into the
young mans face.
"Ye-esn he assented vaguely; land
So
80 l thought as I'd jist COON along
an all. It'd ma mind to loosen sight
on yer:n and as this confession passed
her childish lips. Greta hung her head
with a coy and shamefaced air which
might have done credit to a Belgraylan
belle.
"Greta, you can't mean that" eX-
claimed Dick, infinitely touched; was
it really, therefore, you set out for
Bumham? And how on earth did you
arrive there?f
yer tellt T. other gents" began
Greta eagerly, treasured by DICK
kindly tone. las 'ow yer'd a mind t
drive across t common, an Margot an
me, we know'd tn Burnham road wull.
So II start'd off at once, afore vera
good four hours; an | know'd deal a.
short cuts, as tn cabbieS an theer oss.
es can't 90, so I'd gotten over tn COM
mon. an on { tn crossroads, long afoor
700 coom'd along, an setten'd me
down t rest
But how did you get anything to
eatgN questioned Dick, aghast.. II
wonder YOU did not perish of cold.'
I'D q sight o. siller tn gents guy me;
changd some as | COON along. Not
tn thrippenny-bit,n she added eagerly.
"Igotten i'm safe enow."
We'll, and then you rested at the
crossroads after that?'
"Afther that, seein that as yer WIZ
over long i coomin', whin tn storm
COON on, was frighted like, an shell
tered bit; an thin--an thin
"Ye-es," prompted Dick, and then
Thin | setten'd off t meetin tn cab
by, an fOound yer oyer-toorn'd!n
The chid's eyes grew wide and round
at the mere recollection Of that night 8
disaster, as she spoke.
"Well.n--Dick' s voice was almost I'M
patient now with keen anxiety to ar
rive at the truth, which he scarce knew
now TO conCeal--"why did you not
speak to me? What did you do?"
"Sp'ak { yer, that yer might ha'
handed me over { tn peeler? Ma, not
Greta, I'll promise yer. | iist setten d
~ ii II lrno,r IlYft1 bu m ypallt
meanin' t send soomone t helpen yer,
but | Glanced t neeten tn carrier $
cart, so jist send EN- on an, all; an
follered, too" she added, noddlng her
small head sagely, ST see as 'ow they
coom'd.n
And later, Greta, what made you
peer in between the vicarage shutters;
and why did you make off when | ran
out at the door, $500.
L" Again the child hung her
head shyly, a faint color even SEEM
ing to steal momentarily into her wan
cheek. I'D jist mind t see as, yer
wur coomfur'ble, an so | spied throo
winder. But I'd no fancy t be cotch'd
an 'anded over T. tn bobby, an so |
cut an run"
And where did you sleep Christmas
Eye?"
Behind tn cart ouse at tn Pig and
Whistle. 1t wur SHELTERED like-fne an
WARM
And in the morning Christmas
Day.
II jist skulk'd ABBOTT bit, round by
tn parsons 'ouse, an" Again a
momcntary hesitation; then Greta con-
tinued boldly, though now with averted
face; II f0ller'd yer over heer, I'd ma
mind I leave yer, yer'd been that good
t. me. An then | herd tell O. tn
skatin' o tn lake, an jist cript in
amang tt bushes { watch tn fun. An
whin 700 cut up tn creek, | cript long
side mong tn trees-Id leifer watch
| WOO than tn rest o. folks--an' whin yer
smashn'd thr0O, ! cut ahead, seem tn
| light i the cottage winder, an tell't
'um as yer'd chanc'd { getten in. An
that's all,n concluded Greta abruptly,
| glancing up askance into Dicks
| face
And so you were the means a second
time little Greta, ot--sayiDg a rather
worthless life said the young man
slowly, soiiloquising surely rather than
addressing the child, still on her knees
before him.
AYE, what ave | been an DOOM
she asked deprecatingly, sudden feaI
dawning in her eyes as she gazed w
open-mouthed, Yer wur very good t
me afoor'
you've returned loaf for crumb
child, Dick answered, vaguely follow
ing out aloud the tenor of his owl
thoughts, Verify it Seemeth, even il
these degenerate days, Cast thy breat
upon the waters and it shall find thee
vastly improved in quality, too--'be
fore many days.
"Yer-yer no anger'd wi me, ehp'
questioned Greta timidly, breaking tn
pause which had ensued, and stretch
ing small hand forth until it reSte'
beseechingly on the young mans knee
"Say yer no fash'd wi me"
Angry with you for having save
my life, Gretay Nay, hardly answere
Dick as he laid his own warm hand ur
on the girls, and clasped that sma
half.fro2en member tightly. "Why
but for you, little one. it is more tina
probable should be sleeping now som
feet deep beneath coverlet Of fro2c
snow, not far from the Durham eros
roads, in which case you------llolloa'
and with this last ejaculation Die
started hastily to his feet, for the doc
: was suddenly thrown open, and frol
, the lighted hall beyond, Sir Jasper