The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-11-25
CHAPTER XVI.

Siah lLu a. Il
Weeks passed, and August followed
sultry July and sunny June. Heat and
dust made the atmosphere oppressive,
and a binding sun baked the pave
ments and glared upon the houses. The
London season was over, and all who
had the means began to hurry away to
the seaside, to the Rhine. to Switzer-
land - whithersoever their fancy led
them, or their convenience allowed
them to go.
The death of Douglass old aunt-the
relative from whom he had eXpecta-
tions happened toward the end OF
July; and Douglas, contrary to the gen.
erat run Of human affairs, found his
hopes more than realized. The old lady
had been a misanthrope and miser-
no one had known anything as to the
state of her finances. Dim rumors
were afloat that she was rich, but these
again seemed cOntradicted by the penu-
ry in which she lived. She died unla-
mented, and as she left no will, Charles
Douglas, her only near relative, found
himself in possession of fortune ex-
ceeding ten thousand pounds. He at
tended the funeral, as in duty bound,
but was absent only two days, and then
he came hack radiant. 1t would have
been sheer hypocrisy on his part to
pretend to any feelings OF regret for a
kinswoman he scarcely knew, and one
who had never made herself respected.
A pleasant intimacy had sprung up
between the Dalton family and the two
young artists. Finding that both the
Misses Dalton had practiced sketching
from nature before they came to reside
in London, the young men tempted
Mrs. Dalton to accompany them with
her daughters in various country eXCuT-
sions, under pretense of giving Lena
and Bertha instructions in sketching,
these excursions being always planned
for such afternoons as Bertha CHANGED
to be at liberty. Rowing on the river
above Richmond, wandering amongst
the glades of Windsor Forest, or the
pleasant country scenes about Ethan,
Chigwell. and other places at an easy
railway distance from London. free in
terchange of thought and feeling natu-
rally followed; and thus it came about
that Douglass fancy for Bertha ripen-
ed into warm attachment, and that
her sweet, unspoiled, truthful character
lGNCdttu llSCll hlOlC dllo AolO loIy w
both her self constituted instructors.
st. Lawrence still considered Lena
Dalton the most beautiful woman he
had ever seen, but her faults were just
those that were to him most unlovable.
Perhaps the rural background In which
he SO often saw her was not suited to
her, perhaps the struggle going on in
her own mind made her increasingly
petulant and disobliging; whatever it
was, st. Lawrence did not find himself
drawn toward her. Her smiles failed
to cause any acceleration of pulse, nor
did her cOldness, when that seized her,
throw him into dependency. For
Bertha, on the contrary, he felt the
most sincere regard. "BrOtherly affec-
ton" was the name he gave his feel
ings for her-f0r what else could he
allow himself to entertain without turn
ing traitor to his friend?
Fancourt was also frequent visitor
at Ivy Cottage; nor could the object Of
his visits be now miStaken-indeed he
made no secret Of his intentions,
though he had not as yet declared him
self. 1t so happened that he had never
met st. Lawrence and Douglas. His
visits were always made in the day
time, his evenings being otherwise and
too frequently less reputably employed,
while st. Lawrence, at any rate, worked
hard at his easel during the morning
hours and consequently had only the
late afternoons and evenings at his
command. Douglas openly confessed
that it was Bertha who attracted him
to Ivy Cottage, and Bertha was never
at home excepting in the evening.
Lord Alphington and st. Lawrence
received occasional communications
from Mr., Riggs. the former through his
solicitor, Mr.. Thompson, but nothing
had yet been heard of the opal ring. st.
Lawrence's was different quest, and.
as regarded it, the detective still kept
urging him to remain quiet and be 81
lent.
II believe we shall be able to unravel
your affair, but the greatest caution
must be used, or we may fail" wrote
this functionary in the last missive st
Lawrence received from him. st. Law
renee felt he could do nothing but wait
and trust, though there were certain
circumstances that made this waiting
very terrible to him, and at times
caused him to fear that he would bt
Obliged for conscience sake to break
through the trammels Mr.. Riggs i'm
posed upon him, even at the risk o.
running his own prospects.
| Douglass accession to wealth greatly
changed Mrs. Dalton's views. She hai
always made up her mind that Lena
was to make her fortune" by mar
riage; and then. with some help from
her, Mrs. Dalton told herself. she would
be able to get on comfortably with he
little income. But, in that case, VIVA
was to be done with Bertha? OF course
| IL Lena married man Of rank 81