The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-01-02
RUNNING THE TOLL.

1 ~
and sweet as wild rose, looking up
from her Kensington stitch.
Grandma overheard her and answer
cd with smile that made her piercing
black eyes sparkle like diamonds.
Il don't think you will ever run tho
toll, Peace and Plenty" she said. That
was tho name she had given Lily when
she was a baby.
mo, indeed; one in the family Of
that sort is quito enough" laughed the
girl; "but here is Hattie waiting to be
amused, and you must tell her about It,"
We'll, how shall begin, chatter
boxm
"Why, tell her about the old house
with the gray moss clinging 10 the raft
ers. and the haunted window and the
great barn, first
"lhe haunting was easily enough &C
counted for, " said grandma, rolling up
the stockings she had been mending and
taking OIL her spectacles; "that was the
tapping Of the old horse chestnut when
the wind blew, but it was long time
before | found out the meaning of the
three mysterious knocks-always three
and when did, what fun had Mt the
expense OF Miss Silena Cross, our dress.
maker, who had taken infinite pains to
prove that | was favored with spiritual
visits! Poor Miss SilJna, | never saw a
creature more disappointed. AS for the
barn, it had originally been built for
Westinghouse, but never having been
finished on account of lack Of funds, my
grandfather took ii for debt and turned
it to very good account That old barn
was great institution, and was regu-
larry farmed out during winters for
revival meetings, dances, husking froIics
and sundry other things One night
we let tramp sleep there, and the
consequence was that by noon next day
there was nothing left of the barn but
smoke aud ashes. Poor father, 1t had
been a source of income, and nothing
could take its place, Everybody mourn
ed the destruction of 'Uucle Hiram's
barn, but nobody offered to rebuild it.
1--WE were poor, not that we suffered
for tue necessaries of life. The farm
kept our table, but my father worked too
hard for An Old man. and his boys were
all girlS. The fact Of our poverty never
troubled me, however, was too happy.
Only give me plenty of fun, plenty Of
sunshine and nothing seemed hard to
me. My genius at improyising all sorts
OF amnsements made me general
favorite in society. Nobody looked
down upon me because wore calico
and worked from morning till night In
fact, Jack was always in requisition;it
was Jack who took the lead at our
merry gatherings, who filed the gap
with some audacious gossip when no.
body knew what to say, who was afraid
OF nothing who was, am rather sorry
to add, careless of consequences, 80 that
she had good time.
but was happy; nobody can ever
take that consolation from me. never
sighed for what was unattainable. Fair
weather or foul, washing or baking, at
home or at the countryside parties. |
was always at peace with the world,
though my one best muslin gown had
done duty for several years"
"Oh, grandma! what would YOU have
thought then OF "a pink satin reception
dress, and everything to match, like the
one | am having make?' exclaimed
Lily.
Shouldn't n been bit happier, my
dear; couldn't a been," was the calm
response. Besides, young girls never
wore satin in those days, bless you!--
plain white null was considered dressy
enough, with flowers, which TO nv
taste, are prettier than Jewels any day. |
And now am coming to how ran the |
toll Ned Hamilton was considered one
OF the best young men in town. He
would a been handsome but his nose
was too thin and his eyes were too close
together tnough they were fine eyes.
AT al, events, he was great favorite,
and the girl who secured him for part
ner considered herself fortunate. No
body treated him Just exactly as did,
for would tell him to his face that he
was conceited, though secretly did
feel battered by his attention | sup
pose the great Rosedale farm bad some.
thing to do with it, aud two grays and
the handsome carryal. Perhaps I was
ambitious and didn't exactly know it;
for to tell the truth, when | did think Of
him at all seriously it was the biz farm
that doomed up, not my liking for him.
To be Mrs, Hamilton -the name was g
good one--to step from our homely one.
story house into grand old mansion,
where the furniture had stood for a
hundred years--that was something for
a poor mans child to achieve, | was
very proud and happy when be showed
mo any unusual attention, 1t did stir
what vanity had to soc hsteam at our
cottage door, TO pass our acquaintance
seated beside him, to be singled out ut
partios--me in my plain dress, wa
perhaps only rose at my throat and
another in my hair. "
"Now confess that you were hand.
some, grandma said Lily.
That's hot for me to say, my dear,
though ] believe they did call me rather
pretty, Ono day Ned Hamilton invited
me- TO go with him to Silver Spray,
beautiful waterfall, six miles away.
was particularly pleased with the
invitation just at that time, for mat
tors ut home were complicated, and the
was not agreeable. Father
had been paying money on n mortgage
..,.Il hat lana. l.. IL.