The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-12-16

| you had asked her the same question
the answer would have been very diff
ferent.'"
II, my dear fellOw.r exclaimed st
Lawrence, the blood flushing his cheeks
and brow, and his heart throbbing witt
an emotion that in its intensity was
pain. Are you dreaming"
When Douglas left Bertha Dalton
the previous evening he had guessed
her secret, as she had feared he would
but he left with generous resolve tC
bring these two he so thoroughly loved
and valued together, AS he said, he
had not slept, for not only did he feel
his own disappointment keenly, but il
was with many a bitter and Jealous
pang that he made up his mind to
stand on one side that his friend might
be happy. He did make up his mind,
however. He had told Bertha that, II
she would not have him for husband
she should have him for brother; and
after all, if ST. Lawrence and Bertha
loved each other, he could not KEEP
them apart, even if he had the will and
it was better to help than to hinder
better to keep warm place in their af-
fections if he could not hold the first
where he wished. So, after tossing
about through restless and wretched
night, he came to his friend before his
resolution failed
NO" he replied TO st. Lawrence's
question, Il am going TO make clean
breast of it. ! think | blinded myself
when we were with Bertha together. !
have seen the bushes rise to her sweet
face and the light come into her eyes.
and tried to hope it was for me: but |
see now | was mistaken Wen, per-
haps, as YOU have sometimes told me,
am not intended for married man; but
if Bertha would have had me. would
have tried to make her happy, Heaven
knows" He ended with sob, leaning
his head down on his crossed arms.
~ am sure you would, dear boy, said
St. Lawrence. And / know what 1t
must have cost YOU to say what you
have told me Just now. Do not talk OF
it any more, unless it does you good to
speak out. am in desperately idle
vein, and going to take a long ride;
come with NEEDN'T go and NOPE at
home"
II don't know; it's scarcely worth
the trouble" Douglas replied, raising
his head.
"Nay. come St. Lawrence urged
"come for my sake, if you will not for
your own"
"Well, asyou will, Douglas rejoined,
ianguidly rising from his seat and tax
ing his hat. II may as well 60 as stay,
and stay as go. for anything see.
Hang it all, it has been blow TO me. i
suppose fellow doesn't get over this
sort Of thing all at once
NO" said st. Lawrence, placing his
hand on his friends shoulder; Il think
If it were nv case | should never get
over it. But you are naturally more
buoyant, Douglas; have more hope for
you"
(which means I am a shallower
mortal" Douglas commented. with the
ghost of a smile. And | am afraid
she thinks so too"
That is not what intended" re-
turned St. Lawrence; you know it is
not. Don't | know your warmth OF
heart? Haven't you stuck by me
through good report and evil report!
Haven't you believed in me when no one
else did? Don't you think me callous
brute. Douglas
II believed in you because couldn't
help ," acknowledged Douglas. Well.
il We are to 20. let us be off, it is
sitting here. What do you purpose"
ITO take the train TO Epsom;" said
spalrrs.. "6fire the horses we've had b5 et1-
fore if we can get them, and take long
stretch ont through the country. We
can dine somewhere while we put up
the nags, and return in the evening
"Oh, hang the dinner Grid Douglas.
THAT was not always your creed, old
fellow" St. Lawrence said. smiling,
''Do you remember dragging ME off TO
dine one day after the promenade in the
Botanical Gardens, when l would have
said Hang the dinner just as you do
now?'
"Ah, that was where we met Bertha"
observed Douglas. How you were
taken with Lena them
Because | didn't see below the sur.
face" st. Lawrence explained. That
fancy was soon over" ...
Douglas looked in his friends face
wistfully, as if he longed TO question
him; but. thinking better Of it, he
smothered a sigh, and walked on in ST.
lence. A crowded London thorough
fare was not favorable to much CONVEX
sation Of confidential kind, nor was a
railway carriage, and but little more
passed till they arrived at EPSON.
where they were fortunate to secure
the horses they wanted. Turning their
heads southwark. they soon found them
selves pursuing the course OF the Mole,
through the lovely scenery amongst the
Surrey Hills.
What change from the heat and
dust of London. Instead of bricks and
mortar, there were wooded uplands and
verdant meadows, and lanes shaded by
magnificent trees yet in their full glory,
and bordered by tangled hedgerows.
were punches of blackberries, scarlet
hips, white convulvulus, and wild Gle
mats were growing In sweet confusion,
the river flowing placidly, dark with the
reflection Of overhanging foliage, water
lily leaves sleeping on its surface. In
stead Of the tramping Of feet, the rat
Ting of vehicles, and the many-voiced
hum Of the worlds toilers, there were
the song of birds, the tinkling sheep
bell, and the lowing of cattle. All
breathed Of peace. Nature was a won
derful comforter, and the two eques-
TRANS. each with his own burden Of
care, found it lightened and more easy
to be borne.
They were approaching a village, the
church spire Just visible above the
yIh 10 hnx