The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-10-04
BETWEEN TIE TWO.

Nimrod Odlin, like his namesake of
Old,was mighty hunter not of the
beasts of the field and the fowls of the
mir, for it is doubtful if his knowledge
of firearms enabled him to tell whether,
in charging them, the powder or the
shot went foremost-but a fortune hunt
er, which as the genial Artemus would
say, is ''far different"
Fifteen years . of unsuccessful trial
would have discouraged a less ardent
sportsman. But Nimrod had begun
early, and was yet only thirty-iiye, hav-
ing all his hair and most of his teeth.
There was suspicion of grey about his
temples, but by wearing ear-locks, well
combed forward, it was pretty well
quoted; and slight tendency to cor
pulence was kept within bounds by dali
" course of dumb-bclls before break
fast, long walks before dinner, and
scientific starvation according TO Bant-
ing Under all the circumstances he
saw no reason tor giving up hope,
which, rs the doctors tell us, is never
10 be yielded while life and physic hold
out.
Once or twice MIN to use his every
day name-camc very near bagging his
bird; but, just ut the critical moment,
another, OF richer plumage, came whir-
ring by, in pursuit OF which he left the
first only 10 be led Il long Elusive chase
and left to sad comparisons, at last, be-
tween the value OF modest turtle in the
hand and that of II golden pheasant in
the bush.
Flora Forsyth, in her nineteenth year,
was the preitest girl in the village---a
fact TO which the livcliest attention was
awakened in bachelor circles, when the
death Of Il rich relation left her mistress
Of twenty thousand dollars in nard cash
with no provisos.
MIN Odlin, especially, pricked up his
ears He had known Flora from her in
fancy, had pattcd her curly head APP
proyingly, when n little girl, lust for
repeating more golden texts than any
other scholar in the class at Sunday
school, and smiled amusingly when shC
answered the vexod question of who
was Gains wife, by guessing it was Mrs
Cain.
In later years Mr.. Odlin was too busy
with other pursuits 10 take much motto,
of Flora But he was y man of calcu
lating mind, to whom marriageabl,
young lady, plus twenty thousand dol
lars, was what the mathematicians cal
rational quantity" while withou
that, or any other portion it would be
quite irrational to think of her. Ac
cordingly, among the first Of those t
pay homage to Flora and her forum,
was Mr.. Nimrod Odlin.
She received his attentions, il no
quite complacently, at least withou
laughing at tnem-at any rate, befor,
his face.
Nimrod felt his way carefully, profit
ing by past experience, which hat
taught him that it was often quite a
dangerous to be too precpitate as too
tardy.
One by one he advanced his parallels
till at last he felt that everything was
ready for the grand assault. His frs,
movement had more the appearance Of
defense than attack. It was that of an
infantry at the command, prepare 70,
cavalry"--that is he sank promptly on
one knee.
Dear Floral he murmured takin.
her hand and pressing 1t TO his lips, q
have loved YOU ever since
"You heard had twenty thousan,
dollars" she was on the point Of inter
ruptlng, but checking herself, quiet
asked:
"Whenp'
Mr. Odlin seemed somewhat at a los
for dates, and after stammering little
took refuge In the indefinite.
al have loved you for years." h
whispered softly. dearest, will you b
mineP DO not break my heart by say
ing no."
at won't break In two weeks, vii
itp" asked Flora, her lips qulvering i
the struggle TO keep back rising laugh
''Do not trine with me-" he whine