The daily Cairo bulletin., 1884-11-27
WHEN LEAST EXPECTED.

whose classy surface reSembed a sea
of molten ore. Not cloud broke the
coppcry glare Of the sky; not breath
stirred the feathery tops OF the pal
mettos, The spires of the churches
seemed quivering in the intense heat,
and n faint, heavy, masm C odor
weighed upon the sultry atmosphere.
Most of the houses were closed and
the streets deserted, except by a few
persons, who now, as the sun COM
menced TO decline, came forth from the
silent doorways and hurried noiselessly
along the shaded sides of the streets.
Pallid fear sat upon every face, for
death and pcstilerce were abroad in
the fair city-thc Queen City of the
South"
In strange contrast to the pale faces
and anxious countenance of the paSserS
by was that of gentleman who sat
calmly smoking on the piazza Of one of
the hotels.
He was young, and handsome, and
well-dreSSed, and his whole appearance
of one who had never known the want
of this worlds wealth.
Why, then, should he, for whom life
might be supposed to hold so much at
traction, prize it so lightly as to linger
here in the doomed city, whence all
others who could do so had fled?
Six years ago, when scarcely arrived
at the age of manhood, Philip Flourney
had met with yung girl, between
whom and himself had sprung up one
of those rare passions which last
through lifetime, dciyng both time
and fate to overcome.
Marie was as pure-minded as she was
beautiful; but she was only the daugh-
ter of French dancing-mastcr, and
this, in the eyes Of the proud Flourneys,
was an insuperable obstacle to the
match.
When Mr. Tourney found that nei-
ther persua ion nor threats Of disinher-
itance could avail in inducing his only
son to give up this mcSaiiiance, he had
resort to the French musc-tcacher
W ON, with his daughter, he coarsely
accused of endeavoring to entce his
son into "a low marriage -
The old man was proud. After as
su ing the naughty Southcmer that,
though political misfortune, had rob-
bed him OF worldly possessions, his
blood was noblcr than that of the
Flourncys, he turned his back upon
him, and forbade his daughter ever
a, ain to speak TO one Of the name,
When Philip. at the end Of his COL
lcge course, returned 10 his native city,
flushed and eager with the Joy of at
last making Marie his wife, he found
NJ. Lcfcbrc and his daughter gone; nor
bad any search or inquiry since ayailcd
in obtaining clue to their where
ahOutS.
His family had taken pains to i'm
pr $ upon him that Marie had wiling
" deserted him; but this he could new
cr bring himself to believe; and thus it
was he had come to lead, in even the
prime of h's young manhood, cold
and disappointed existence, from which
the bloom seemed TO forever have fed.
In vain had Fortune smiled upon and
Beauty lured him; he had lost what he
priced most upon earth, and his heart
felt bcnumbed and incapable of ever
again waking up to any real enjoyment
of life
As the blazing sun dipped lower to-
wards the scething waters of the gulf,
and the shadows stretched across the
heated paYcments, more frequent be-
came the figures passing on the streets.
lao,
black garb and white head-dress of
that noble order of women, bound to
works OF charity and self-sacriiicc; and
one Of these. pausing ne n the young
man on the hotel piazza, addressed
him:
Are there any sick in this houSc?'
He arose with uncovered head.
There was one taken an hour ago
Colonel de ChartreS; but he is dead, -
The sister crossed herself and muir
INJURED a prayer for the departed soul.
"And YOU appear TO be stranger
here. Why do you lingcr in the midst
of pcstilcnce and dcath?'
He smiled a low, sad smile.
"Death, good sister, rarely seeks
those who do not shun him. But | 90
tomorrow, since there is nothing to
detain me here
at is well. Our duty is to take all
possible care of the precious life which
God has given us.
She passed on with the swift, noise.
less step Of the sistcrhood, and as he
watched her disappear round corner,
the rattle Of wheels was heard in an
opposite direction, and loud, harsh
voice echoed through the still streets:
Bring forth your dcad."
Then Philip Flourney shuddcrcd, and
rising hastily descended the steps, and,
without glancing towards the vehicle
with its ghastly burden, turned into a
retired street and strolled slowly out in
the direction of the suburbs. There, at
least, he might breathe n purcr air
than in the heart of the plaguc-strickcn
city.
The sun sank below the misty waters
and pallid moon arose in tho east.
Phillip strolled onward, leaving the
modern portion Of the city behind, un-
I'll he found himself in quiet, remote
street, portion Of what had sron once
known as the cid Spanish quarter.
Here stood an auc ont convent, unt
further on extended quaint and stately
old mansions, each in the midst of ii,
ilowcry court guarded by brick wall
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