The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-09-05
A KISS IN THE DARK.

Mile Mason sat by the low, open
window, looking down into the quiet,
deserted street below.
Mile was one Of those sweet loving
home-girls, with the bluest of eyes, the
reddest of lips and saucy dimple in
either cheek; but the eyes were solemn
and fearful now, and the dimples were
folded away behind troubled, grieved
expression which Swallowed the young
face with an untimcly sorrow.
"Oh, why don't he Gomez" she muir
INJURED, leaning far out of tho window,
and gazing anXiously down the dim,
star-lit street. g4
A street lamp llckcred on distant
corner, but the one nearest Miles
home had. for some reason, gone out,
and the shadows lay dark and deep in
that part of the street.
81 do believe-yes, there he comes, !"
she added, a moment later as the tall,
square-built figure of young man
came hastily down the street, and ran
briskly up the front steps.
Applying his latch-key to tho door,
he entered the hall.
The next instant something white
came futtering down tho stairs, with q
breezy rustic to its garments, and q
pathetic voice addressed him.
1T Is almost twelve o'clock. |
waited up so that you wouldn't dis
turb--'
"Never mind, SIS" said merry
voice, which didn't sound ono bit like
brother Franks. ,-
But Mile decided, with sigh and q
heavy pain at her heart. that it was be-
cause ho had been drinking.
She must get him up to his room
without disturbing Uncle Paul, she
thought, anxiously, for Uncle Paul had
said that very day that Frank Mason
must 'change his ways" or find some
other home, and Frank had promised,
so earnestly, to reform, for Miles
sake.
If Uncle Paul should learn Of this
mistake, he would never forgive him.
If she could only smugglo him into his
room without the "sharpened" old
mans knowledge, maybe he'd be more
careful in the future.
You shouldn't have waited up for
me. Sis" said the young man, putting
his arms about her in very brotherly
manner mo" he added, as she turned
to ascend the stairs, 'you shouldn't
have come down them; you are not
strong enough yet But since you did.
I'll carry you up"
He took her in his strong arms as he
spoke, lifting her as lightly as if she
had been child of eight, instead of a
plump young lady of eighteen.
1t was such an unusual thing for
Frank to do. He was not very demon
strative in his affection for her, and
had never seemed especially careful or
tender of her.
Mile was actually frightened at his
unusual kindness and thoughtfulness;
but she did not dare demonstrate, for
fear OF arousing Uncle Paul.
To think that he should consider her
scarcely strong enough to come down
the stairs TO meet him-she, who had
spent the greater part of her sweet, un.
selfish life in waiting upon her lazy,
big brother!
OF course this unusual tenderness on
FRANKS purt was wholly due to his
half-intox!cated condition.
But. as the strong arms carried her
safely to the top of the long stairs, a
delicious little thrill ran through her
and she could not help wishing that
Frank would alw avs be like this in his
care for hor.
There you are, puss!' he said, put
ting her down at the top. "Now for
my payr'
He lifted the girls face to his own
and kissed 1t, in the gloomy shadow of
the unlit passage.
Mlllie felt a crimson wave sweep over
1t. Frank had never kissed her, except
after long separations, and then it was
more as an imperative duty than real
token Of affection. q
You are the heaviest sick girl ever
carried upstairs" he said merrily, as
though 1t was q common thing for him
10 carry girls upstairs, and Mile knew
that the bashful fellow would have cut
his hand of sooner than have done it
when in his right mind.
As for her being sick-the mere
thought brought smile to her lips, but
TINS was no place to dispute with her
brother In his present condition.
go to bed. SIS" he said, with
tender solicltude In his tones, ..and
don't walt up for me again. You can't
afford to have your nights rest broken.
Only few more weeks and this MONT
work will be over. / am doing the
company . good turn now, and thew
are not the kind Of men to forget It
yither."
AZ turned as he spoke, and bidding
~ goodnight. opened tho door and
Wakes directly into tho O''est chamber.
III No.
.M.lNNL1Mtl E-NL-