The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-02-03

! "Eureka! at last!'
1t was Jack Trevor's big hearty voice
that rang out, and a moment after ne
drew up the foaming horses with tri-
umphant flourish of whip and reins.
Now ladiesr'
Ned johnson seized Rettie Trevor in
his arms. and sprung up the crumbling
steps of the porch. His stately sister
assembled with more haste than grace,
and Just as Lawyer Hunter handed Miss
Beckwith up and followed himself laden
with books and shawls, the patter OF
great drops sounded on the roof. and IN
q moment the outside world was mist
of driving rain and rushing wind, be-
fore which the great trees bent like sap
lings, and the flowers laid their broken
heads on the drenched earth, and
looked up with pitiful tear-wet faces to
| the angry sky that an hour before had
been blue and smiling as an infants
eyes. .,
'Open, thou inhospitable doors"
spOuted the irrepressible Jack, striking
the panels with such force that the era
zy latch gave way and the entire party
surged into the wide musty hall, from
which opened large dark parlor,
spsrsely furnished with dingy curtains
and a few moth.eaten touches and
chairs.
ugh! it's damp and musty," cried
little Kettle Trevor, Uplifting her
dainty nose in disgust,
"And haunted, concluded her broth
er Jack. looking at her with solemn
eyes.
Haunted" Kettle would have
screamed, but her particular cavalier
was examining the dismal prospect
from one OF the many diamond-paned
windows, and she wisely concluded
that it would be waste of breath.
'Tell us the story, Jack"
A dozen voices chimed in the request,
and nothing 10th, Jack seated himself
on the edge Of faded chintz sofa, and
began. in deep sepulchural tone. that
accorded we'll with the shadows and
general mustiness Of the place:
"You may not credit the facts, my
friends but considerably less than half
q century ago these rooms now so 81
lent and deserted. we're filled with ma
ny gay company, and Jest and dance
made the hours fly merrily enough.
The owner of the old mansion had
brought to its roof bride, bonny
young thing, according to local tradi-
ton, and a year after, an heir appear
ed to complete their felicity. All went
merry as q marriage-bell. till the poor
young mother discovered that her liege
lord was given over to an Unsuitable
love for strong stimulants. Unfortu-
nately, the shock broke her heart, and
one fine day she died."
"And what became of the othersp"
That is as far as my information,
derived piecemeal from the aged father
of our landlord, extends" concluded
Jack. II only know that the father
finished his days in disgrace, and died
alone and solitary in this old house,
which is haunted, the superstitious
neighbors aver, by his restless ghost.
Ned johnson had managed to entice
tickle Kettle to a seat in the window
that overlooked the tangled neglected
garden. The others we're conversing
In pairs, and Mark Hunter stood alone
and unheeded in the doorway, heavy
shadow on his face. Meg Beckwith,
looking up from the book whose con-
tents she was carelessly scanning, saw
the shadow, and sudden look Of pitt
full intelligence crossed her own.
.Mr. Hunter-Mark, she whispered,
crossing the room unnoticed, and lay
ing one hand on his arm, 81 see it all
now. Oh, why did you come herep"
"How could foresee this visitp" he
responded, his low tones penetrating no
farther than her attentive ear. RE
member that when We left our pretty
picnic-ground in Horman's Glade, We
expected to return Immediately to the
hotel, and not to this abode OF dismal
memories, whittier the storm has driy-
en- US" .. ... ...
Ladies'" said Mark suddenly, in his
usual everyday voice, "there must be
some quaint old chambers above, to
which yon long dusky staircase leads.
Who feels in q mood for eIplorationf'
mot I," answered Lettie, happy in
the company Of her cavalier
"Nor l." repeated Miss johnson,
thinking Of dust, spiders, and her
mauve sateen, all in one.
The others were engrossed in Jack
Trevor's nonsense, and Meg, gathering
her blue skirts closely about her, swept
them half-mocking, half.disdainful
courtesy from the doorway.
II am going to lay the ghost" she
announced, and moment after stood
breathless on the broad landing above,
her arm closely clasped around Mark 8
as she looked beyond half afrishted q,
the gloom and dreary silence of the
place. ..r
fastening her footsteps little. he
led her into large low-ceiled room,
barely furnished, like the parlor be-
low. and opening heavy wooden shut
ter let in the dull grey Of the after
Moons waning light Meg's face was
in shadow, but the few rays that strug.
gled through the dusty panes fell full
upon his countenance, and faint flush
colored her cheeks as she noted the ca
ger expression that rested on it.
Without speaking he drew q letter
from his pocket and held it towsrd
her. She glanced at the address, ejac-
ulated the one word, Philip" and
without opening it, put the missive
aside with firm hand.