The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-12-04
THROUGH THE LANE.

week lnal inns hdluluJlOH ldu idllcH
upon my ears, and / turned and gazed
at the slight figure in the doorway with
smile that was half amused, half sor-
rowful.
at is, indeed, Mrs. Miller" | re-
sponded somewhat irrelevantly; "but
come in and rest awhile before you be-
gin your duties. Your long walk must
have tired youP'
The newcomer did not wait for
second invitation, but crossed the
threshold and seated herself in my old
fashioned chintz-covered rocker;
small bit of a woman in a plain black
gown and a widows cap hiding her
pretty bright hair.
Kitty, the sharp littl' housemaid,
whose eyes were like needless had not
vet cleared away the morning repast
from the round table in front of the
hearth, and reached over and filled
cup with some amber liquid from
venerable kettle that warmed its plump
sides cozily on the hob.
MY own service consists of single
plate and cup, but | always arrange
little array of dishes on the tea-board
in front of me when | sit down to my
solitary meal, Not in expectation OF
early company. All no, indeed.
Time was when every Individual
member of that china set Colder than |
by many a,year, and | am not young)
was in active use, and many childish
finger traced out the pretty pattern,
pink rose-buds on a white ground; but
time and death dispersed the merry
hearts that made life the semblance of
q rose-scented garden, till only one
was left TO drop in now and then, TO
cheer lonely me with the light of his
frank ewes and the wit of his kindly
savings.
He was a great comfort to me in
those days. my tall cousin Roger. One
neyer-to- be-forgotten morning he sailed
for American shores, but in mid-ocean
the vessel went down, and-well, l
have managed t. live, and even to find
consolation through the medium Of
that old maids best solace, the teapot;
but Phoebe Condor has never yet found
It in her heart to sit down to a table in
company with one solitary cup and
saucer.
Mrs. Miller QIeaven save the title)
watched me gratefully, and little
tired flush crept into the cheeks that
were not so firmly rounded as they
should be.
1--WE are tired-baby and /, " she adj
mitted, unfolding the grey shawl that
formed the gr alter portion of the
bundle she carried in her arms. at
was such beautiful morning that we
loitered 10y the way, and near the lower
hedge we found some darling bluebells.
See, | plucked them because they were
Charlie S favorites."
Give them to me-" said without
venturing second glance at the visit
full face, land | will put them in the
little brown majolca jug on the sill
till you are ready TO take them home.
And this, too" added, lifting the
contents of the grey shawl "Now
drink that cup of tea right away, Mrs,
Miller. or You won't be fit TO take 6
stitch to-day"
She did as bid her, and carried
the bundle to the window and scruti
nized severely the small orbs, striking
ly like the buebells in hue that me
my gaze unwinkingly.
"a pretty specimen" ] said. "a
big as threepcnny bit, and as whit
as one of the Easter lilies out yonder il
the garden"
"She is very small baby answer
ed the equally diminutiye person oppc
site apologetically, putting her empt
cup down on the table, and STOPPING {
stroke the small waXen hand that res
ed like snowflake against the ding
grey of the shawl. Poor it'll
daughterl Misfortune has come I
abide with her full early in life"
When the mother was seated, ;
last, in the low sewing.chair, in III
sunny corner, plying the needle wit
def fingers, ] gave the small atom {
humanity drink of rich, warm mill
and deposited il on a pillow in Il
chintz-covered rocker, where il slel
like a little snow-drop, under its soi
white blanket.
/ have been in the habit of muc
reading all my life, and that morning
picked up a volume of trayels-an e
ceedingly venerable book, clad in 81
of rusty, but respectable, brown, an
commenced pcrusing il in silence
Ordinarily the narrative intcrcstc
me- but on this occasion its conlen
seemed 10 have lost their flavor, an
every now and then ! caught myse
looking at the pretty pale profile opp,
site, AS II bent diligently over the lon
white seam, onlyraising itself occasion
ally TO glance at the bluebells rcposin
IN the quaint brown jug on the sill,
Once unwittingly intercepted h
gaze, and the faint, embarrassed ilus
colored her check again.
III cannot help it" she said, Ia
plcadingly their petals are so bl,
they remind me OF Charles eve
Poor boy. But forget. You did n
know Charliepn
Did notp ] went back to my boo
but, in place Of the printed page, 50
again the fragrant country lane tn
stretched from the village, almos, pa
my door, Till II lost itself in the hig
way. and, walking Its green lengl
two figures one tina, Of my little sea
stress, and the other tall, slim 1
low, thin almost to gauntncss, "
leaned upon her arm, and seemed
lind even her slow pace too much