The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-05-24

you will do something for me, shall
be very much obliged to you. The COW
has gone quite away, l see. Will you
step down to that house yonder and
ask Miss Arbuthnot to send one of her
men to help meP I've hurt my foot so
that | can't bear my weight upon it.
Mr.. Frank Egerton, you can tell her u
At mention of his name, the girl
started violently.
Mr.. Frank Egerton?" she question
ed, looking as if she was trying very
hard not to laugh
"Precisely."
Have you come 10 marry Miss Ar
buthnot?'
ar he exclaimed.
"Oh, but you must! You can't have
the money without"
"Rcally How do you come to be so
well posted?' asked Frank, little
ne,tled to find the matter such public
property.
"Oh, well, I'm relation, you see!
About the nearest Miss Arbuthnot has
living, | believe
Indeed" cycling her shaply. "You
are q niece, perhaps?'
She laughed roguishly.
Are YOU going to be my uncle?"
I'm going to sit down here and
wait for that man. he answered, as
he dropped upon the grass with 4
smothcred groan.
"Oh forgive met cried the girl, and
dar,ed away as if she had wings.
Before he had hardly missed her,
two men came running with cane
sofa, upon which he, after some demur
extended himself, and was so borne to
the house.
The sprain proved severe one; the
| doctor had TO come, and our hero
found there was no prospect of his be-
inc able to put his foot to the ground
for some weeks.
The little lady. whose acquaintance
he had made through the medium OF
the COW, was unwearied in her atten-
tons to him, reproaching herself as
the cause Of the accident.
Miss SYLVIA the servants called
her, he noticed, and did the same.
Mss Arbuthnot. rather to his relief,
| did not present herself.
Her aunt seldom left her ROOM"
Miss Sylvia said, her saucy eyes laugh
ing at him. when he was we'll enough
to have the marriage ceremony per-
formed, would be time. enough for
them to meet she, the aunt, thought.
Meanwhile she hoped Mr.. Egerton
would excuse her, and allow her niece
to entertain him
To the last proposition he assented
eagerly. The niece, he acknowledged
to himself, was the most charming and
original creature he had ever met.
She read to him, sang 10 him, laugh
cd at him-was by turns gay, mocking,
serious. teasing, perpleXing, wilful,
sweet, till before he knew it, she had
bewitched the soul out Of him.
For the first time in his life, Frank
found himself in love. In-yes, indeed
over his head!
The divine passion at which he had
50 long scofied had suddenly CAPPED,
an abyss under his very feet, and swal-
lowed him.
The bare thought Of Miss Arbuthnot
was horror. Sylvia's teasing mention
OF her was agony to him.
To crown all he had suddenly devel-
oped trait he did not. before suspect
himself TO possess. lie had grown
bashiul-insanely, excruciatingly BASH
fu..
How, in the name OF wonder, he puz-
zlcd did man ever 20 10 work to tell
a woman he loved her?
He the prcllr cderuiier, the irresisti-
bic gallant, the adored Of womankind,
asked himself this solemn question,
and could not answer il.
Meanwhile, his ankle daily, hourly,
infinitely, he grumbled, grew better.
He wished it wouldn't; he didn't want
TO get any better. He should have 10
go away as soon rs he was well,
A. for marrying that old woman, he d
beg for living first. And, oh, dear!
as for that bcw!ldcring little witch,
Miss Silvia, he might As well think OF
wooing 4 humming-bird or butterfly.
The day came, alas. when he. was
Obliged 10 acknowledge that he was
well enough to sit up; and little later
his shabby prctence OF being still lame
became entirely "toO Thin to avail.
The end was at hand.
Miss SYLVIA said he, desperately
one morning, "werc YOU ever in love?
"I?' looking extremely amused
'What an iica.'
"Yc., it i. rather" he assenteI
vag9c'yt,nd g!oomi!y; "but YOU cal
answer my qlcstion-can't you?'
II ! ,hiuk I'll call my aunt" Mis-
sylvia said, dcmurely, starting for tn
door.
Frank intercepted her.
DON'T he cntrcatcd. 81 wish yo,
would never mention your aunt, nam
to me again.
"Why?' opening her lovely eyes t.
their widest ''And you going to mar
~ her and all.
I'm not!' doggcdly.
"Not?' Miss Sylvia exclaimed, wit
impressive amazcmcnt. well, upo
my word, If that is not the most extra
, ordinary"
! I'm not I'll never marry anybod
i ut you''
Me- blushing furiously, but cor
\ irving to look very unconscious fc
II all.
!, 'Do marry me, Sylvia! love 20
= so much can never live without YOU,