The daily Cairo bulletin., 1884-11-27

pestllence, leaving the place unguard
ed,
A faint breeze arose and stirred
among the thick foliage. The ain
was laden with the oppressive breath
OF Oriental perfumes, the fountain play,
e. drowsily in the stiffness.
Philip yielded to the influence sur
rounding him, and leaning back against
the carved Intel, fell into Il light slum
lor
lie was awakened by hand on hi,
shoulder, The door behind him wa,
Open, and in il stood tail mulaltC
servant woman, bearing lamp in hcl
| hand,
Come in, " she said; they are wait,
ing for YOU"
But half aroused from his brief sleep,
he almost unconsciously allowed him
self 10 be drawn within the doorway,
and thence mechanically followed his
| guide up staircase and into a lavrc
saloon, one side of whi h opened upon
broad piazza, wreathod ia vines and
onamented with tubs of exotic plants.
Here some half dozen gentlemen
sat smoking, at sight of whom Philip,
now awakened to consciousness of
his position, drew back and would have
retreatel
But the figure nearest him, turning
suddenly, addressed him, and he rec.
ognized a gentleman whom he had met
at the hotel.
"Ah,' he said "You are the friend
whom Colonel de Chartrcs promised to
bring. But where is de Chartres?n
"De Chartres?' answered Flournev,
feeling almost rs if in dream, ode
Chartrcs is dead''
Every one present turned at these
words, but there was no expression of
surprise or regret
On the street, at the tables, men and
women were seen to drop dead, and no
one knew but that his own turn might
be next
A heavy, nor'd-iaced man, with a
forehead and sensual expression, ad-
yanced and welcomed Tourney.
"What natter he said, with a shrug
of his broad shoulders, what matter
though one be missing? What are
dead to us-the living? Come. my
friends, let Us make the most OF the
life that is left us, whether it be long or
short. Let us eat, drink, and be mcr-
ry-for tomorrow we may dir''
He led the way to an inner saloon,
the doors of whichhaI INst been thrown
open, reyco)'r" a table glt,ering with
crystal a 4 silver
Philip Journey he stated for an in
stant, conscious that he was occupying,
however innocently, a false position;
but then followed with the rest.
"Who is our host?' he whispered to
his acquaintance.
did not De Chartrcs tell YOU? 1t is
Dupree the banker. He is phioso-
pher of the epicucan school; and we,
he added half snecringly, "are bis
friends and disciples Tomorrow we
all leave this accursed city, but, mean
while, we will enjoy our elves. And
after the supper we shall have music
and the society Of the Mdic, Of thcfam-
lily,
Shocked at thi, cool and reckless in
difference in the midst Of sccLcs Of
death and horror, Flournoy heartily
wished that he had never been brought
hlhcr TO Witnr,, it.
1t was Il relief to him when the sup.
per was ended, and the company re-
turned to the open saloon and the broad
ilowery piazza.
Here, among the bloSsomiug roses
and jasmine, he found a group OF ladies,
ta,tctuly attrcd in cool white dresses,
TO one Of these his host presented
him.
"My wife-Madamc Duprce, Marie,
this gentleman is Mr.. Floumey,
friend Of Colonel de Chartrcs.'
1t needed not tomenton their names.
In the full light from the chandelier
from the saloon they saw each others
face, and, thoguh eight years had pass
ed since they had last met, the rccog-
milton was instantaneous,
Marie turned very pale, and Philips
voice trcmbled when, standing little
apart from the rest, he said in low
tone:
This is, to us both, an unexpected
meeting
Then, looking in the fair face of the
woman before him-fairer now in its
maturcd oyelinesS though wearing an
expression of subducd sadness-his
emotions overcame him, and he said
impuiSiycly:
"Maric, tell newly did You leave
me as you did, without clue to your
diSCOvcry?'
She looked up suddenly into his face.
In an instant, with that look, the whole
truth seemed to flash upon them both,
and Marie murmurcd:
II know now that we were cruelty,
cruelty deceived"
Slowly they walked up and down the
lon. piazza, and in few words each
learned the history Of the other since
they had parted.
Mare's life had been one of poverty
and struggle, until at last, at her faith
er' 5 pcrs aston, and solely for his sake,
who had become inlirm from illness
and unable to earn his support, she had
married Il wealthy man, whose wife she
now was.
He had not been kind husband, for
Jealousy was his ruling passion; and,
though Marie did not tell him this,
Philip Flourncy was at no loss to un-