The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-08-02

world. should | be here to-nghtpn
Oh. Liz. but it was hard TO hear you
say those words and yet stand quiet
and obey.
My cousin came home to-day" she
went on, hurriedly; 1.-THE man | have
told you Of What do | know il he's
my cousin or not? What do | know
whose child | am? But that's no mat
ter. All of you-gentle and simple
call me beauty; and Jim swcars that
| shall be his wife. -
A quick shudder ran visibly through
all her frame rs she spoke those words;
and uttered cry Of rage.
Hes heard of YOU, she added,
quickly. Fathers been telling him
Won fancicd me, and they sat this even
ing drinking and plotting together, and
tlloHgh | couldn't hear half they said,
know your LIES not safe" Here, in
her anxiety for me, she forgot the
stolen kiss, and came and stood beside
ME, placing in her earnestness, one
hand upon my arm. "And fathers Got
your gun"
started in surprise. The gun she
spoke of was valuable one that had
mysteriously disappeared from my
tent. knew it had been stolen, but |
certainly had not suspected old Ben
Allen, who had specially busted HIM
self in trying to discover the thief,
He has, has hep | cried. The
internal old hypocrite and scoundrel!
Don't mind me speaking SO OF Ben, my
darling. | don't believe he's any more
your father than | am. And so it was
he who stole my gun!'
The earnest hand was still upon my
arm, and the pale, sweet faceupturned.
81 ask you to forgive him for my
sake she said, land not stay to try
to get it back again. Your life's not
safe between them. Father is owing
Jim money, and I was TO be taken Tor
the debit When | said | wouldn't
marry him they laid the blame on you,
and swore to shoot me If spoke TO you
again. Bat it's you they'll shoot-oh,
nj dearl my dear! The bullet that
kills my heart will pass through yours
frstI
in her agitation she betrayed her
feelings as she had never done before.
caught her in my arms:
And if | should 90 will you lei them
force you to marry him?' | cried.
Nay she answered, firmly, with
her beautiful, serious eyes fixed full on
mine. They could never force me.
See here" She placed her little hand
in me. I'm no wife for you, but love
you, dear, and for your sake I'll go
single to my grave. "
The moon had risen higher now and
her light made all things visible.
Scarcely had the words left Lizzie's
lips, when with q cry of rage man
sprang from among the pines, and
made as if to seize her. Instinctiyely,
as recognized Ben, | flung her round
beyond his reach, and placed myself
before her. That movement saved my
life.
For, on the instant, the report of q
gun was heard, and old Ben Allen,
with one agonized cry, fell dead before
us; while Liz, with u wild scream OF
horror, dropped on her knees beside
him.
stood, for one brief second, be-
wildercd. horror-stricken then darted
away in the direction whence the shot
had been fired The crashing of the
under brush as under the feet of some
one in full flight guided me. In
among the pines ! picked up q gun,
whose warm and still smoking barrel
showed that it had been the murderer's
weapon, but found not him who had
fired it. SO, after n hasty, fruitless
| search, ! returned to the scene Of
death, where found, despite the lone
ly spot and lateness of the hour, n
crowd had already collected-rough,
uncouth fellows; wood-cutters and
charcoal-burners, and the like; all
sworn friends and comrades of the
Aliens and natural enemies of all men
richer than themselves They received
me with a howl of loathing.
Here the murderer. Seize him.
boys, The gun is in his hand" 1t wa
jim who spoke, Liz2ie's reputed cous
p in. looked around for her, but sht
was gone.
was seized, of course, without be-
ing allowed 70 say a word, and hustled
to the uc,@hboring town-a rough, vile
place, at best, but | was glad to &c
there, for phat was rough, wild rid,
that led 70 ii, with such rude escort
among the pines.
= had laughed contcmptuously t.
myself, ut first. over the accusation
made against me. knew Liz coulo
prove my innocence with 4 word. Blu
the matter began to look far more ser
ious when learned that the girl coul,
l not be found.
= Jim Allen, the foul traitor, swor
that he had seen me fire, and that LII
was nowhere near Us ut the time, an
S score Of yindictiVe voices cried on
5 that had come from among the pin
: trees with the gun still in my hand
: and that the gun was mine!
1t was SO, indced-the weapon that
). had lost, and that now appeared
G fatal evidence against me.
o Liz could have saved me, but l.
VI was gonei and greater than my anxiet
o over my own possible fato vas the to
: turing fear of what might have befalle
:. her.
d They proved that | had loved Il
/ backwoods beauty. They dared to ca
l. sur on the fair fame of the Girl
;. loyed--pure as the proudest lady in ii
l. land she was!-in order to show tn