The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-06-08
CHAPTER Y,
RAYMOND BELMONT.

RAYMOND BELMONT.
The ground had been exceedingly dry
before the storm. and the rain that fell
was soon absorbed, Sothat on the after.
noon of the following day, although the
earth was still somewhat moist, it was
far from muddy. In the afternoon they
were able to resume their work in the
garden; but they had been scarcely com
menced before they Were favored with
another visitor, and a very different
parsonage he was from the one who had
called the day before.
lie was dressed in neatly-ftting
hunting suit, and carried IA double-bar-
relied gun upon his shoulder; but his
whole appearance plainly indicated that
he was not permanent dWeller in the
backwOods.
His white, shapely hands, his intel
lectual countenance, his smoothly
shaver face except Silky-brown mus
tache which ornamented his upper lip
and shaded his mouth. together with
his easy graceful manner. clearly evil
denced that he was accustomed to re-
fined society, and unaccustomed to man
ual labor
AS he approached the party working
in the garden, who looked up when they
heard the sound of his steps upon the
ground, he raised his hat to all. and
pleasantly bade them good afternoon"
Each acknowledged the greeting. and
40 l..,r IL !.
ed slightly as she looked down at her
soiled fingers and calico dress. but if
she had any inclination TO leave the
party and hide in the house. i, was not
for the same reason that had prompted
her to do so when she had betaken her
self to that refuge to avoid the rude.
admiriug glances Of Bill BraXt0n.
This stranger seemed so much at his
ease and opened such a cheerful con-
versatiOn with Mr.. La Eer-ne IL rrra9i
to the beauties Of the surrounding for
est and the abundance Of game il con
tanned, that she soon forgot all about
her soiled hands and calico dress. and
found herself and her mother taking
part in the conversation with a. much
eamestness and self-p0ssession as
though the stranger Were an old &C.
quaintance whom they had not seen for
years, and were happy 10 have met.
The stranger fingered with them as
if 10th to separate from their congenial
company; and he soon found himself
assisting in smoothing and planting the
garden beds with as much assiduity as
though he were employed at satisfac-
tory wages.
OF course his efforts were extremely
awkward at first. He wanted TO SOW
the melon seeds broadcast, and plant
the flower seeds in little hills few feet
apart, which elected many a merry
laugh from Carrie, WHO had uncon-
sciously taken upon herself the Office
of instructor toward him; but he learn
ed rapidly. and Mr.. La Nergne declared
that with little practical instruction
he would soon become an adept in the
art of horticulture if his taste happen
ed to lead in that direction.
Before he had been with them two
hours all were made pretty well ac-
quainted with each others history: and
50 mconsclously had the information
been intcrchanged that Mr.. and Mrs.
La Vergne felt somewhat mortified at
the thought that they had manifested
so great an interest in stranger, and
had SO readily taken him into their con-
lidence. But he put them all at their
ease by suddenly stopping in the act of
covering drill of flower seeds and eX-
claiming:
We'll | declare, 1t seems as if we
had been acquainted all our lives in
stead of having met only about two
hours ago for the first time. But | have
read somewhere that in the beginning
when all souls were created, some were
created to be friendly to each other, and
some to be mfrendly. If that be true,
, lheh believe | have been fortunate
= enough to meet those whom the Creator
! designed should be friendly TO me"
|, All agreed with him. and expressed
q the hope that all friendly or congenial
h sous might soon come into contact. and
4 That all the untriendly ones might be
!, Isolated so that they would cause no
! trouble orVeXation to any one but them
= selves.
q As by this time the sun was nearing
the western horizon. the stranger. who
I had at the outset introduced himself as
: raymond Belmont, proposed to con-
q tInue his Journey, which had no place in
r. particular for its destination: for his
Z was trip for hunting and pleasure
and the only place to which he was inn
medlately bound, was where game could
a be found in abundance: but Mr.. La
"a Neigne interposed and insisted tnat
c. ne must remain with them until morn
~ hs; declaring that, even taking bust
i. ness view of the matter. Mr.. Belmont
Il had earned enough by the labor he had
of performed, TO cntitle him to a supper
nd lodging and breakfast; and as he. Mr.
~ La Nergne, had never yet permitted {
f. HeDt owing by him to remain unpaid
ey ne insisted that Mr.. Belmont accent hi,
- decision.