The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-01-27
CHATTER xxxvf.

uoI u8oiu ~ Su0 ulOI uluBs
CHATTER xxxvl.
Mrs. Dalton returned to Lena's room,
hoping to find her asleep. Bertha was
there. When she saw her mother she
jumped up from tho low stool where
she had been sitting by the fire, and
threw her arms round her neck.
"Eustace has told you all, has he not,
mammal she whispered. please for.
give me for having kept our engage
ment . secret from you--itwas only for
few days"
"Your engagement What are you
talking about, childY, Have, you lost
your sensesp" said MrS. Dalton, aghast.
alas he not told you, thenp'' asked
Bertha, withdrawing her arms and look.
ing into her mothers face, &c, d,
Something In Bertha's blnshing, hap
by face, the recollection Of the manner
In which she had found st. Lawrence
and Bertha together, staggered Mrs.
Dalton; she began to recall her CONVEX.
sati0n with st. Lawrence, and remem.
bered that he had not mentioned Lena's
name. Still she struggled against con-
victi0n. .1aE ,Bel 1esI bau ~
but you, Bertha she said, in
quavering voice, and linking into the
nearest chair-''you Countess Of Alph-
ingt0n! II 10 impossiblei''b. .Jae
"Hush, please, mammal entreated
Bertha, glancing toward the bed where
Lena lay, "Read that--itwillo tell you
ALL" and she drew St. Lawrence's letter
from her pocket, and placed It In her
'f Lena ta n Asr head uneasily and
uttered . low moan--Bertha sprang to
her side.
"My hsadln shs said, putting up her
hand.
Iona was really III. When morning
came the doctor had 10 be summoned.
Brain-fever threatened, and the ut
most quiet was declared to be necessary.
So, instead Of wedding festivities,
there were . husheds household and
grave and anxious faces,
Lord Alphington and Sir Stephen and
Lady Langley delayed their departure
from town till Lena Was pronounced
out Of danger. Every attention that
kindness and pity could suggest was
paid to the unfortunate invalid. Per-
haps to fall III was the best thing Lena
could have done--it turned peoples
feelings Of displeasure into commisera-
ton. s,s. .l....
During the month that followed, the
trial Of Sedley and the two Lemonts
came on--for Mrs. Lemont did not die,
though her health was permanently i'm
paired. Sedley was condemned to penal
servitude for life--as sentence he re.
ceived with the logged sullenness he
had evinced ever since his arrest. Mrs.
Sedley, as having acted under her hus-
bands directions, got OF, but Pierre
Lemont was sentenced to penal servi-
tude for seven years. He was loud IN
expostulstions and entreaties for mercy,
seeming to have expected to escape
punishment by full confession.
Lena Dalton recovered slowly, but
the brightness Of her beauty was dim
med. Her fine color was gone, her COM
plexion had assumed tinge Of sallow-
ness; deep dark lines showed them
selves under her eyes; her hair had been
cut of, and It was doubtful whether
she would b able to crown herself with
abundant gi6ssy plaits any more. She
moved about wan and spiritless, the
ghost Of her former self. l'uA e," fl
The doctor recommended change of
scene and warmer climate for the
winter; and Mrs. Dalton was glad to
get away from the inquiries Of her
"dear friends" It was agreed to shut
up Ivy Cottage and proceed to Italy,
taking old Martha with them. Bertha
Mhs 70 ,nss then then mot be-
strength or tranquility of spirits If left
alone with her mother, who was con-
tinually harassing her with regrets, not
to say reproaches. Not only Eustace,
however, but Lord Alphington and the
Langleys, set their faces strenuously
against this arrangement, and Bertha
was obliged to yield. =
II 90 happened that the daughter Of
the curate Of the next parish TO Alph.
ingt0n was seeking for some occupa-
ti0n. Kate Medhurst was q great "a
vorite with Lady Langley; she had often
wished for the girl, who was now four
and.twenty, . more extended experience
Of the world, and IN opportunity Of cul.
| tivating the taste for art which she de.
,idedly possessed. A bright idea struck
1ady Langley; Kate .Medhnrst should
company Mrs. Dalton and Lena to
ssome. She was not only Q thoroughly
sensible and intelligent, but o lively and
energetic girl, who could not fail to ex-
ercise beneficial influence over Lena.
This arrangement satisfied all par.
ties. Miss Medhurst was glad 10 20, on
condition Of having her expenses paid
| and being treated a. ono of the family,
and Mrs. Dalton was charmed with the
idea Of having some ono who, like Ber-
tha, would take all trouble on her
hands. H. a.al ..s,.1 ,.l.,
Bertha was married the day before
Mrs. Dalton left England. At her par.
tic,lar desire the wedding was . very
quiet affair; she wished 70 have no
grand preparation that would recall the
past. On their return 10 tho house after
the ceremony, Lord Alphingtop placed
tho opal ring ON the finger Of the bride.
THE prophecy has come true" he
said; "and never has the ring been worn
by one more worthy to DO Countess Of
THAT win not BE- for many, many
years yet, ! trust,n Bertha returned,
touching with her lips tho venerable
"Allin Heaven's good time. my love- y
said the Earl. But, II IT. b the will Of
Providence, shall be glad to be spared
9 while e witness the happiness Of my
Mr.. ana Mrs. rancourt, after : short
tour, went TO stay At Alphington Park
till after Christmas; they then went
unrfhwnry3 IN an0thar aAnN kalOu0in0 m