The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-02-03


"Mark Hunter" she answered, calmly
aud coldly, for she would have died
sooner than betray the tremor that
shook her frame. ''you cannot deceive
me. Have l not seen--do not know
how you stood by your cousin. day after
day, warning, advising. counselling,
never impatient, never weary, till you
won him back to virtueP He does not
live in his own strength. he exists in
yours. As far as the world goes, you
have achieved noble action. II you
did 1t for my sake-I cannot thank
YOU"
Mark drew his hands across his
brow.
Your words sound strangely" he
said, with weary pathos In his voice.
81 did not expect thanks, but''-with a
second CULVER Of the moustached lip,
that manlike he strove desperately to
"but-"
At the sight all the passion In Meg's
strong nature was reused.
because woman was kind to q
weak lad, whose unstable nature ap-
pealed so irresistibly to her stronger
one, was it necessary that the purest
emotions of her heart must 20 out to
him also? Why should he have all
wealth, position, friends, and--meroyw
Marks rugged features grew sudden
ly stern.
':Stop!" he commanded. Tell me
one thing Do you love Philip"
Meg gave little gasp at the abrupt
ness of the question; then her lips took
on the old decided curve.
II could love no one who proved
himself less than a man." she respond
ed, and there was honesty, at least, in
her voice
Margaret Mark Hunter leaned
forward in the grey light with half
awed look on his face-'.my childhood
was hard, unlovely one. for I was not
born to wealth, as was my cousin Phil
ip. have educated myself by my own
efforts, and have won position In the
world; but the battle waged has left
many soar on heart and brain. An
swer me one question honestly, even II
the answer add to the burden my life
has already sustained. Could you
would you
Shy Mark, he was stammering and
suffering like guilty schoolboy; but
Meg, with smile that sparkled in the
very depths Of her eyes, put her slim
hand in his, and repeated. simply:
II both could and would"
A sudden ray of sunlight shone out
over the drenched earth, and in a trice
dripping boughs and rain laden grasses
we're sparkling diamond-like In its glo-
rious radiance.
Mr.. Hunter! Meg!"
It WAS Kettle who called from the re-
gions below, and the truants came
down the dusky old staircase much
more slowly than they had assembled.
A second ray from the tiny window
above fell athwart them like blessed
omen of approaching veal.
Poor Philip" Mark said. strug-
Cling between a sense Of his own hap
piness and compassion for bis cousin's
disappointment
"But not poor Mark" echoed Meg
softly, thinking how noble his plain
face looked in the golden glow. .
where have you been" questioned
curious Jack, as he stood at the horses
heads. while the party surged out to
take their places with laugh and Jest.
What have you two been doing all
this timer"
1--WE have laid the ghost" answered
Mark gravely-'the ghost Of doubt and
misunderstanding that has cast its
shadow over so many lives. Pray
Heaven it may never walk again."
"Eh!' said uncomprehending Jack.
wondering at the strangeness of'the re-
ply. But even after he and Meg were
happy man and wife, Mark never ex-
planned how his life, hitherto so dark,
had at last been illumined by ray Of
sunlight. ".'
.