The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-08-19

ltage OF suffering.
The next morning, without waiting
to bid farewell to the hostess whose
happiness her secret spite had blasted,
Maria Danton left the Hall.
Six years have now run their course
since the above. 1t is morning, and
upon the sands of quiet watering
place two gentlemen are strolling to-
gether. One, handsome, with good
humored face; the other, tall, dark and
very grave.
al am so glad | fell in with you, old
fellow" the younger one is saying.
: "Wherc have you kept yourself since
we last met in Paris?"
abroad" is the answer. 81 only
returned last week, impelled by de-
sire to once more set foot on my native
soil; but find now that am here that
have no desire TO remain. The assoc
Z Citations revive the old pain too keenly.
shall take the next steamer out again
if nothing happens to change my deter
mination"
Mark Blair looked up into the dark
face beside him curiously; but he had
not known him long enough to possess
the clue to its gloom.
With ready tact he turned the con-
versation.
"Well, while you are here you might
as well have little social enjoyment.
What say you to making call with me
tonight? have an aunt who has q
villa here, who is the soul of hospitali-
ty, and would be charmed, know, to
make your acquaintance. viii you
come? By-the-by, she has n friend
stopping with her who is as beautiful
as Peri and is magnificent must
cian."
1.-The latter is an inducement,
Marks companion answered. II am
passionately fond of music. But | am
afraid my society manners are sadly
out of repair. However, if you wish it
will accompany You willingly"
And so at niue o'clock, Just as
young moon filings her pale radiance
over the waters, the gentlemen walk
slowly along the path to the villa,
whose grounds slope in succession of
terraces down to the sands.
AS they near the house they retard
their steps, for through the open win
dow sweet sounds steal out upon the
night air.
Pausing beneath the balcony they
listen.
The song is a sad one, and is sung in
a voice whose melting pathos pene-
trates one mans heart with a potency
so strong rs to cause his face to pale |
and his limbs to tremble beneath him.
He laid his hand on Marks arm with |
an urgent pressure.
'Do not 60 YETI he said. "Wait
and see if she sings again"
"All right, Mark whispered back.
"But if you are charmed with her
voice, just wait until you once see her
face"
But the song ended; there came not |
another. Instead, tread of feet, q
rustic of silken drapery above their
heads, apprised them that the secret
songstress, accompanied by another,
had emerged from the room into the
balcony.
Another moment, before the two men |
had time tomake their presence known,
they became unintentional listeners to
an ardent lovc-declaration.
81 have looked in vain this whole |
week for an opportunity to speak with |
you alone. Oh, Violet, thank YOU,
thank you for granting it to me at last.
Surely you know what | am going to
tell you-how madly, desperately, |
love you. Violet, your manner to me
has never given me encouragement,
but | cannot believe that | am wholly |
Indifferent TO you. Such devotion as |
mine must win some return"
A soft voice interrupts him.
"Do not thank me, cousin Ralph,n
it says. 81 indeed did understand your
desire for an interview, but | only
granted it to show you the hopelessness
| of your attachment
why 'hopelessness? There is ut
ter despair in that word. You are your
own mistress, young and beautiful, ca
pable of loving and inspiring love.
Why say 'hopelessness?"
Because" comes the sad reply, at
is the right word for me to use. Cousin
Ralph, have loved but he who alone
ever possessed my heart is cold in his
grave, and all my hope is buried with
him. Ralph, am now going to tell
you something which will cause you
pain, and what, had it not been for this
ayowal, you would never have known.
Zone day, as you remember, six
years ago, you came to my house, in
the absence of my husband to BEG
from me the means of assistance and
concealmcnt. In fit of passion YOU
had challenged a fellow student TO an
unlawful duel. You had fought, and
had fled, wounded yourself, from the
field where you left your contestant as
you thought MORALLY injured
you had succeeded in reaching the
Hall before the alarm was given and
the pursuit begun. listened to your
story with horror. You implored me
by the ties of blood and old acquaint-
ance, and for the honor of our name,
to hide you until your hurt should be
healed, and you could make your es
cape to another country. | did so.
The excitement in the town ran
high, for the young man you wounded
lay between life and death; but, at i'm
minent risk to myself, concealed you
in an empty Toulouse within my own
park, and ministered myself TO your
wants. By my action in thus befriend
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