The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-05-22

escape, she was with the widow, who
always received her with the utmost
kindness. Bertha did not dare to in
vite her friend to return those Wis
its, for Bluffkins had ruthlessly forbid
den her to have any callers.
One, day, during the leafy month of
June, Bertha ran over to the pretty
white cottage occupied by her friend.
She found the widow at home en-
gagged in conversation with tall,
handsome man, whom she introduced
rs "My brother, Captain Humphreys. y
Bertha felt shy and awkward, for
she had never been in company with
tine-looking young man before, and
the stranger kept his large blue eyes
fixed on her face with an unmistakable
expression of admiration that was very
confusing.
When Bertha rose to 90, the captain
took up his hat, and remarked to his
sister carelessly:
81 need stroll, lilly; viii escort
Miss Blutfkins home"
Men are stupid creatures, it is useless
to deny it, or George Humphreys must
have seen the winks and blinkS his sis
ter so freely bestowed upon him-he
did not see them, and he marched out
of the house followed by a large liver
colored dog.
Bertha's heart tluttered like anewly-
caught bird between happiness and APP
prehension.
George Humphreys and Bertha did
not fall in love like other people; they
tumbled into it, perfect abyss of love
head over heels. Before they reach
ed the door OF Blufkins's castle, George
came very near asking Bertha to be
his wife; and if he had done so she
would have said Yes, there is not the
slightest doubt ABOUT it.
When they drew near they espied
Biutfkins sitting on the front steps
watching Hodges watering the flowers,
for Biuffkins was very proud OF his gar
den, and he was not above supcrintend-
inc Hodges operations therein.
He had large dutch pipe in his
mouth, and when he saw his daughter
approaching with a young m.n, lie
took it out to give room for the over
flow Of oaths that instantly rushed up
his throat.
Bertha could not hear the hgwery
language of her ancestor. but she
guessed pretty well what STYLE Of con-
versation would greet her a. soon Is
the stranger had taken his departure.
Papa, she said in a shaky voice,
this is Captain Humphreys, Mrs, Nor
gan brother,
'Good-dav, sir, - growled BUfhins,
looking ike the pictures used to illus
trate Jack and the Beans,a'k," the
pictures OF the giant
"Good-day sir. Very pretty garden
YOU
What else he was going to say no
| one will ever know, for at that mo-
ment an ominous grow was heard, and
| Blufkin's dog tumbled down the front
steps Oh 'hospitable thoughts intent.
and grasped the captains dog by the
ear.
| For a short time the whole atmos-
| phere was full OF yelps, oatns, and wat
er-cans, hurled nj the contending par
ties but it was no use. Bluffkip dOr
was one Of the John Bull species, and
when he once took hold, did not know
now to let 90; but the captains dog
was Cuban bloodhound, with a ter
rible depth of jaw, and he had Bluff
kin's dog by the throat, and in spite
of buckets OF water thrown over them,
they did not relax their grip till Boxer
| passed TO that bourne from whence no
traveller returns. -
Then YOU ought 10 have heard Bluff
kins 1t was well worth while-he
Wed with Hodges, who burst into tor
rent Of adjuration. They viewed the
dead body Of their priceless favorite
and danced war-dance around his
| mangled remains-tbey stopped the
clocks in the neighborhood by the force
and beauty Of their illusions 10 events
past and present Two maiden sisters
Of uncertain age went and notified their
landlord that they would move out
next May, and crowds of small boys
assembled around the gate waiting for
the murder to take place.
The captain took ii rather coolly, he
| expressed his sorrow, but nobody
heard it. Bertha fled the scene, lock-
ed herself in her chamber and stuffed
her ears with cotton. Biddy ran out
and began to express unlimited salts
faction over the death Of the canine IA
vorite, but the untimely Joy was cut
short by a box on the ear, administer
ed by Hodges, which nearly knocked
her brains out.
This assault and battery was prompt
ly followed up by Hodges receiving a
pair of elegant black eyes from the
captain.
| The little boys spirits rose, and they
cheered vociferously, and chung to the
palings in raptures of anticipation.
Il suppose it is no use to remain
here, " said the captain, striking a
match on the porch and lighting his CT
gar. 81 may as well take my depar-
ture for the present till the old man
has a lucid interval. I'll call tomor-
row and offer to get decent dog for
l him to, swear and curse over; if he took
such STOCK iii that NANCY cur, he would
fall down and worship any respectable
= animal"
, So saying the captain walked off, fol
lowed by his victorious dog, which was
eyed with admiration by the small
. boys, who felt disposed TO offer tcsti
monial to the cause Of Boxers demise
fnr tho 1,uIo bln o,fnrrtu 10 g,bn,l- 81,