The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-11-23
said, smiling. since as yet know moth

inSi
And then the door opened and Hearts
ease came In, and went to her table laying
down Il packet wrapped in brown paper,
"Wlere have you been all this time"'
asked st. John, with something both in
tone and look that had Heartsease been
older she would probably have noticed, but
she only pointed to the packet and laughed
~ have been to the Strand" she said.
"To fetch thatw
Eyes, to fetch that. shall take II some.
where else tomorrow, though it's very little
good"
"Perhaps you may have better luck next
time said ST. John gently.
Heartsease shook her head
"Oh no, | think shall take to selling or.
anges; literature doesn't pay"
"You are oyer-young to say that. In
time"
son, in time" Interrupted the girl with a
kind Of bitterness most rare in her; "and
MEANWHILE" She stopped and bit her lip.
II must 90 and see how mother is" she add.
ed directly, and left the room.
When she came back ST. John was alone,
reading, or seeming to read.
Heartsease went to her table, put away
her manuscript, and drawing forth another,
began to write.
Meanwhile Mr. st. Johns conscience was
shifting him heavily; he felt horribly guilty
he must confess his sin.
He rose, dropped his book, and going to
Nlna's table, drew up chair and sat down.
The girl lifted her head in some surprise.
MAY interrupt you?" said he, looking
very penitent, and dangerously handsome
in his pentence, "0nly for few minutes"
For as longas you like" said IIeartsease,
with most perfect ndiuete. Have you com
mtted a crime?
"You may regard it as one" with hard.
ly perceptibe glance down to the table.
~? What do you meanY'
IL read the story that was lying on your
table"
Heartsease flushed crimson, and her grey
eyes flashed angrlly
st. John had never seen her angry before,
and she looked more lovely than ever.
you ought not to have done it, she said
sit was not right
She was trembling with emotions she
could not have analysed-her very veXation
was in truth because this man, of all people,
had read what she thought stupid, and he
must have laughed at it, and laughed at her
for imagining such trash could possibly
prove acceptable to the least discriminating
of editors
But st. John did not divine the occult
cause of her wrath, and the almost harsh
words cut him to the quick.
The blood rushed even to his brow; he
stretched out his hand speaking almost
pasSionately:
you must not be- 50 angry with me-" he
said. TRY to forgive M. know l ought
not to have done it, but | saw it by chance,
and began to read, and was drawn on. l
wanted very much to read something of
yours, and never liked to ask YOU"
II would not have let you read such stuff
if you had"
1T is not stuff; 1t is very clever. was
delighted with it,"
g. am not child to be fattered into a good
humor," said lleartsease cOldly, and keep
Ing her eyes resoiuttly on the page before
her
81 am not ilattering you'll am saying
what | think, Are you really so angry with
me?'
Heartsease took up her pen but her hand
trembled, and she was far too much agitated
to WRIT.
A pause; then st. John bent forward q
little.
"lIeartsea e." he said, under his breath,
put your hand in mine, in token that you
for i've me-
That last appeal was irresistible; indeed
the girl was ready to burst into tears, and
own herself in the wrong before it was
made.
Instantly the pen was dropped and the
little white hand was put into the shapely
brown one, aud clasped so closely that
Katie, in Ninas place, would have OWNED
the presence Of some deeper feeling than
any called forth merely by the immediate
episode.
"You must forgive me-" said the grl, with
quivcrug lips 81 was silly to be so vcxed."
"IIu,h-hush! do not say that"
He stopped, as If he could not say more,
and indeed he could not If he would not saw
too much. and suddenly he stopped and
kissed the hand he held; then he released
1t, and rose rather abruptly, walking TO the
other end of the room.
He came back presently; his face had
changed again. lie was smilng,and Hearts
ease smiled too, though she had an odd be-
wildcred fe ling in her heart
'lf you have quite forgiven me- said he,
pausing by the table, "wll you prove it,"
Howe
We'll in two ways, will only speak Of
one now. have orders for the Vaudeville
tomorrow evening. Would you and your
sister Kate honor me with your company"
lleartsease's face showed how great the
pleasure would be 10 her; theatres were too
expensive an amusement to be often indulg-
ed in; this would be vast treat, besides
Only lleartsease did not quite realize that
"Oh, you are too good. We should be so
delighted! know Kate would ike to 20.
will ask her. Thank you so much~
THANK you, rather" said st. John, "for
your Willingness to favor me-"
Jennie at that moment entered to lay the
luncheon-c,otl, and ST. John went back to
his b00l.
CHAPTER V.
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