The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-12-07
Mrs. VernCn's BOarder,
CHAPTER VII.
THE BIRTHDAY

Heartsease's plate at breakfast the next
morning presented a curious appearance,
being piled up with packages the paSe OF
which was one that looked like book; but
the whole was covered with table-napkin'
the rule in the family being that the pres
ents were not looked at until all were pres
ent.
Heartsease was generally the first down.
and when she entered the d'nlngToom, sue
smiled as she beheld the little mountain,
and saw at once who had been entrusted
with its arrangement to-day, as 81, Joilh
rose from chair near the window ana came
forward to greet her
81 wonder" he said, holding her hand IN
his IF | am the first to wish you many nap
DIV returns of the day, neartsease|'
YES" she said, well-peased that II was
so, 1.-The very first"
~ am glad of that, though am afraid II
is selfish 10 say so. But no ones Wish Is
more heartfelt than mine
He lifted her hand TO his lips before ne
released it, and Heartsease could only say
"Thank YOU" and went and sat down by
the fire with that sweet bewiIdcrmcnt III her
heart again.
Dottie came in next, and rushed up to her
sister in high state of excitement when
was increased to exploding point when the
rat-tat of the postman sounded at the door,
Dottie ran out, and returned with letter
which she took TO ST. John. lie nodded
and laughed.
For Heartsease," he said, and Dottie
marched up to her sister with 1t.
OF course Heartsease saw the whole thlng
at once, and knew whose hand had in effect
traced those large characters on the en-
yelope; but she was duly puzzled, marvel
ling who could have sent the letter she had
never seen the handwriting etc.
open it!' cried Dottie, no longer able to
contain herself, and Heartsease obeyed
There was the pretty card, inscribed nc
dear Heartsease, from her loving Dottie,
and Dottle was Immediately involved in
loving embrace, and treated to more kisses
than St. John thought fell justly to hel
share, and he felt good deal inclined to
mand more impartial Distribute"
Then the letter was opene,,u
my darling Heagtiif, and big, and stag.
The letley'were clearly Albert St. Johns
gly, ppbrk, and the girls heart thrilled
nth sweet wild JOY, and her cheek flush
ed with sudden shyness, almost as if he
had said the words; but she read the letter
aloud, in accordance with Dotte's COM
mand, and then kissed Dottie again.
'And you wrote it all your own self,
pussy?' she said. You have grown clev-
erw
abr cried Dottie, ''Mr st. John wrlted
1t partly-he helped me; wasn't 1t doodP Do
you mind, Heartease?'
Mind! Did she know or did she only feel
that the letter would be SO much more pre-
cious because he had written il?
'Why should mind?" she said. 1T was
very kind of him TO help you"
II think enjoyed the business as much
as she did, said st. John. Didn't we keep
our secret well, Dottie?"
The others now came in, and there were
more greetings, AID then Heartsease was
allowed to remove the covering and inspect
her presents.
Each had given one with a birthday-card
attached, and there remained the fiat packet.
How her heart beat as she opened it, not
looking at ST. John who sat by the fire.
place.
She came first to birthday-card that
elected a chorus Of admraton-the central
design being cluster Of hearSeases, and on
the back was written.
with birthday greetings from Albert St.
John"
The book was an exquisite copy OF
Geothe's "FauSt," in the original for Ii arts
ease was good German scholar.
With trembling fingers she turned to the
hy-leaf.
Nina Vernon (HeartseaseJ, from \ bert
ST. John"
The girl turned to him, her sweet face
flushing her eyes sparkling, half tearful,
her lips Quiyering,
Thank you 50 much" she said. INV
kind Of YOU to think Of me. You coul NOT
have chosen anything liked better"
Il am happy in being so fortunate he
said smiling.
Perhaps If they two had been alonr. he
would have asked gift for gift he coul not
have resisted the temptation to gather the
slender form into his arms, and kis. tho soft
lips that trembled in thankinghim. but nny
he could speak collectedly though his heart
was wildly questioning whether the p,I 5
emotion was due 10 q deeper feeling Than
her words expressed; she was so sens i've
10 Kindness, so quick to feel gratitude that
II would be easy for a man who should offer
some such attention as this 10 imagine no
had made an impression on her affections.
II seemed TO 81. John that after the excite,
mput "A tla yt,ti, l,.l .,,.l.
there was certain constraint about Mrs.
vernon and the two elder girls, q certain
forced brightness even in bright lIeartseaSe;
he longed to ask what the trouble was, but
ne must not even appeario notice that there
was anything wrong.
After breakfast Katie went out TO her
work, and the day passed much as usual
But shortly after dinner, while Hearts
ease was putting Dottie TO bed, and Mrs
vernon was IN her room, Jenny brought In
letter which she gave TO Katie.
The girl turned very white, and instantly
left the room, and little while later ST.
John heard her call out "Heartseasen in that
peculiar tone Of voice that indicates peri or
alarm. A long time elapsed before anyone
returned to the drawingroom, and then IL
was Katie, with very pale tear-stalned
face.
"Flossie," she said quietly, Ego to bed,
dear, II Is late;" and she seated herself by
the fire, not uttering another word, until
Flossie had said goodnight and departed
Then she turned TO 81. John, who had riser
TO open the door for Fossle--he never failed
In such courteous attention even TO mere
schoolgirl Flossle-and now stood BY The
p,antelpicce.