The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-09-14
MADCAP MAY.


staying At Orwell House ran after her, and
oil the women, as = natural consequence,
were desperately jealous Of her. .....
Had Orwell House been private man.
sion, this state Of Affairs might have pro-
duced serious complications, but AS it was
simply clearinghouse, where people
could come for as short or as long y time
AS they chose, and could 60 away at mo
ment's notice, provided only that they
paid their bills, masculine infatuation and
feminine jealousy were matters which did
not concern the two eminently respecta-
BILE ladies who presided over the establish.
ment.
They listened to May Ralston's rattle,
they also listened TO many spiteful things
said about her, and In each case they
smiled and prudently forebore to utter q
word that could give offence to any one.
So Madcap May, as sue was often called,
pursued the uneven tenor OF her way,
equally untouched, by the aduIation or
the envy 30 freely awarded her.
alt is most singular proceeding for Q
girl whe claims TO be gentlewoman, to
20 careering about the country with no
other protector than boy Of fourteen
remarked Mrs. Prudhom, sneeringly,
when our heroine was the subject of con
versation.
"Indeed, does Miss Ralston 90 career
Ing about the countryp asked a quiet,
mild looking lady who had arrived in DO
yercourt the previous day.
"Yes,-at least don't know what else
you can call it," was the somewhat con.
fused reply. "There is some story told
about her father having left her here, and
about married cousin coming to chape-
rome her, but no father has been here in
my time, or cousin either, and | and my
girls will have been here three weeks To.
morrow"
"Then you think the father and cousin
are myths" asked Mrs. Drake, quietly.
Mrs. Prudholm shrugged her shoulders
expressiyeiy as she said.
"lt doesn't matter much what think
you and Miss Ralston became friends at
once, observed, aud therefore you will
no doubt be prejudiced in her favor; still,
even you, Mrs. Drake, must admit that it
l. not the correct thing for an unmarried
girl to 90 out In boat with Captain Fer.
rs and Mr.. Smythe, and only her little
asking any other lady to join the party
"There you are in error, Mrs. Prud.
holm, for she urged me to 30 with her; but
l ain afraid Of the water" said Mrs. Drake.
"But as you would not go, she could have
Invited somebody else. | would have al.
lowed either Of my daughters to have gone,
out OF sheer kindness to poor mothe rless
girl, or would have even joined the par.
~ myself with both my daughters"
"Why didn't you volunteer TO do SOP
asked the newcomer, with slightly eleyat-
ed eyebrows; "surely the offer should have
come from you"
"No, ii should not" replied Mrs. Prud.
holm, with great dignity; "only last week
allowed IN! sympathy TO get the better
OF my Judgment, and my daughters and
were neglected most shamefully. What
the men can see in herl cannot imagine"
mo, nor can j." here chimcd in Mrs
Thurrold, the jealous wife Of careless
husband, and mother Of three mismanaged
children.
"rhen you don't admire Miss Ralstonp
asked Mrs. Drake, sNeetiy. OIL.
"No; but my husband does" was the
spiteiul reply; ..he even carries his adml'
ration so far as to order me to be civil 10
her, and though l do all in my power to
keep him and the children from following
her about, don't in the least succeed"
"Tnere can't he mitch harm in tie girl,
il the children like her." remarked Mrs
Drake, quietly.
81 don't know about that" was Mrs
ThorrOid's dubious reply.
ia, lyls - interim n p1
by tue entrance OF May Ral,ton herself.
sue came into the room with her
face flushed, her eyes bright, her wayy,
1uty brown hair hanging III pretty disor'
der about her pleasant sweet oval face
and she swung her wide blue-lined hat IN
her hand, as she looked laughinsly at three
children who followed at her heels, and
then addressing herself to Mrs. ThOrrold
said @gge
erred wants to 20 III my canoe with me
Mrs. ThorrOld; viii you trust him to my
carc:' IVA
"And want to 60 too" clamored both
the other children. S9ss:
III can only take one alta time," said
May to the noisy brood; then, glancing al
their mother, she repeated her question
w III you W S~AS' NeSA
rold!' M Y9."t
"Certainly not, Miss Ralston; SHOULD
have thought you might have been salts
lied with robbing me of the affections o
my husband without trying to steal m!
childrens love from me-" Aud Mrs
Thorrold's face became white with rag
as she uttered this outrageous imperti
nence. t4e
May Ralston, Tor n moment stood petri
fed with establishment. sfS.-
The accusation was so cruelty unjust
the outburst of petty spite SO utterly TN
called-for. .
Sne had played with the spoilt children
but it had been to please them, not TO
her own amusement; and as for their ia
ther, she had not spoken to him dozel
times in her life.
Staring at Mrs. Thorrold with Devil
dered gaze, she next turned her eyes up
on Mrs. Prudholm, to see if she concurret
In condemning her. ..
But that worthy matron, though she hat
her own little spites and jealousies, coult
not sit .tamely by and see o mOtherless cir
gratuitously insulted In that way, ant
feeling for once an impulse Of honest In
dignation, she rose to her feet and said
UFor shame, Mrs. oThorrold, you hav
forgotten yourself, and your remark is mos
unladylike." ..-.---.-.a--....---.--..
"And most unwarranttd," added Mrs
Drake, likewise rising; "and l shall IN
form Miss Budd that must take my cous
in away from her house, If she Is to re