The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-01-27

uoI ulBN, 6u0 ulInOSL DeIOr0 bD0 WAS
aware Of II she found herself within
his arms.
my darlingl' he said, fondly, "is IL
not hard that cannot bid you rejoice
with me, because know what you
must feel on your poor sisters &C.
"You know what has happened thenp"
Intercepted Bertha, In surprise, gently
disengaging herself.
KNOW" repeated st. Lawrence,
puzzled in his turn.
"You know, mean, that the man
who called himself Mr.. Fancourt has
proved an impostor or worsep Sir
Stephen Langley has been here to tell
mamma" Bertha said.
us that all, Berthal Did Sir Steph-
en- say no morep" st. Lawrence asked,
smiling down upon her troubled face.
"Morey" Bertha said, again taking
alarm. ITS there moro to hearp"
Look up, dearest-look at mel" st.
Lawrence cried, drawing her toward
him again. "Do look as IL the more
were anything very terrifying or dread
fulp"
Bertha raised her eyes to her lovers
face. The color mantled on her cheeks
us 1t something you have heard
about yourself2" she said, eagerly
1.-THE mystery you told me Of is at an
endp'
"Yes. dear, at an end for ever" st.
Lawrence replied. Did Sir Stephen
not tell Mrs. Dalton that Lord Alph-
ington had discovered the heir whose
place that impostor had usurpedY"
IL don't know. Mamma did not say"
Bertha answered. Il think she could
not ute have understood.
And yet 1t is not difficult to under
stand" said st. Lawrence. "Eustace
Sedley is my cousin. He took advant-
age OF having the same Christian name,
OF being OF the same age, and Of know
ing all my antecedents to usurp my
place. He employed that old friend of
yours in the omnibus to rob me of the
proofs was bringing over to England
In order to claim my rights. And now
II is Eustace Fancourt who claims the
promise made to Eustace st. Lawrence
he comes TO renew the pledge given
by the poor landscape-painter."
Bertha's eyes. fixed upon the face Of
her betrOthed, dilated as he spoke, she
turned pale. lie led her to chair, and,
kneeling before her, clasped her hands
In his.
bertha, dearest" he said, what is
itp What do you fear?" But for all
answer she leaned her head on his
shoulder, and burst into tears.
St. Lawrence soothed and cheered
her with many loving words, telling her
how Lord AIphiDgton was prepared to
welcome her. And then he drew a pic
ture Of the comfort they would be to
his old age, they two together, till Ber-
tina looked up and smiled through her
tears. As one remembrance after an
other came over her, her cheeks became
snffused with bushes, and she again
hid her face on her lovers shoulder.
"And / told you OF that prophecy
about the ring" she said. but ! did
not know"
mo, you didn't know, but I did" re-
joined Eustace, smiling. II didn't
think then 1t would come true, though,
for I believed It was Douglass life you
would bless, not mine"
They were too much absorbed in each
other to hear footsteps, and before
Bertha had time to reply the door
opened and Mrs. Dalton entered. See
ing st. Lawrence sitting by Bertha's
side. with her hands in his, she uttered
an exclamation Of surprise and conster-
nation. She did not know that any one
was there, and had come into the room
to see II any preparations for the morn
ing had been made that ought to be
cleared away.
st. Lawrence rose from his seat and
went toward her as she stood in the
doorway, the picture OF stupe6ed aston
ishment.
MAY I hope that the interdict Il
taken of, Mrs. Dalton?" he asked
"Will you shake hands with me now,
and give me favorable hearing to the
petition have to maker"
"Oh, Mr.. st. Lswrence-Mr. Fan.
court, I meant am 80 gladl" respond
ed the poor lady, recovering her speech.
"I always liked YOU, and 1 never liked
Mr.. Fancourt-Mr. Sedley, that is, I
mean. 1t will be Q great relief to Lena,
were telling Berthap"
YES, I found she was not aware that
It was my place Sedley had usurped,"
Eustace replied. "Do | understand you
that Miss Dalton feels the breaking of
of this marriage q relief? | am most
happy to hear that she views 1t in that
II dare say you are, Mr.. Fancourt,"
said Mrs. Dalton, taking the chair from
which Bertha had risen. ~ am afraid
you will have to excuse Lena this even
ing; she has naturally been good deal
upset, and think she is living down."
Eustace begged Miss Dalton might
not be disturbed on his account--he was
agood deal puzzled as to why he should
DO supposed to wish to see her. Bertha
took the opportunity of making her es-
cape, leaving her mother and lover to-
| gether. Ds.-t...-. ......... .''....
Mrs. Dalton was little taken aback
by the GOODNESS of st. Lawrence's tone:
she had expected that he would be in
OBSTACLES on finding Lena free. She be-
gan to smooth down her dress. as was
her habit when she did not very well
know what to say. ., -
II should not have left the house this
evening without asking to see YOU, ~ st.
Lawrence began, as he stood before
her, LAS 1 said, l have petition to
make" ......
NOW IL Is coming" thought Mrs.
Dalton, and she folded her hands. and
cleared her throat, and prepared to lis
ten with becoming dignity.
II have long loved your dauohter
Mrs. Dalton" he went on, forgetting at
tne moment that there was any one else
In the world but Bertha, land I am
proud to say that l have received the