The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-06-27

49, The Bulletins Daily Story. e,s::
80


'AtANN a N'HbtAA NV tltt - Es-t, hlttl Af
had called on Miss Vane twice i'll that
time He might have gone in with his
muddy boots and kath would have
welcomed him to her tlreside but he
could not 20 just then Perhaps he
would never 20 again. Kath would
prefer to have the whole affair come TO
an end If She knew the truth, He was
sure of that. He had ceased to love
her, and he could not keep up the pre-
tense any longer
They had been engaged for six years,
since kath was twenty-five and John
twenty-one. for She was Il year his
senior There had been but little love
making but John had always intended
to marry Kath when their fortunes
would permit. She was aging fast In
the district school, where She taught
year after year, and John Ind been
obliged 10 give UP his ambition for law
and become Mr. Nanes bookkoeper
His salary was small, but lie ana Kath
could manage to live on It. Many cou-
Pies in Mllyille lived on less, No
doubt she wondered why he did not
take her out Of the schoolroom
John always thought more Of himself
when with Rosamond than when with
Kath Kath was constantly urging
him on. True, She urged herself on.
She was continually striving after
what she called culture. She never al
lowed herself an idle moment, and she
sometimes told John that he did not
improve his time Poor John, lie
loved ease and luxury, and after the
work of the day was done he preferred
TO doze over his pipe and q novel to
keeping up" bis Greek and Latin or
reading something improving as
Kath wished He was tired Of strug-
Gle. and lie longed for q full, free life.
As lie stood ut Kaths window lie saw
d bare ana gray future stretching ont
before them Kath and himself over
worked and early old, With family
growing up TO succeed TO the same
humdrum life No, it would be better
for both if the engagement were bro
ken. But how could lie tel kath the
truth? How could he face her eyes 7
With d pang he remembered how true
she had hecn all these years. He felt
himself weakening lie could not 20
in and tell her tonight and lie walked
away. LIB
John climbed the stairs TO his Office
and sat down to smoke and think, lie
knew that he had to say but one word
and he could marry his employers
daughter. Rosamoud'S eyes had told
him so more than once, and her father
had taken pains to give his opinion
TINT brains and good looks were Il
match for money This life was full
Of promise, but there was Kath-poor
little Kath His thoughts became con-
fused. and he was soon asleep IN his
chair,
kath did not sleep The hours pass
cd. but she did not think Of going to
rest. once she rose and scanned her
own face in the glass what have |
10 give him?" she asked herself. "NOth-
Ing. And she has everything. | shall
not let him sacrifice himself. But, oh,
why could not / have something,
something beauty or money or talent :
don't blame him | can't expect 10
hold him"
Some lines of Robert Browning came
into her mind:
VINO art thou with stinted soul
And stuntcd body thus to cry
/ love? Shall that he nfe's straight dole
| must live beloved or die?
The words kept saying themselves
over and over to her, and she put her
hands mp to her ears as if to shut out
a sound. How often John had laughed
at her for reading Browning She
wished she had never seen those lines
The rain fell I'm torrents as tie night
wore on Kath vaguely remembered
hearing some talk mt the supper table
about the danger from the great dam
Just above the village. But she forgot
| # in thinking Of nearer troubles Ono
Of her brothers had hurtcd out some
| thing about John lloyt being solid
with Miss yone." anil her mother had
| looked at her with pity in her eyes
| She knew that John called at the great
white house. while he seldom came now
! to her study. She tried to face the iif,
t'lat lay before her. life without join
Hoy. She would give him up. She
lovfel him too well TO stand in his light
Ife l4snSt marry Miss Va1e and enjoy
the life Of luxury which he crayca
She opened her desk and wrote 9
note Then she took from her tlugcl
the plain gold band that John bad Civ
en- her. II was 10 have served tl,
double purpose Of a wedding and al
engagement ring. BY and by JOIN
had said. as he put II on her finger
when he could afford 1.-THE would give
IAer a solitaire. How long ago tina
seemed, She put The ring in an en-
velope with the rote and sealed it.
1T that moment she heard a SCUM
which made her drop the letter an.
rush 10 the door. There was a tunnel
in the street and her father and broth
ers came rushing down the stairs. call