The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-05-28

!: y The Bulletin $ Daily Story. y !:
's 10


: eessesee sass seooe
the name o. bar was not - De round
within its borders Yet my uncle
seemed to think that he had made the
whole matter clear TO me, A moment
later, however, perceiying that l was
still in doubt, he traced on the book
something which l took TO be "Dr"
A light broke upon me- ana | glanced
quickly at Mr., Truesdcll He was q
handsome young man, tail and strong
one of those athletic fellows WHO lose
flesh instead Of gaining it when they
give up the active sports of college
days and are usually pale when in
health. At this moment his face, clean
cut ana smooth shaven was very much
flushed, and there was a spot on each
cheek as red as paint He had been i'll
during the week, and | had heard my
aunt tell him on Friday that he ought
to 70 to bed and stay there. | knew
also that the First church had prepared
its mind for Il vacant pulpit on Easter
Sunday as result of my aunt's opin
Ion about Mr. TrueSdelrs case.
The principal local physician, Dr.
| Webster, had taken less serious
view, but on Saturday he had appeared
at our house accompanied by Il profess
sional brother from the neighborins
city of Granitevllle had not heard
his name Could ii have been Ebenezer
Blairg If 50, the situation was com
prehcnsible. DR.. Blair must have con-
cured with my aunt in predicting dis
aSter to the Rev. Mr., Truesdeil ii he
should venture forth from the house on
Sunday. And now the wise ones Of
our congregation were expecting a sen
sutional fulhllment Of the prophecy,
1t is worse than bad form TO turn
around in the First church Of Willetts
IIarbor during the sermon, yet | had
10 DO it. positively had to look at my
cousin, Nellie Stevens, up In the choir
There she sat Oh the organ stool bend
ing forward with her hands out
stretched 70 either side Of the broad
seat, her chin well up. her eyes gleam-
ing, her whole aspect ideally express
siye Of something. But what the dick
ems was it, AS humble yet diligent
student of the human countcnance |
might have yentured to say that she
looked defiant, proudly defiant. But
why?
Ny mind veered back to it, original
point Mr.. Truesdell must have said
something shocking, and Nellie was
defending him, mutely vet elolnently
defending him with the glow Of her
bright brown eyes and the fine, firm,
rcsolnte lips. If Nellie were not my
very own cousin-but let us return to
the subject | had perceived during
the week that the Rev. MIR. Truesdcll
was appreciated by more than one
member of my Uncle Dick stevens
household. My aunt thought we'll Of
him. as have already said, and what
Cousin NclIic thought or felt I'm sure
| couldn't tell | was never in love,
and even if had been that experience
might rather have deceived than
helped me, for there is not another diff
ference in this world so wide as that
between mans love and woman's.
do not mean to intimate that Nellie
had solved the secret Of her hearts
destiny in six days. Probably she had
conc no further than to hope that the
First church would accept Mr., Trucs-
dell as It's pastor. Surely she was TAX
inr the matter very seriously rs she
sat there on the organ stool face to
face with the candidate over the heads
Of the congregation
one glance 1t her was MI that |
dared TO take. Immediately turned
to Mr.. Truesdell and gave heed to his
discourse lie had taken MS his text
the familiar words, Seeing we also
arc Compasscd about with so great Il
cloud of witnesses" and had built up
a sermon from many simple parallels.
Re called the evening ANA the morn
ing rs his Witnesses the seed that IL
not quickencd except 1t die, the flow
crs that close their eyes in the dark
ness and open them TO greet the re
turning sun. II was al very pictur.
csQuc and expressed with q quaint pre-
cision savoring Of old times. What Of
Tense it could possibly have given |
was totally unable to understand, and
after listening a little while and r "iv-
ing to recall the earlier portions | was
driven back to the conclusion that it
was the state of Mr. Truesdc!ls health
that had disturbed lis hearers.
Undoubtedly the man was Iii and
growing worse. 1t became difficult for
him to control bis voice, and | was
even Of the opinion that he paused
sometimes for the mere purpose Of
collecting his wits
Thus speak the voices Of nature"
said he ut last. and the spiritually
minded among men have ever listened.
In their own hearts Glso they have
heard, and-and- They have spoken
remote from each other in time and
In place.
Tic paused and bent forward for
moment. When he raised his head |
saw that there were tears in his eyes.
Il regret, said he, speaking with
great effort, chat am unable to pro-
coed"
lie sank back upon the rcd cushioned
-nf, rr-,alt L.. L,1ll. .. rnlli,,.r nrl.la of