The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1905-08-30


Il don't think it will be necessary,
Miss olden," he said, gently. 81 can do
that for you at some future time"
And could have Rugged him; but
didn't dare.
We had tea there in the Board rooms. |
Oh, Mag. remember how We used TO
peep into those awful imposing Board |
rooms. Remember how strange and |
resentful you felt-like poor little red
haired Niger up at the bloek-when |
you were brought in there to be shown
to the woman who'd called to adopt you! !
Ii was all so strange that | had TO
keep talking TO keep from dreaming. !
was talking away to the matron and the
bishop about the playroom I'm going
to fit up ont of that bare little place up
stairs. Perhaps the same child doesn't
stay there very long. but there'n always
be children to fill it-more's the cruel
pity!
Then the bishop and / climbed up
| there to see il and plan about it. But
| couldn't really see it. Mag. nor the
poor. white-faced, wise-eyed little waits
| that have succeeded us, for the tears
] in my eyes and the ache at my heart and
the queer trick the place has of being
peopled with you and me, and the boy
with the gouged eye, and the cripple.
and the rest.
He put his gentle thin old arm about
my shoulders fer a moment when he
saw what was the matter with me. Oh,
he understands, my bishop! And then
we turned to go downstairs.
OH want want to do some
thing for them" cried Il want to do
something that counts, that's got
heart in it. that knows! You knew,
didn't you. it was true-what | said
downstairs? was-I am Cruelty girl
Help me to help others like me-
MY dear" he said very stately and
sweet. "I'll be proud to be your assist
ant You've kind, true heart and"
And Just at that minute, as | was pre-
ceding him down the narrow steps, a
girl in a red coat trimmed with chin
chilla and in a red toque with some of
the same fur blocked our way as she
was coming up.
1
two peaeocks spread their tails and strut
as they pass each other? Well, the
peacock coming up wasn't in 1t with
the one going down Her coat wasn't
SO fine, nor SO heavy, nor so newly,
smartly cut. Her toque wasn't 80 big
nor so saucy and the fur on it-not to
mention that the descending peacock
was a brunette and we'll, Mag,
had my day Miss Evelyn Kingdom
paid me back in that minute for all the
envy I've spent on that pretty rig OF
hers,
She didn't recognize me, of course,
even though the two red coats were so
near as she stopped to let me pass. that
they kissed like sisters. ere they parted
But. Mag, Nancy Olden never goi
3 naughty that there wasn't fall waiting
for her Back Of Miss Kingdom stood
) Mrs. Kingdon--still Mrs. Kingdom
S thanks to Nance Olden-and behint
y her, at the foot Of the steps, was
Il frail little old-fashioned bundle o
a black satin and old lace. lost m,
4 breath when the bishop hailed his wife
Maria" he saidsome men say thei
Z wives first names all the years D
/ their lives as they said them on thai
# wedding day want you to NEE
i Miss Olden-Nance Olden, the come
J. dian. She's the girl wanted for m
daughter-you'l remember, it's NOR
q than year ago now since | began t
talk about herr"
, | held my breath while | waited 70
! her answer. But her poor, short
sighted eyes rested on my hot fac
I without sign
Its an old joke among us" sh
4 said, pleasantly, about the bishop
/. daughter"
We stood there and chatted, an
. the bishop turned away to speak t
# Mrs. Kingdom. Then seized m
. chance
n 1--we heard, Mrs. Van Wagenen,"
o said. softly, and oh, as nieely as
u could, "of your fondness for lace. w
u are going abroad in the spring N
r husband and |. TO Malta, among otne
,e places Can't get you piece they
e, as a souvenir OF the bishops kindnes
If to me?''
N Her little lace-mittened, parchment
i'd like hands clasped and unclasped wit
~ an almost childish eagerness.
Ig "Oh, thank you, thank you vel
lie much; but If you would give the sam
ID sum to charity"
h, Il will | laughed She coulda
guess how glad was to do this thin
le And III spend Just as much on yot
lie lace and be so happy If you'll accel
B. it."
h promised Henrietta box for Il
night, Maggie, and one to Mrs. Kin,
ne don. The dowager told me she'd 10,
lie to come, though her husband is OF
at of town, unfortunately, she said.
But you'll come with me. won
d. you, bishop she said, turning to hlr
ID And you. Mrs, yaD?"
he The Bishop blushed Was he thin
O. ing Of Beryl | wonder But | didn
:" hear his answer, for 1t was at til
ut moment that caught Freds voic
ed He had told me he was going to ca
H. for me. think he fancied that {
- old Cruelty would depress me-