The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-07-23
BY AID OF
MORPHEUS
BY MARVIN DANA
Copyright, by Joseph b. Bowles,)

Dy cOfHHlO1 consent the Otner
, paused when Madam la Baronne d,
Vaux began to speak. The daint.
Frenchwoman was a favorite with all
and she was usually sure of listeners
to whatever she chose to say.
"Ah, that little village" she crie1
gaily.' THAT little village all of wood
with its wooden church! But II
France it had been all of brick anG
stone. Yet it was like-oh SO very
like!--a tiny place quite near ouI
chateau. And it was there that some
thing happened once, something droll
and sweet"
Madam la Baronne paused end
smiled and the sweetness in her face
deepened, and the drollness flashed in
her black eyes.
Tell us, please tell us, madam" the
Others clamored.
Surely" the baroness replied.
There was a dear old boy lived in
the village, and, too, a dear old lady.
He was an old bacnelor and she was
an old maid. Once, years and years
and years ago, she and ne had been
sweethearts. Somehow they could not,
/ or would not, marry. He went away
| for years, while she remained in the
village always. Then at last he came
back, and they were good friends
! They We're too old to marry, or so they
| thought. But every evening he called
on her, and they sat ana chatted on
the yeranda when the season was
right, and at other times they sat in
| two great chairs before the little fire
in the little parlor of her cottage.
zone winters night, when the air was
most biting and their old blood chilled
by the frost of it, they sat Sozily In
the parlor as always, and the old gem
tleman, | suppose, was very busy TO
heap the tiny fire high and to keep the
blaze brisk, SO that they sat snugly in
their huge chairs and basked in the
warm glow, and chatted lazily ana
drowsily of the past days, when love
was hot in their young hearts"
Madam la Baronne broke off and
ran her merry eyes over the group
about her.
Have none of you read the tale?"
she questioned. No? Well there Is
little more. Indeed, | have only to
finish now. In the morning, when the
bonnie entered the parlor to dust it and
put things straight, she found the dear
old gentleman and the dear old lady
In their great chairs before the dying
fire in the tiny CRATE. and they were
sound asleep
The baroness smiled. and laughter
ran in the circle around her.
They were married as quickly az
the law would allow. Otherwise there
must have been a whisper of scandal
And, oh, | am sure that they live
happy ever after; yes, even as happ,
as before!"
The group chartered merrily oven
the narrative and thanked the racou
leuse with enthusiasm.
And now let us have some music
the baroness suggested, and turned t.
a patriotic American. "Of. course
that means you, Mr. Blennen."
Blennen's dark, thin face lighted
With pleasant smile, as he nodded
an assent to the general demand. but
before he rose from his chair his eve
wandered toward a woman at a little
distance from him and there they rests
'c with a suggestion of expectation in ,
heir gaze. Almost instantly the
woman turned to meet his look. and
The spoke eagerly:
"oh, please, Mr. BIennen."
A. the words glow of pleasure !
hone from the musicians face. and he
fastened toward the piano.
The early summer night of the Hud- /,
on valley was soft languorous, silent.
ave for the restful droning of the in
ects. Through the open windows o,
he great drawing-room came the lux J.
rious minglea perfumes of many bios
oms. II was a night and a companv !
or music. For BIennen, though
be inheritor of a pffncely fortune IA
Tas a master of music. o
When he had finished. and the crowd /,
enthusiasts at last allowed him 10 .
reak from their compliments. he went
, her d,
She made place beside her and
ashed a glance Of fond pride upon n
I'm.
1T was wonderful, wondersul9 she o
led. softly. Your genius, Vance is h
} true-so splendidly truei All. when n
listened to you, my soul went float.
X in a magic land of harmony. l. D.,
She broke OF abruptly Then. with
lrdly a seconds pause. she continued a,
iyly:
Il should never mind my insomnia al,
| could lie and hear yos playing nj
Poor child! you don't show any sic, A..
H. You are as fresh and dainty. as -,
yely and superb IS ever-more beau pl
al In my eyes. Grace"
The woman blushed and dropped no, h,
re in confusion at The passion ir
S voice. Her silence emboidcnaf 81,
m. and he continued in an eager y,
lisper: =,
Tell me. Grace. is not my happiness
ming 10 me sOOn-sOOn?" wi
But the woman raised her hand an. 81
alingly, whilst she avoided the long
: eyes: tn