The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1907-01-06


= a queer sort OF voice
'rhe whole miserable story burs
forth, as from a volcano | sat dow
heavily on the nearest seat--we wer
in Temple Gardens--and gasped. Ill
chung to me, and instructed me tina
she was a dear. They Away
are. you know That her name wa
Muriel I'm sorry to drag yo'
into It,"
Never mind that Please so on
I'm SO anxious to hear the moral
Don't be impatient. ! talked abou
his career; and about marrying in
haste | expounded that he hadnt
known her long enough
THAT she was primarily only a
cashier; and that she had been in a
shop?'
NO, Those facts were patent--and
didn't SO much matter But he was
infatuated
"Wel?"
Eat my earnest request. he kept
away from her for week | said that
he would get her into a row, and make
her lose her place. That no doubt,
she was poor--and had relatives. |
was quite a father to him.
Didn't it strike vow that the girl
might have had feelings?"
Providence made me essentially
normal. Everything eat digests. you
know. But pray hear the denouement
4 Wally came back at four o'clock He
had seen the girl and had asked her
the great question. And she
had said NO"
| paused to give this effect. My
companion was looking away. Her
small hands were restless in her lap.
She spoke to me presently, very soft
and low. Were you surprised" she
inquired, neryously
Very But nay respect for Miss
Muriel went up at bound ! began
to be angry with Rollison. told him
he hadn't asked her properly. He Aso-
tested misarably that he had implored
until she had told him that there
was someone else.
Someone else?"
More in her own position, she had
declared And then had incontinently
commenced to cry Quietly and pa
thetically Wally said. He couldn't
understand anything but the NO. He
came away
Was there anything else to under
stand?'
Now you are touching the problem
Of course there wasn't someone else
/ saw through that. after ten minutes
hard thinking. The plucky little beg
gar had judged the case as had. She
really loved him. and so wouldn't let
him take the risk
And possibly she thought that he |
would lose his friends, as well as his |
chance. That his mother would per
haps-'
How well you see It, interrupted |
His mother you would never |
credit it: but she actually told Wally |
to try again. Said she was sure that
no boy of hers would ever ask her to
love a new daughter who wasn't
worthy felt awfully mean and small
when | heard him answer that fair
play was a jewel That he wasn't go
ing to ask the little girl to be disloyaI"
why did you feel mean
Because ! only had to tell what I
had guessed--which, mind you, I'm
as certain of as am of anything in
Iife-and he would have gone back.
And would have persuaded her, in
time"
In time!
Eyes. made a few inquiries, dis
creetly. myself She had left the shop
and had gone home; and, all the while,
[ knew in my heart that she would
make him the best little wife in the
world. SIZE would have helped him
Don't you think I'm beast?'
Perhaps you were wrong About
he guess, | mean. She mi-ht have
lad another lover
She hadn't, absolutely
If they had married-would you, as
me OF his friends, have cared to still
NOW him? They would have been
,oor, and through it all-the worry. I
nean-he might have failed Again,
he mightn't have been his equal
Il feeta culprit, / protested When
yer see his face, it comes home to
nc. | ought to tell him
Would you be best man at
is wedding
"The problem again, I have seen
0 many unhappy marriages. and
ct"
My companion turned towards me
nee more, and her gray eyes seemed
D hold tears. 1t was full dusk in the
oon the Cabling riot going on-pic-
lres and shows, and mediums and
were curiously remote
felt myself strangely drawn towards
he little girl. She put out her
and as if TO take something from
line. Don't you feel that she was
.ght?" she asked. gently and patient
=. Then. altering her tone, she con
Iuded abruptly, IN take your check,
lease
] knew her. thea. knew that I had
nown her all a'ong OF course. of
1ursei That tde contralto voice;
hose unforgetable eyes answered
or soberly We have both been
.rong: but Wally was right. 1t is