The Forrest City times., 1891-02-13
One day when he was nearly we'll, as

1 One day when he was nearly well, @ went to his room, he said: Lloyd, am glad was hurt I have learned to know Annic's sweet disposition and gentle nature as never could in any other way"
 ''Shc Is dear, good girl" said, 'T can promise you that. We have always known each other"
 "Now, when leave hero, I shall know what precious darling am coming back for" he continued as though hs had not heard my words.
 Just then Annie came into the room, bright and happy. with a plate of tempting food, which she had prepared for him her self
 "What are you going to busy yourself about, Annie, when your Fred gets wsllp' i I asked.
 Think of what pleasure 1t was to wait on him, or to scold him if he did not mind me-" she answered gaily. l One evening Stella came to me and 1 perching herself on my knee, said: II want you to promise eternal secrecyl" What order of secret society are you go- ing to introduce nowr asked. taking her hand in mine. What is your grip and password'"
 "Oh, now, do be sober if you can," she said, q sh ade of vexation crossing her fair brow.
 "There, smooth out those wrinkles, pet, and I will promise anything you wish. Even to the half of my kingdom" l said.
 Annie came to my room to-day, and nestling in my arms she told me that she once thought she loved you When you left her to go to America and never told her of your love, shc thought she waa broken-hearted. She said that your moth CT and she had often talked about the fut- ure and that she had always thought she was to be your wife. She told how she lost her appetite, and would not read any. thing but love sick stories until she fan cied that she was dying. She even went 90 far as to write you letter telling you the cause of her death.
 But when you came homo and told her that you were soon to be married. she was ashamed of herself, stopped reading love stories and took her usual exercise on horseback and soon was her own self again, glad that you were going to marry me. and commenced planning what happy times we would have together again. Now she says she knows that she never loved you; that she would have been your slave
 
 never thought of her own fear of offend ing you.
 "She says thnt now she knows what 1t is to love and yet feel that she has an indi vidual existence Not like Hannah Jane, to be obliterated through her love but to be i strengthened and made more selt-reliant. "Then she looked up in my face and asked if that was the way felt toward you. l told her that 1t was and that it was always tine feeling where true hearts were united in close companionship. told her l believed true love made each feel equal to the other. No seryile fear of being re- proved of having thoughts and wishes of your own, or fear of expressing them. think most of her sorrow came from im- proper reading"
 'I do not doubt it." said T think a great many of the evils of life come from improper reading. It gives bad impulses. How careful parents and teachers should be in the books placed before the young. !" | My father used to say: let me choose 1 the books for child to read or study, un- til he is fifteen. then you may do what you will with the child after that and he will not change" said Stella. 'Yes. we need food for the mind as we'll as for the body. There is . life within that is of more value than the outer frame we call the body. The living, thinking 1 part Is eternal and the culture that we 1 give to 1t is never lostl' I said. 1 II have seen so many families where there seemed no thought of anything but dress and food The spiritual life was dwarfed and pinched. They go through 1 life without mutual love or sympathy. Just bare existence together with great l gulf of hopes and fears hid deep within their hearts," said Stella with . thought l ful look in her clear brown eyes. "Our deepest, holiest, purest thoughts are often hid beneath an indifferent man ner. We dare not utter the longings of 1 our hearts for fear of being misunderstood, | or giving offence. Shall 1t bs 30 with us, my darlings Shall we drift apart or shall VIC keep near together and know the sweet content and happiness that comes with mutual lewes 1 would know your every hope and share it, and your every trial tc help you bear 1t. We remember the pas, with pleasure only because we were to
 gether Will the compsnionship of years
 bring added pleasures as they pass, and find us still happy in each others love'"
 .l hope they may como laden with joy ous recollection of well spent timc." said my wife.
 To bs Censiauedl