The Forrest City times., 1901-12-27

So tAab Sacn ANlH-> TOT Ills mother.
 If Nellie were here now" he thought. regretfully. she would have had everything ready for our first holiday dinner together. and New Year is such a suitable day upon which to begin married life" With this thought. the cheerful tune Jack was whistling came 10 an abrupt close, and an expression of sacness erept into his face: then the chopPing bowl was pushed aside, and he buried his face in his hands
 'lt k useless. he groaned, II can never get over it; cannot he brave. Oh. Nellie, Nellie, I cannot live my life without you. and-I won't"
 Jack had decided to be farmer without consulting the girl he loved. principally because he had never told her he loved her. and SO had no 1 claim upon her. He had believed that a man had no right to propose marriage to a girl until he had a home to offer her. and SO he had gone alone into the prairie wilder ness and taken up his battle against poverty Single-handed He had been unusually successful. and in three years he had secured the little home in which We find him. and he owed no man penny. Then he had gone back 10 the old homie. to find Nellie Rogers and ask her Ia be his wife He had thought of her SO long as mistress of that little sod house on the prairie that he could not believe her answer would he disappointing. and when it came ii almost crushed him.
 T do care for you. Jack. but not enough to live on a farm. and in such wilderness. l want to live in the city. If you loved me. why did Xou not ask me where l want to live? should a woman not have a choice in the matter? If you stu love me. Jack, why not sell the farm now?'
 ri k my home, Nellie. I have worked three years 10 get it. | eo1ld not sell fl now for what ii is worth 10 me. and l have nothing else. Do you understand. dear2 II is all the home have 10 offer vou."
 IL seemed 10 Jack that such an ex- planation ought To satisfy any girl. and when Nellie persiStcntly refused to live on a farm. he could only con clude that she did not love him well enough to be his wife. He bade her a formal farewell and went back to his farm, angrily telling himself that the girl was not worth a second thought, and that any self-respect- ing man could make himself happy without her. That was in November. and Jack had kept himself very busy ever since, in order To forget what he called his folly. and this was the first time he had broken down. But he had built so many air castles about this first day of the new year the first holiday which he and Nel- lie would spend in their new home that it was rather difficult 10 cele- brate the day alone. and as cheer fully as if nothing had happened to disturb his plans.
 If there were any hope that il might be different next year" he moaned; but Nellie's answer had been final. Next year. and all the years to come must be spent with out her if he remained on the farm. And il may be years before I can sell, and even then l must begin at the beginning and make another home. A girl would have To love a man very dearly to wait so long. and if she loved him like that she would go 10 the home he had provided"
 The clock on the pretty little man. tel ehimed the midnight hour. and Jack raised his head wearily.
 Il won't be a coward" he said. .1 don't feel, just now. as if | cared much about swell dinner. but may have more courage a few hours later, and then l can make that pie"