The Forrest City times., 1903-12-25


 and h-s Caznt- wasted form. trsu- blinE with fear. vas weird enough Co sPFzl the stoutes; heart
 No. TO. Jack tkey shzl not take yoa away trom Ee-Eo eGe shall do tkzt- T. uzs oziy the church clock strisins tAe hozr. Thsy are ringing 10 bells for yoz- No ozs shall hzrz yoz. I rcztd Lot les them Trust ne Jack, have been here with you so lonEs do voz know how long hare been vita you: Can's you thizk. Can't yoe reneabeF.-
 The to-ez If her voice soothsd him to ezieszess ard he lay ssiiL Jack - she began again slowly Jack. am gong to ask you q question asd I want xcu to answer me If 5s very important. Jack Do yoa know what nght tais is2 Try azd remember It Is aighi yoa used to love II is Chr3st1As ere Jacb. Christmas eve
 -Chrsst's evening ke narmzred. dream5ly; the night for telling stc- rses-stoTits e hone zaI love Dsd we net ozce tsI <toEle< ca this ulzhtzg
 Yes. Jack. res. and we two VIII -sa sscry together ozce uPaz a tine Jaek-thzt's the vsx we always bsgzu eur stoT5~s-Foa kzVea-t for gotten. Jaeks-
 She was havizg 8 hard struzgle, thzS brzve-sousesa woman < nan ss.-~ .#. aH gle word ulxht wla o- l9-e i-. The ceZczs ot the storm shrieked and tore a. tke shutters as thouzh they wozld ee; iz and sgh; against her fer the mans sozL l. was z slender wa1az pstie1 against the fates- she re&izeL 'hzs. o9t went Oa brsvely -02ce an z tine Jack. there was a grand old forest. ard through j, wound a sAizlzS river. anu iz iss re- ceases was 8 he2utital lake The in. tense earnes1ness ot her voice. anl . tAe treeusat FePetifloz q Ess name arrested ais attention and he Seenet to follow her >onethi1S Ike th+ gsszZ ct eezse5a1s came mo his sges- She looked g. him steadily zzt . eaatiuael= And there were greer hills and v5de meadows an3 aa old ! rambling h1use-~
 And the grass was thick and sof and green oz ether side True. J4cA. see Aow x1u are Lx,p E ing u- ws,A he stery2 And oz on. side of the gate grew z lilac tha bloomed early and gave to spring it sweetest fragrance; on the othel side a lofty pine
 The biaekbirds sang in it branches al day long
 He said this so quietly and witt sBch seeming faith in hls recollection that even she, who was striving witt all her strength for this result. wa. startled Then hope leaped in he heart. her eyes shene with renew a light and the warm blood stirred ns kindled in her bosom.
 There was spring 8: the foot O he slope he continued. Yes. yes"
 And just above i, grew a po,l,r, willow
 ~Uh, God ] thank Theet" The nervous. strident guaver ha, gone from his voice and he sp.ok with the calm assurance of one wh, is moving over familiar ground. '. remember a narrow path that le, down from ths 'louSe to the Sprin. ' and n the early summer morning { the grass tha; bordered il was Ii 1 like million diamonds where th dewdrops were kissed by the sun
 .It was all very cheerful and brigh | and-and-" She could say To naore The tears would flow with auoihe utterance- She must not weep BOW and yet her joy was So intense tha she felt if she did not that she shoult die.
 ~It was pretty place, Jack. shI ! forced herself 70 say. and ther
 were some who used ta run up an, down the path trying 10 count th ! jewels"
 Three. he said confidently: ~tw, boys and a girl One ot he boys wa. slight, with hair like gold and grea blue eyes that seemed always 10 lool beyond 1he hills into another world The other was sturdy lad w.tl | thick. dark hair that fell in way, { masses round his sUn-burned face i They called him Jack
 True. true: go OF. The third. th, ] givl-can you remember wha, she wa ike. Jaok?~
 They seemed to have change. l places The brain-sick man snf the brave. patient woman. for sh. was now al agitation while h. was eool and self-posSessed. She use, all her strength to appear calm. les he should notice her excitement an, lose himself again. She must lea, | him on.
 The other. Jack. the girl-hav, ! you forgotten hers
 'I have never forgotten her" h, said. the light in his eyes softening she has been with me always. Sh, was the constant playmate of th, boys and gave her favors To boti alike. The three were cousins. bu she was loved ty both with mor,