The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1904-01-02
"Jobn,p Her face was chastity white.

love you. Nothing on earth could make
me regret our meeting, and nothing
could make me give you up. Nothing
on earth nor in Heaven"
you think so now" he said, but walt
until you know the whole truth. Then
you will ydespise me as | deserve, and
never want TO see me again. You will
wish with all your heart that you never
had seen me-"
She shook her head slowly.
Il cannot believe that" she said. IL
cannot believe that anything could cause
me to regret our meeting, for it has,
brought me the only happiness IAbaye
ever known"
1T has brought me the greatest W
piness of my life, he said; "but 9itI
happiness has come my greatest sor1
You, too, will find it so. | have qua|
the sweet and the bitter, while you hi
quaffed only the sweet. But the bitNr
is at your lips, and soon you must drain
II, even TO the very dregs."
Then let me drink it, John, so that
| may suffer as you have suffered. 1t is
Heavenly privilege to share your sor-
rows and pains. Tell me khl(Guth-
the whole bitter truth-and h shall
see how | can bear it for your sake."
May God forgive me, as know you
never can, Glen! II have a wife"
She did not faint. She not cry
out. For a moment she W Se one
dazed by a hard blow. Then, p kg he:
hand over her heart, she gavN low
moan of anguish, and covered and
S rank like green plant under the heat
of scorching blaze. God alone knew
how hard upon her that blow had fallen.
Ransom FASTENED to her, and would
have put his arms about her to support
her, but she held up her hand to stay
him.
NO" she said; never again"
/ There was no anger in her voice, and
her tones were low and sad, but he knew
that she was in earnest, and would never
wayer. He looked at her for moment
compassionately then humbly and con-
tritely said;
Il do not ask your forgiveness, Glen, =
for | know you can never grant 1t, but,
as Heaven is my witness, never meant
to deceive you. | should have told you,
but my wife is worse than dead to me-
and never speak of her if can help it,
and | never thought that you could care
for me like this You will despise and
then forget me, and can ask for moth
ms better; but of my life you will al
ways remain the best part, for as long
as | live | will remember and love you"
He paused a moment. then added:
May God bless you, Glen, Good-by."
He waited awhile, but she made no re-
ply, and then he started slowly away.
But when he had gone a step or two he
heard her softly speak his name, and
he stopped, facing her,
IL cannot let you 60 like that" sh
said, for | do forgive you with all m
heart and soul"
He stepped quickly back to her a.
reached out his arms impulsively.
rs it true, Clem?' he cried. &C
you forgive me, after all?"
"A woman" she answered, SLOW
"can forgive anything in the man
loves"
There was a long silence, then
went on YEARLY and more slowly
I'VE can say no more, and now
must part forever We must each
low where our paths lead. Yours le
to your wife and your home Go tn
forget me, and be faithful and true
the discharge of your duty
And your PATH" he said.
MY path---it leads where God wills.
But you must go now. We have no right .
TO be together here" All
Eyes. | must go. Good-by, Glenn"
"Good-by, John"
Far toward morning, Ransom, Sit
ting in the door of his cabin, looking out
on the still world, drew deep sigh and
Poor Glen! Motheress and friend
less, and all alone in the world except
for drunken father"
And Glenn. sitting at window down
below, staring dry-eyed out into the
night thought of all the klndnesses
John had 1.-THE only kind
.s1Sn.nJhad ever know :. ~ a. w..
.nliESAll her pity was Tor BIN
When the day came Ransom went
Town to the CAM 10 take the stage for
ais tourney home, and while he was
waiting there the postmaster came down
n him with a letter lie look y and
,lanced at the postmark. and saw
/ was from home, Then he tore
md read It eagerly through
81 thought you ought to havy
you WENT the sas'masler
lidh,t know Fdt that It mIgMu
"It is . Manson replied. M, 90 m.
,ortant nat ithaeans the llfo hsapInasa\
4 two people. '''''
! S.,r eios ! brought n, than p,,,
heres the S'sge, and yoU'u have 10 pe
going"
havc changed ny mind ammo
o,nr>--. o. 81 "'
But your wife will be expecting you"
II have no wife, She has eot a d.
orco and married another man"
AHEAD OF DATE. ~.
We used to think that "upto date"
10.