Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-01-06
"John!" Her face was ghastly white.

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 wait
until you know the whole truth. Then
you will despise me as l 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 have
ever known"
1t has brought me the greatest hap
piness of my life, he said; "but with that
happiness has come my greatest sorrow.
You, too, will find it so. have Quaffed
the sweet and the bitter, while you have
quaffed only the sweet But the bitter
is at your lips, and soon you must drain
it, even to the very dregs."
Then let me drink it, John, so that
l may suffer as you have suffered. 1t is
Heavenly privilege to share your sor-
rows Ind pains. Tell me the truth
tho whole bitter truth-and you shall
see how I can bear it for your sake"
May God forgive me, as know you
never can, Glen! IL have wife,"
She did not faint She did not cry
out. For moment she was like one
dazed by hard blow. Then, placing her
hand over her heart, she gave low
moan of anguish, and covered and
shrank like green plant under the heat
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
waver. He looked at her for moment
compassionately, then humbly and con-
tritely said:
Il do not ask your forgiveness, Glen,
for l know you can never grant it, 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
Ing better; but of my life you will al
ways remain the best part, for as long
As l 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 step or two he
heard her softly speak his name, and
he stopped, facing her.
Il cannot let you go like that she
said, 'for do forgive you with all my
heart and SOUL"
He stepped quickly back to her and
reached out his arms impulsively.
lis it true, Glenn" he cried. Can
you forgive me, after all?"
"A woman" she answered, slowly,
"can forgive anything in the man she
loves"
There was long silence, then she
went on wearily and more slowly yet:
I'VE can say no more, and now we
must part forever. We must each fol-
low where our paths lead. Yours leads
to your wife and your home. Go there,
forget me, and be faithful and true in
the discharge of your duty
And your PATH" he said.
MY path-it leads where God wills.
But you must 60 now. We have no right
TO be together here"
Eyes, must go. Good-by, Clem."
"Good-by, John"
Far toward morning, Ransom, sit
ting in the door of his cabin, looking out
on the still world, drew q deep sigh and
murmured:
"Poor Glenn! Motherless and friend
less, and all alone in the, world, except
for drunken father"
And Glen. sitting at a window down
below, staring dry-eyed out into the
night, thought of all the kindnesses
John had shown her-the only kind
nesses she had ever known-and, wom-
anlike, all her pity was for him.
When the day came, Ransom went
down to the camp to take the stage for
his journey home, and while he was
waiting there the postmaster came down
to him with letter. He took it and
glanced at the postmark, and saw that
it was from home. Then he tore it open
and read it eagerly through.
Il thought you ought to have it before
you went" the postmaster said. 81
didn't know but that it might be i'm
portant-"
1T is" Ransom replied. ut is so i'm
portant that it means the life happiness
of two people"
I'm glad I brought it, then. But
there's the stage, and you'll have to be
going.'
81 have changed my mind. am not
going"
But your wife will be expecting you. -
II have no wife, She has got d.
vorce and married another man"
AHEAD OF DATE.
We used to think that up to date"
Was certainly phrase
Denoting progress that deserved
The very highest praise.
But In these everlasting times
More rapid Is the gait,
And those who in the push would stay
Must be ahead Of date.
Though in the present men must live,
They for the future plan.
Well knowing that success rewards
The workers in the van.
They know they cannot let to-day
Upon tomorrow wait;
But have to hustle all the time
And keep ahead Of date.
Before one year is we'll advanced
Extensive plans are made
BY leaders in all industries