The Forrest City times., 1904-01-01

he staggered back against the tree and covered his face with his hands.
 God forgive me-" he said. hoarsely. "I forgoti"
 She looked at him with wide eyes, her face turning deathly pale. She could not understand the change in him, but she knew there was something ter rible back of it.
 John, she cried, tell me what 1t Is. I can bear anything so long as it does not part you and me. Nothing else mat ters."
 No he replied, nothing else would matter. But that is the cruel part of it. We must go our different ways, and after tonight we must never see each other again"
 "John!' Her face was ghastly white. 'Oh, God, what are you saying?"
 ''It is the bitter truth, Clem. We must walk our separate paths alone. We should never have met. I wish to Heav- en We never had"
 Then you do not love me-not as 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 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. "I cannot believe that anything could cause me to regret our meeting. for it has brought me the only happiness I have ever known
 Tt 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 may suffer as you have suffered. It is Heavenly privilege to share your sor- rows and pains. Tell me the truth the whole bitter truth-and you shall see how l can bear it for your sake.''
 May God forgive me. as know you never can. Clem! I-I 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 a low nf ich shrank like green plant under the heat of scorching blaze. God alone knew how hard upon her that blow had fallen
 Ransom hastened 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 a moment | compassionately, then humbly and con tritely said:
 Il do not ask your forgiveness, Clem, for l know you can never grant it. but. as Heaven is my witness, never meant to deceive you. I should have told you. but my wife is worse than dead to me. and l never speak of her if can help it, and l never thought that you could care for me like this. You will despise and then forget me. and l can ask for noth- ing 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, CIem 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.
 T cannot let you go like that" she said, for l do forgive you with all my heart and soul'
 He stepped quickly back to her and reached out his arms impulsively.
 'Is it true, Clem?" 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:
 We 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 go now. We have no right to be together here"
 Yes, 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 a deep sigh and murmured
 Poor Clemi Motherless and friend less and all alone in the world excent