The Forrest City times., 1904-05-06
HIS
 MAGNANIMITY
Copyright, 1904, by Daily Story Pub. Col
By NELLIE CRAvEY GILMORE

T CERTAINLY seemed very long l distance to the branch, and the night was very black-a veritable ink blot over the face of the earth
 Several different times Constantina paused, hesitated, started to go back; then finally pursued her way in trepi- dation. The excitement which had buoyed her up since morning threat ened to ooze suddenly in burst of nervous tears. Still she persevered. When but few yards from the tryst, she sat down weakly on the edge of a stump and fumbled fretfully among the laces at her bosom for the hidden paper. She drew 1t out with unsteady fingers, and as best she could, by the pale road-light in the distance, glimpsed for the hundredth time the words written inside:
 If possible, meet me at the branch tonight at nine. Must see you.
 co" The writing was a scrawing disguise but to Constantine solution was not the most difficult thing in the world
 
 Fleming; their habitual absence from the house together; lastly. the palpable unease that had marked the actions of both through the whole of the past day well, that much was sufficient, per Sc.
 She consulted her watch and found that there still remained ten minutes nil nfn hA 1 horribly, thousand curious noises made her start and tremble, while in- numerable grotesQue shadows danced eerie-like in and about the thick shrubbed woods
 Finally, she strengthened herself, tucked the slip of paper hastily in her belt and rose, picking her way eau tiously through the bushes to the shel- ter of dense clump of trees that stood little back from the branch.
 She had not long to wait A moment only and she recognized the quick, swinging stride that eouId not belong to anyone in the world but her hus- band. She shrank back involutarily. overcome by wild sense of terror lest
 
 role of eayesdropper; lest-but no She strained her eyes tensely through the dark, but no Cary Fleming was there. Surely She shifted her posi- tion trifie. her foot faltered uncer- tainly, then came down with an omi- nous crash on a heap of dead twigs. A silence of fearful eonstraint followed. a with a sudden mad desire to escape. however, wherever. But a strong arm intercepted her
 So it is you!"
 Yes, l" She faced him coldly.
 T thought as much; l saw you leave the house, and-I followed you here" Constantine flushed furiouslv under cover of the darkness Her hand went to her belt in gesture of swift indig- nation. The paper was gone. This. then, is the meaning of if all :" He thrust the folded bit of paper h. ward her. IT lost it." she said. dazedly. And Luckily no one else-fonna 1t, down there" He pointed sternlv NS"OAN NAO cNuuF Ou WliCh she had sat But it-it isn't mine," she insisted trying to extrieate herself from his grasp.
 Don't" he commanded barsh,v you are to come home-now, and with me Whatever Is to be said can be said afterwards" He looked down at her with wrath-black eyes His face bore white. set look.
 constantine was shaking like a leaf oh, what a fool she had been: what a consummate, minimizing fooli Even supposing he were guilty, and perhaps after all. hewas not, but even snnnoeing he were, she might have known that the woman-the wife-must inevitably suffer the brunt in the case of detec- Tion.
 Perhaps, after all. he wes not en;ltv, The words recurred again and again 10 her bewildered brain as they trudped in silence through the black dark and brambles.