The Forrest City times., 1905-06-30

At the Hilton gate he refined in the hotses and called out to Tom on the front lawn: Anybody here who wants to go to the picnic?''
 Why, yes; you are godsend. true as l live, cried Tom. springing to his feet. The girls want to go awfully bad, and 1 wouldn't mind an invitation. too, if there's room
 All right smiled Ben. 'I am at your service
 Right in the middle of dissertation on the cid fashioned Fourth Jack Kennedy passed them. He lifted his cap to the Misses Hilton and bowed 10 Ben as he went by But Grace Phillips vas Wtth him.
 'Whyt-I-t thought" and Rose Hil- tons partner on the front seat was so astonished that be did not finish the sentence.
 You did not expect to see them to- Sether,' said she, holding toward the Kennedy turnout. 70, yes: they made up weeks ago and are to be married in September and she smiled, amused al Ben Easton's perplexed face.
 '1-didn.t-know stammered be finally looking straight over the horses heads and feeling that the earth must be spinning good bit faster than usual
 Well, I know" rejoined Rose. flor have a part in the festivities. But. my, don't look as if you had seen a ghost. Mir. .Easton; it is no uncommon thing for lovers to make up, is il? notice they generally get married then. silly thingsi 1 should never be caught that way If man will quarrel before mar riage, rest assured he will after: and I'd as lief live with a Hottentot as a jealous husband
 Miss Hilton made telling shot. but Ben covered mp his wounds and made no sign. He was wondering if his inde- pendenGe was not on the wane some what He wished he knew what Millie was doing, and he tried to imagine if Miss Hilton preferred a Hotteniot to one like himself what Millie's opinion could be by this time He was afraid the trick he meant to show her was only mean, aneaky one. after all.
 Along in the afternoon the Hiltons had excused him again and gone for a row op the water; and while he sat dis copsoiate and lone he saw Millie drive on to the grounds in the Hilton phaeton The horses hobed iaded and she seemed weary ard troubled. If he had not been such a brute, how he would now fly to her comfort But boy took the horses and she sought \ seat under the trees.
 'J ought to go to her. he said. look ing Aongingly her way, but m to see this cursed blunder to the end. Heav- ems! ] might as we'll end il now. while those eonfounded Hiltons are not by"
 He came and stood before her peni- tently She looked up. T have been a brute" he said: have suffered all day, too, for it. Will you forgive me. Miliie?"
 q have eeen sorry all day. too she said
 But you haven't done anything" he replied
 She looked responsibility and said Shall l tell now why could not come with you this morning: would you be. lieve me?'
 You need not explain: it is all right and you would not do wrong. Millie. ," He spoke with eager assurance. and she smiled little.
 Your faith in me is like a mush room, grew in a night. she said. and may perish in a day"
 .Milie, said he. desperately. "Ill go and hang myself if you make fun of mel"
 Not on the Fourth, she objected. Independence day. you know"
 Tt is a travesty on independencen he almost groaned.
 No you are the travesty." she cor rected. musingly.
 I've been called hard names to-day. he returned bitterly; "a Hottentot, tory and a-trayesty."
 q have heard of triple characters. she answered, smiling jelly; but where are the Hiltons?" looking out over the water They came with you.