Putnam patriot., 1908-10-23

lngs eame ste would give him an an- sueT
 When She time was past and he fal- tesingfy reminded her of k sbe said. '-sir isurs5s. yon have been true friend 10 gue W ben such were very few. respect you. honar you. bDt the love Whieh you deserve is n0t mine t. give Living or dead. Fred Nevius still has my heart
 .I YiH l,e content if you wiIi. but say yes" he urged
 An3 iiias the compact was made.
 Now that H wne settled Burns beg sei fer af eariy rHarrif <e. and. being abefied hy Mrs Dixon Cora consent e1 i.i=fiessly she did it as if if Esat- tered nei To her. az Indeed fl did not s3 iB flse days affer iiaras nofed the 4ame apaihefle agreement @ith every suggestion from ber mother or hifo- sell II cut him 10 the heart for though counting II eaFth's choicest blessing fo have her b bis side on any terms. he could moi escape the eonvie- ton that he was requiring too great a sacrifice of her
 One day when she was more than ssHalIy aistraii he offered to release her she told him tbat. while she could Boi give him what bis truth and devotion deserved sue would be true to him If such was hIs desire.
 Tt is my hearts dearest wish. he answered feryently And love like mine must have its reward by and by. l will be patient"
 Deeply touched. even more by his tone than the words she answered gently. "Geoffrey. l wish might do more. but all that l can give shall be yours.
 After this for his sake she strove to bring baeis some of her old time cheer fulness. And when she succeeded. as in part she sometimes did. his happy face paid her for the struggle But when alone in her room where she could be herself. her sore heart cried out against the fate which forced this hollow fife upon her
 On the evening of the day before that set for her wedding she was sit ting in q rustic cbair on tue lawn Wrapped In the contemplation 1f her strange position. she aia net know that maH WIS approaching her until he bad called Ter name Is she turned the face ef Fred NeelHs. fal of hun grs longing. eIet hers.
 With liffle cry If glldness she sprang up. and the next moment hls arms were about her How long they remained thus they couid not have told when they saW the grave eyes of Godfrey Burns. not in anger but full of unutterable sadness. resting on them
 Tearing herself from Negius' clasp. Cora went to Burns and put her hand upon his arm.
 Forgive me Godfrey" she said hnmbly. Forgive me forgot" Then. turning to Fred. she added. "Tomor- row night am to be his wife Nevius recoiled as If she had struck him and. like one dazed. stood. with d dumb misery on his ashen face. look ing from one 10 the other. At last he broke the painful silence. Great God he cried passionately, idid ever ulan have such bitter fatef On scrap of paper few days ago l saw an account of the cruel jest which ruined ny life hurried home, hop ing to Gnd what evil fortune had snatchcd from ne thought I had, but. oh. my God His words ended with vail ef despair. and. turning. he staggered away Ike one who had lesl all hope
 Burns. watching them, saw that while Cora still kept her hand upon his arm hpr e2Ps followed the retreat ing form. and all her heart went with them
 
 Tmpatithtly the guests. sitting h Mrs piyous parlor waited the com Ing of the hfiaal party The groom