Putnam patriot., 1908-10-23
Why They Were Generous By II. MONROE JAMES. Copyright. Iss by American Press
 Association.
By A. MONROE JAnE.


 Memorial day address in my natire town Of Passport. w=bsB ;iie exe.- cises were over wandered among the fom's. watching tbe friends Nha gore tesfewiHg fragrant tokens of re inembrapee over the ashes of thelr .3ead
 was standing besirie 4 grave which was literally covered win choice aouefs when my friend C Joined ne.
 ''i ihUse people are generous" said pointing te ihe Hover strewn grave and indicating T gentleman and lady wllo had just left +
 They have reason to be" ne an swered
 That evening he told me the story:
 For time 1t was difficult to gIess which Of tbe rivals for the hand Of Cora Dixon would carry off the prize. for she seemed equally gracious to Fred Nevius and Godfrey Burns
 There was one intensely interested spectator. who. had the question been left for her decision. would have set. tied it easily. To Coras mother mon- ey was the key to all things desirable. and as Burns had an abundance of the commodity, while Neyius was but lndlnerently provided. she wondered at her dnughfer's indeeision.
 But Cora was unlike her mother, and when the supreme test came 10 her she did not let the superior tinan- cial advantages of one lover outweigh the fact that her heart had gone into the keeping of the other
 Scarcely had the story of Fred's good fortune become known when the town was startled by strange news The lover had forged his employers name and had fled
 Willie the matter was being discuss ed elsewhere Cora WIS reading with tear wet eyes and agony of soul let. Ter from her accused lover: Dear Cora When you get this shall be far aaa3 s.Hefe l do tot know Fata ls against me but. as there Is a God in heaven did not flo tho thing they charge against me shall love gou always but af euurse yaa are free from any promise to me tuiess clear my name shall never return. trust you will be 9eve me though | suspect the world will not God bless you Goodby Your un- happy FRED The story was this A check presam- ably drawn by Samuel Blake. his un- cle and employer. was presented by the young man at the bank and cash cd MT. Blake declared the check a forgery Fred said II was received in letter which stated il was gift Unfortunately the letter could not be produced With an indignant denial he paid back the money and demand ed To know If his uncle intended to prosecute Receiving il negative reply, he left the store and, packing his be longings. left town without notifying any one of his destination. As Cora faced the situation she sa W that. aa he had said. his explanation would not be accepted. She was worldly wise enough to know that. notwithstanding the maxim of the law t. the contrary. public opinion k apt to adiudae nn accused man guilty unless hc can show his innocence Her checks tingled IS she thought of the covert sneers about that gift Oh. fl he bad only kept that letter! But what did fl all matter2 She knew he was innocent Whatever tbe world might say, Chat was her verdict This verdict she announced with quiet emphasis whenever the matter eame tp her attention. but she sadly saw that few stood with her. hence il did her world of good to receive q note from Godfrey Burns announcing his talth in her friend. AS time wore on Cora. bearing the double burden of her own desolatlan and her lovers shame. saw, with an added pang. how quickly the world fprgets Fred NeVius had been the idol of the social circle In which they had moved Now he was Us one who had never been.
 So went year Then came m event which broke somewhat the dreary ten. or of her life David Nelson, fellow employee. on hls dying bed made Il statement which wiped tue hlet from lfrcd's name. tte said he sent the let Ter and cheek as an April fool jest. expecting to tell Fred of it before he eould present il at the hank When he saw II WAS likely to get him into trou- bic he became alarmed and held his peace
 shortly after this disclosure Burns called on Cora and congratulated her on the clearing of her lovers name. 'i cannot thank you enough for your loyalty to Fred" she said gratefully
  swered
 Then he told her of having sent Nel- sons confession to the papers of the large cities with the hope that the in- nocent man might see IL Somehow after this it seemed the most natural thing for Burns to call now and then. So went another year
 Meanwhile report came to East port that Nevius was dead. When Burns next called Cora questioned kim about it
 "Yes. l have heard ft." he answered eyaslveiy.
 "Do you know what foundation 1t b,sy'
 There dees not seem to be much that can be called foundation"
 Then yon don't think II Is true?"
 He hesitated. threading Co give her the dlrect answer. which must come Bow.
 ''You don't think it is truess' she asked again.
 T fear 1t Is" he said at last Then he told her of railroad wrcck In q western state in which young man answering Frea's description had been killed on his linen they found the