The Green Forest tribune., 1917-10-26

DOtn with unusual marks Of merit. Ar mold gave her beautiful bouquet and saw her home from the class banquet that evening. Leaning over the garden gate in the moonlight, he caught the glimmer of the ring Nellie always wore.
 "Why! You have changed it from finger to finger as they grew" ex- claimed Arnold, until it is on--what do you think? Your engagement in gerp
 Nellie bmshed; her hand, nesting in his, twitched and trembled. Her mother called her just then. but Ar mold Wayne left her with Il secret re- solve to tell her of his love very soon.
 Alas for youthful hopes Within q week his father decided to remove to Canada, where a relative had left him q great farm. And the hurry and hustle of hurried departure Arnold saw Nellie only twice in the interim. Others were present. He could only whisper to her: "I am coming back some day" and she had murmured softly: Y shall count the days you are gone"
 Almost immediately after reaching the far northern farm land Mr Wayne was taken i'll and later became entire ly incapacitated for work. Young as he was, Arnold was compelled to assume all the responsibility of managing the farm. He did not shirk the duty. His care and patience extended to d cross grained stepmother and her three chil- dren. once he wrote to Nellie. He received no answer.
 Al the end of five years Mrs Wayne married again. The farm had thriven and Arnold offered to sell out his iu- terest to his stepmother. He received sufficient to make him comfortable for life. He was lonely for the city and cid acquaiutances and friends. The evening that he was packing up he came across q fond mement0 of the pasta carneiian heart that pretty, Nellie Ross had given him in exchange for the bloodstone ring that eyentful schoolday in the now dim and misty long ago.
 How memory of that scene in the far past thrilled him! II seemed as though secret Goor within his inmost soul had been abruptly unlocked. He | hungered for q sight of the little fairy who had grown up in his life as q sentient part of his being.
 Arnold had for q long time won dered why work, wealth and success had seemed yapid and dull to him. He knew now. He must have an object to love. He set his face southward and his first destination was his native village.
 He sought the Ross family but in vain. He learned that within q month after his departure their home had burned down and they had removed to neighboring town. Arnold traced them there to find that the father had died. The family was broken up and scattered. At the end of month Ar hold gave up an apparently useless quest. He went to the city, took up bachelors quarters and planned to in vest his capital in some business in the metropolis.
 One afternoon, turning crowded street corner. Arnold made q spring aS he saw little child crossing the thor Oughfare directly in the path of speeding automobile and all uncon- scious of her peril. Just in time he seized her, but the fender of the ma chine struck his arm, huring him to the ground. The little enc was terri fled and hysterical. A policeman led both to the nearest drug store.
 'Only slight bruise," the attending physician told Arnold, as he examined his arm and applied u soothing lotion. You, little one, can thank this gentle man for saving your life
 The child lifted her eyes gratefully to the face of Arnold and placed her hand confdingly within his own. As she did so Arnold gave vivid start. Upon one finger he noted ring-a bloOdstone ring-his ring. given to Nel- lie Ross years ago. Oh, he could not mistake 1t
 "I will see this little one safely home," he said, and with her left the drug store.
 Where did she live. With Aunty Nellie.
 He thrilled with hope. "Aunty Nel- lie" had adopted her when her father and mother died. Aunty Nellie did embroidery work for Il big store and she had just been delivering a parcel of the same when the accident oc- cured.
 Aunt Nellie was Miss Ross 10 most people," Oh, she was so good and i kind And the ring? That was q pre- cious keepsake, but Aunty had let her wear it because it was her birthday.
 Was he treading the path of para disc or despair? Arnold Wayne knew within the hour-knew that his letter from the far North had never reached Nellie, knew that her love for him had never dimmed.
 And after that joyous meeting, as he left Nellie and their eyes met, she extended her hand-the left one, nearest the heart"-and he bent over and kissed it fervently, and knew that all was well.
 Float in Seas of Own Making.