Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1893-06-09

was sorry for David.
About month after the engagement
John Alroy was made postmaster of
Garrett. He was young, quick and
clever, AID handsome.
Joyce was busy at the store, so Mary
often went to social gatherings without
him, he calling for her later on in the
evening. He did not dance; Alroy did.
1t gradually dawned upon him that
Mary danced a good deal with the post
master. He also found that the post
master often met Mary by chance when
she took sunny walks.
In April he made his usual spring
trip to buy goods He had been away
week when he received letter from
Mary. She asked to be absolved from
her engagement with him. The calm
ness with which Mary met him told him
his doom.
cit is Alroy, of course?" he said.
'It may seem to you that treat you
badly" she returned, "but [ never
knew what love was till I met him )"
UuQ OONCO WCAb
Throughout the summer he saw little
of the happy pair, invented business
excuses taking him much from home.
Winter came, and the store claimed
him. April loomed up-the anniver-
sary of his shattered hopes-and he
heard that Mary would be married ID
June. In June the marriage was put
off till autumn.
This was the reason. The postoffice
at Garrett was third-class. Out OF his
salary the postmaster was expected to
defray all office expenses. In q sec
ond-class office, clerk hire and Other
liabilities were met by the Govern
ment while the salary of the master
was considerably increased. Alroy
proposed to raise his Office to second
class. so as to be in a position to mar
ry. To do this he must prove that the
business of his office had increased fol
year to such an extent that il
equalled existing second-class offices
Late in the summer he said that thii
was so. In September an expert dis
covered that, while the sale of stamps
for year equalled that of an Office o.
the higher grade 1T did not represent
q corresponding increase in mailed
matter. Alroy was accused Of fraud
In January Joyce was summoned tC
act as grand juror ON the 20th of Feb
ruary, in the city, more than hun
dred miles away.
The afternoon of the 18th brought
Garrett a binding snow-storms: the
streets were deserted, business was Al
a standstill. About four o'clock ant
nearly dark, a lady entered Joyce'f
private room at the store. 1t wa
Mary Hammond.
81 have heard" she said at once
'thst you are a grand juror in TIT
February term. The postmaster
case comes up before you.
Joyce's heart gave bound. HI
had not thought OF that.
"The grand jury, am informed,
she went on, "decide if there is sufi
cient ground to make out case to g
before the court. You will have'a voic,
in deciding whether or not there is
case against the postmaster. "
Joyce's eyes were like Goals of fire
'1f it were in your power, you woulC
convict the postmaster, " she said.
Joyce found his voice.
eff knew him to be guilty, yes,
he said.
"He is guilty" she went on. eth
Stamps were bought by me, with the
thousand dollars of my fathers insur
ance. proposed the fraud. Low
for him made me do as L have done
love for me made him do the rest "
Without another word she went from
the room out into the snow-storm.
Joyce trembled in every limb, Th
insult drove him wild. She knew tina
he still loved her, and she called upol
that love to save Alroy even at the cos
of honor. The outrage Of it Afro.