Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1893-07-31
A Grand Juror.

The day Mary Hammond accepted
Joyce, her mother handed her thou
sand dollar bond her share of her ia
theirs life insurance. She thought of
pretty gowns-to be worn as a BRIDE
Then she sobered. David would think
her silly, he was so practical. She
was sorry for David.
About a month after the engage
ment John Alroy was made postmas-
ter of Garrett. He was young, quick
clever and 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;
Airoy did. 1t gradually dawned upon
him that Mary danced a good deal
with the postmaster. He also found
that the postmaster 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
a week when he received a letter from
Mary. She asked to be absolved from
her engagement with him. The calm
mess with which Mary met him told
him his doom.
1t 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; and
Joyce went away.
Throughout the summer he saw lit
tie of the happy pair, invented bust
ness excuses taking him much from
home. Winter came, and the store
claimed him. April loomed up-the
anniversary of his shattered hopes
aud he heard that Mary would be
married in June. In June the wedding
was put off till autumn.
This was the reason. The post Of
flee at Garrett was third class. Out
OF his salary the postmaster was ex-
pected to defray all Office expenses.
In second class office: clerk hire
and other liabilities we're met by the
Government; while the salary of the
master was considerably increased.
AIroy proposed to raise his office to
second class, so as to be in position to
marry. To do this he must prove
that the business of his Office had in
creased for a year to such an extent
that it equaled existing second class
offices. Later in the summer he said
that this was SO. In September an
expert discovered that while the sale
of Stamps for q year was to such an
extent that it equaled that of an Of
flee of the higher grade, it did not
represent corresponding increase in
mailed matter. Alroy was accused Of
fraud.
In January Joyce was summoned to
act as juror on the Goth of February,
in the city more than hundred miles
away.
The afternoon of the 18th brought
Garrett binding snow storm; the
streets were deserted, business was at
a standstill About four o'clock and
nearly dark a lady entered Joyce's
private room at the store. 1t was
Mary Hammond.
[ have heard, she said at once, that
you are a grand juror in the February
term. The postmaster's case comes
up before you.
Joyce's heart gave bound He
had not thought Of that.
The grand jury, I am informed, she
went on, decide if there is sufficient
ground to make out case to go be-
fore the court. You viii have voice
in deciding whether or not there is a
case against the postmaster.
Joyce's eyes were like Goals of fire.
If it were in your power, you would
convict the postmaster, she said.
Joyce found his voice.
IfIknew him to be guilty, yes, he
said.
He is guilty, she went on. The
stamps were bought by me, with the
thousand dollars of my fathers in
surance. I proposed the fraud. Love
for him made me do as 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. The
insult drove him wild. She knew that
lie still loved her, and she called upon