The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1898-12-06
A GRAND JUROR.

"A UhANU u hOh.
The day Mary Hammond accepted
Joyce her mother handed her d $1,000
bond, her share of her fathers life in
surance. She thought Of pretty gowns
to BIZ worn as bride. Then she sobered
up David would think her silly; she
was SO practical. She was sorry for
David.
About month after the engagement
John Alroy was made postmaster of
Garret. He was young, quick, clever
and handsome.
Joyce was busy at the store, 60 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 good deal with the post
master.
In April he made his usual spring
trip to buy goods. He had been away
week, when he received a letter from
Mary. She asked to be absolved from
her engagement with him. He was
stunned and hastened home. The calm
ness with which Mary met him told
him his doom.
''It is Alroy, Of course?'' he said.
"It may seem to you that treat you
badly" she returned, "but / never
knew what love was until I met him."
and Joyce went away.
Throughout the summer he saw little
Of the happy pair. invented business
excuses taking him often away from
home. Winter came, and the store
claimed him. April loomed up--the an
niversary Of his shattered hopes-and
he heard that Mary would be married
in June. In June the marriage was put
off until autumn.
This was the reason: The postoffice
at Garret was third class. Out of his
salary the postmaster was expected to
defray all Office expenses. In second
class Office clerk hire and other liabili-
ties were met by the government, while
the salary of the master was consider
ably increased. Alroy proposed to raise
his Office to the second class, so as to be
able to marry. To do this he must prove
that the business Of his Office had in
creased for year to such an extent that
it equalled existing second class offices.
Late in the summer he said that this
was go. In September an expert discov-
cred that, while the sale of stamps for
year equaled that of an Office Of the
higher grade, it did not represent a cor
responding increase in mailed matter.
Alroy was accused IF fraud.
In January Joyce was summoned to
act as grand juror on the 20th of Febru-
ary in the city more than 100 miles
away.
The afternoon of the 18th brought
Garret binding snowstorm. The
streets were deserted. Business was at 8
standstill. About O'Clock and nearly
dark lady entered Joyce's private room
at the store. 1t was Mary Hammond.
81 have heard" she said at once
"that you are grand juror in the Feb
ruary term. The postmaster g case comes
| up before you"
Joyce's heart gave bound. He hat
not thought of that.
"The grand jury, am informed, >
she went on, "decide if there is sufficien
ground to make out case to go befor,
the court. You will have voice in de
Gliding whether or not there is cas-
against the postmaster.
| Joyce's eyes were like Goals Of fire.
| "If it were in your power, you woult
convict the postmaster, she said.
| Joyce found his voice.
L T L. l~~< h
said.
"He is guilty." she went on. eth
stamps were bought by me with tn
81, 900 of my fathers insurance. pro
posed the fraud. Love for him made m
do as have done. Love for me mad
him do the rest
Without another word she went fror
the room out into the snowstorm.
Joyce trembled in every limb. Th
insult drove him wild. She knew tina
he still loved her, and she called upo
that love to save Alroy even at the ez
pense of honor. The outrage of it! Afro
was guilty, and there was but one thin
to do. Love and honor contended-
hopeless love, inalienable honor. Their
could be no question as to which woul
win.
The following day, the outrage-th
insult-gnawing at him, he went o
the 100 mile journey. On the mornin
| of the goth he took oath that he woul
do his duty as good and loyal man j
the matters to be placed before til
grand jury. In few minutes more /
was sitting, with % other men, around
long table, listening to detectives an
others testifying against unseen peopl
How many cases were disposed of |
hardly knew, when he heard the nan
ne had waited for. Joyce raised b
head. Now would come his revenge f
all the pain he had silently suffere
] and yet his revenge would be only b
honest duty. His face grew hard al
dim.
A postoffice expert testified amor
other things that Alroy had open
boasted that he would raise his Office
second grade so that the increase of Sc
J nry would warrant his marriage. Ty
ether witnesses testified as to the fac
) already known.
"Well, gentlemen, said the forem'
Of the jury.
81 move that a true bill be found
cried juror.
81 second the notion" said anotht
I. "All in favor of a true bill signi
their assent by saying aye"