Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-11-25
A GRAND JUROR.

The day Mary Hammond accepted
Joyce her mother handed her a 81, 900
bond, her share Of her fathers life in
surance. She thought of pretty gowns
to BIZ worn as a bride. Then she sobered
up. David would think her silly; she
was SO practical. She was sorry for
David.
About a month after the engagement
John Alroy was made postmaster of
Carrot. He was young, quick, clever
and handsome.
Joyce was busy at the store, go 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.
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. He was
stunned and fastened home. The calm
ness with which Mary met him told
him his doom.
"It is Alroy, Of course?" he said.
ut may seem to you that I treat you
badly" she returned, "but / nev
knew what love was until l 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 doomed 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 p%ostofioe
at Carrot was third class. Out Of his
salary the postmaster was expected to
defray all Office expenses. In a secopd
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 a year to such an extent that
it equalled existing second class offices.
Late in the summer he said that this
was SO. In September an expert discov-
cred that, while the sale Of stamps for
a 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
Garrett a binding snowstorm. The
streets were deserted. Business was at a
standstill. About 4 O'Clock and nearly
dark a lady entered Joyce's private room
at the store. 1t was Mary Hammond.
IT have heard she said at once,
"that you are a grand juror in the Feb
ruary term. The postmaster case comes
up before you."
Joyce's heart gave a 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 a case to 60 before
the COURT. You will have a voice in de-
Gliding 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, y she said.
Joyce found his voice.
eff I knew him to beguilty, yes" he
said.
"He is guilty." she went on. "The
stamps were bought by me with the
81, 900 of my fathers insurance. I pro.
posed the fraud. Love for him made me
do as I have done. Love for me made
him do the rest"
Without another word she went from
the room out into the snowstorm.
Joyce trembled in every limb. The
insult drove him wild. She knew that
he still loved her, and she called upon
that love to save Alroy ever at the ex-
pense Of honor. The outrage of it! Alroy
was guilty, and there was but one thing
to do. Love and honor commended
hopeless love, inalienable honor. There
could be no question as to which would
win.
The following day, the outrage-the
insult-gnawing at him, he went on
the 100 mile journey. On the morning
of the goth he took oath that he would
do his duty as a good and loyal man in
the matters to be placed before tho
grand jury. In a few minutes more he
wal sitting, with % other men, around a
long table, listening to detectives and
others testifying against unseen people.
How many cases were disposed of ne
hardly knew, when he heard the name
he had waited for. Joyce raised his
head. Now would come his revenge for
all the pain he had silently suffered,
and yet his revenge would be only his
honest duty. His face grew hard and
dim.
A postofice expert testified among
other things that Alroy had openly
boasted that he would raise his office tc
second grade 30 that the increase Of sal
airy would warrant his marriage. Two
other witnesses testified as to the facts
already known.
well, gentlemen, " said the foreman
Of the jury.
II move that a true bill be found, >
cried a juror.
II second the motion, said another.
"All in favor Of a true bill signify
their assent by saying aye"