Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1899-03-25
JACKS FATE.
BY PAULINE MONTAGUE.

SEAds bled down to fiity-four,
$3.50 and the rawest of east
winds was blowing in damp gusts,
bringing misty sheets OF rain against
the window-panes in Jack Jerome's
office, with a miserable wailing
noise that was only equaled in
gloominess by the appearance OF
slowly tinkling rivulets of the rain
drops as they dripped down the
glass.
As dispiriting as ever day was
or could be, Jack thought, as he
closed bis day-book with a bang,
and sauntered across the dusky Of
fee to the widow, to plunge his
hands in his pockets, and look out
on the gray, sodden, weeping world.
And not SO very much more
cheerful inside, either, Jack thought
as he turned disgustedly away, in
to the little room again, with is
stove in the middle, that stood
there perpetually, it's timetables of
a dozen of roads, tackled on the
walls, it's railed-off ticket-office with
the telegraph apparatus, whose
monotonous click cEety-click had
come TO be a positive haunting hor-
ror in Jacks life.
And not much wonder, seeing
that he was obliged to listen to it
thirteen hours out of the twenty
four, and TO attend to all the other
duties of agent at this lonesome, lit
tie, out of-the-way railroad station
in the suburbs, and all for the mag.
nifcent remuneration Of forty dol.
lars month-Jack Jerome, college
bred, stropg-limbed, handsome as q
young Apollo, and proud as-well,
brave and proud enough TO fill this
detested position well, since MOTH
ing yet bad offered.
He had always meant such grand
things when college days were over.
He had fully decided to study law,
make name for himself that should
bring coy Fame and tickle Fortune
to his side.
There had been plenty of money
in the Jerome Golfers then, and not
until week after Jack had carried
off the grand honors did the sudden
appalling crash come, in which
everything was swept by the board,
and the handsome, ambitious young
fellow found himself with a fine
stock of clothes and an A l educa.
ton, in place where beggar
could not be chooser.
OF course he had tried other
things, but other things we're not
available; and then this had been of
fered him, and he had taken it and
fulfilled bis duties well, and loathed
it equally we'll.
But today he was not thinking so
much of that as of one other thing,
that naturally led him to despise the
future OF his position. He was
thinking of the soft, velvety gray
eyes that he had seen once or twice
too often for his happiness-a fair
faced, proud-stepping young girl,
whose name be did not even know,
but who had made an impression
upon him that he could not shake
off.
"But what good would it do, even
il / knew her, and if a mutually-de-
lightful acquaintance ensuedF he
asked himself, bitterly, as be leaned
against the big desk aud looked
moodily out into the disconsolate
day. "A poor fellow with ten dol
lars week is not an object of much
interest to one Of the fair ones, 10
begin with; and TO venture to build
hopes of a future
An imperative summons on the
telegraph instrument dissipated his
thoughts, and by the time he had
taken his orders and seen 10 one or
two details the down train came in,
and while it laid off on the siding,
waiting for the Eastern Express,
Frank Wheat csme in, CHEEKY and
good nsturcd as ever, az well-paid
and gentlemanly passenger conduct
ors usually are.
81 suppose you've beard the lat
est, Jerome?' he said, with just the
least little depreciation in his voice,
mo. What is III" Jack asked,
indifferently.
"Rather departure, and pretty
rough Oh you fellows; but the snp-
erintendent's going to put lady
telegraphers in all along the branch
road