Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-09-01

SSIL at tlle UulCe Ol
Brothers in no very sanguine
frame OF mind. He still felt
that Boer bullet in his right leg, and
his complexion, as well as his nerves
reminded him of the enteric, which
had brought him near to deaths door.
Worst Of all was the news from Mel
lerton.
Mary Dudley-his Mary-had inher-
tied 100000 from her Uncle Harold,
and-and, if that letter of the rattle
tongue gossip, Miss Brayshaw, to his
mother was to be believed, Mary was
on the highroad to a title. Sir Tarver
Brown was very little other than a
baronet, but the attraction of a "lady-
ship could hardly help tempting even
such girl as sweet Mary Dudley.
The younger member of the firm
received Dick with sympathy, but no
enthusiasm.
You don't look fit for an office desk,
Mr.. Jerram-oh L beg your pardon,
Lieutenant Jerram, isn't ii, now?" he
said with a slight laugh.
Il was offered commission but
did not feel that l could accept it. SIR"
said Dick. 81 want to take up my
work again-for various reasons"
Ernest Carringtons eyebrows rose
and subsided.
Il am very sorry, Mr.. Jerram," he
said, "but just at present there is no
vacancy. We will, of course, give you
the first chance-the very first chance
that occurs"
do you really mean lt!" he asked,
family.
my dear fellow, you seally are not
fit for Office work just yet. Take a
holiday after your trying labors-your
noble and-er-patriotic self-sacrifice.
1 dare say, in a few months, at the
most, We can squeeze you in some
where, though 1 fear even then we
cannot offer you the same salary you
received in 1899"
With an effort Dick pulled himself
together and stood up, like the discip-
lined il damaged soldier he had be-
come.
Your words are final, sr?" he asked.
provisional, Jerram - only provi-
sional. But we can't afford to cheer
you with hopes that may not come to
fruition. Anything We can do in the
way of recommendations it will give
rs the utmost pleasure to do. OF
iourse, you understand that? Good
heavens. it is the least we could do"'
Dick bowed his head. The smile on
his lips was just little bitter.
quite So" he said. SIT is some
thing to be grateful for that you are
willing to do the least possible. Good
morning." And then Dick found him.
self IN st. Pauls Churchyard, and
conscious that the last straw had been
piled upon his head.
Mary as good as lost to him-more
certainly now than before, anyway
his situation filed up. his health
broken, and no one to whom he could
honorably look for help in his time OF
trouble.
He found comfort in the recollection
that his mothers own poor little In
come of hundred a year was suffi-
cient for her well measured require
ments.
"As for me-"
He shrugged his shoulders and tot
tered down Ludgate Hill. On his
way he noticed a jewelers. window,
with watches and chains and pins and
rings of price beneath his eyes-espe-
clally rings. And the rings reminded
him of what 1t hurt him most to re.
member
He looked at his left hand, with
lhe plain but solid gold circlet, set
Fith a tiny diamond and the words,
Invisible to his eye, but pressing his
finger, Forever and forever"
That was Mary's voucher to him for
her lifelong love.
His tingernails closed on his palms
tightly, his jaws locked as if they
meant never again to part, and he
drew two or three terrible breaths OF
the kind that mark crises in the life
of a man.
At length he moved again. "Yes
that's what I'll do" he murmared
"PQor girl! one can't blame her. She
shall marry him with a free conscience
at all events"
Then once again he whispered
"As for me-"
But he did not ever shrug his shoul
ders this time. His despair was toe
profound. 1t needed no emphasis
At the Kings Arm Inn, of Nellerton
that evening, Dick took pen and paper
and wrote the letter to Mary whcl
was to accompany the returned ring
1t was short and to the point:
"Dear Somehow, though
would like to keep this, 1 can't do it
and so | bring it back to you; and yol
must think l mean to be nasty b,
making it come to you on your birth
day. ] quite understand that thing
are changed between us. Wishin,
you all the happiness life can Civ
you, believe me, sincerely yours al
ways, RICHARD JERRAM."
19Nn ,1,.f,. In, 4, l. l