The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1902-09-11

frame of mind. He still fell
that Boer bullet In his right leg, ant
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 inner
tied 100000 from her Uncle Harold
and-and, II that letter Of the rattle
tongue gossip, Miss Brnyshaw, TO his
mother was TO be believed, Mary was
on the highroad 10 a title. Sir Tarver
Brown was very little other than q
baronct, but the attraction Of lady
ship" could hardly help tempting even
such a 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.. JeTam-oh L beg your pardon,
Lieutenant Jerrnm isn't it, now" be
said with a slight laugh.
II was offered commission, but |
did not feel that l could accept It, sir"
said Dick. IL want TO take up my
work agaln--for various reasons"
Ernest CaTIngton's eyebrows rose
and subslded.
81 am very sorry, Mr.. Jerram," he
said, but just at present there is no
vacancy. We viii, Of course, give you
the first chance--tbe very first chance
that occurs"
do you really mean it, he asked
family.
my dear fellow, you really are not
at for Office work just yet. Take a
holiday after your trying labors-your
noble and-er-patriotic sclf.sacrifce
l dare say, in few months, at the
most, We can squeeze you in some
where, though fear even then we
cannot offer you the same salary you
received In 1890"
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, SIR" he asked.
provisional, Terrain only provi- |
slonal. 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, 1t win give
us the utmost pleasure to do. OF
course, you understand that? Good |
heavens It is the least we could do"
Dick bowed his head. The smile on
his lips was just a little bitter.
quite so," he said. 1T 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. Paurs Churchyard. and
conscious that the last straw had been
piled upon his head.
Mary as good as lost TO hlm-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 |
CONT Of hundred a year was suffl. |
Client for her well measured require |
ments.
"As for me-"
He shrugged his shoulders and tot. |
tered down Ludgate Hill. On his |
way he noticed n jewelers. window,
with watches and chains and pins ana |
rings Of price beneath his eyes-espc.
clally rings. And the rings reminded |
him Of what 1t hurt him most to re.
member.
He looked at his left band, with |
the plain but solid gold clrclet, set
with a tiny diamond and the words
Invisible to his eye, but pressing his
finger Forever and forever"
That was Mary's voucher 10 him for
her lifelong love.
His fngernails closed on his palms
tightly, his jaws locked as IL 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. Eyes, |
that's what I'll do" he murmnred.
Poor girl! one can't blame her She
shall marry him with free conscience
at all events"
Then once again he whispered:
"As for me-"
But he did not ever shrug his Shout.
ders this time. His despair was too
profound. 1t needed no emphasis.
At the Kings Arm Inn, Of Nellerton
that evening, Dicl; took pen and paper
and wrote the letter to Mary which
was to accompany the returned ring
1t was short and to the point: