The Jamesburg record., 1902-01-18
MARY'S
AN SWE r

still felt that Boer bullet in his right
leg and his complexion, as well as his
nerves, reminded him of the fever
which had brought him near to
deaths door. Worst of all was the
news from Nellertcn.
Mary Dudley-his Mary-had inher-
tied 6 10000 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 high road to title. Sir Tarver
Brown was very little other than a
baronet; but the attraction of a
''ladyship'' could hardly help tempt
ing 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.. Jerram-oh, l beg your
pardon, Lieut.. Jerram, isn't it. now?"
he said, with a sneering laugh.
Il was offered a commission, but l
did not feel that | could accept it,
SIR" said Dick. Il want TO take up
my work again-for various reasons"
Mr.. Ernest Carrington's eyebrows
rose and subsided.
Pm 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 it?' he asked,
family.
MY dear fellow, you really are not
fit for office work just yet. Take
holiday after your trying labors-
your noble and-er-patriotic self
sacrifice. L dare say, in a few months,
at the most, we can squeeze you in
somewhere, though | 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 disci-
plined soldier he had become.
"Your words are final, sir?' 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 us the utmost pleasure to do.
Good heavens! 1t is the least we
could dol"
Dick bowed his head. The smile
on his lips was just a little bitter.
quite So" he said. ''It is some
thing to be grateful for that you are
so willing to do the least possible.
Good morning"
And then Dick found himself in St.
PauIs 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 recollec-
tion that his mothers own poor lit
tie income was sufficient for her we'll
measured requirements.
"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-
cially rings. And the rings reminded
him of what it hurt him most to re-
member.
He looked at his left hand with the
plain but solid gold circlet, set with
a tiny diamond, and the words, in
visible to his eyes, but pressing his
finger: Forever and forever!'
That was Mary's voucher to him
for her lifelong love.
At length he moved again. "Yes,
that's what I'll do he murmured.
Poor girl! One can't blame her.
She shall marry him with a free
conscience, at all events"
Then once ag;& he whispered:
'As for me-
At the Kings Arms ian of Neller-
ton, that evening. Dick took pen and
paper and wrote the letter to Mary
which was to accompany the re-
turned ring. 1t was short and to the
point:
Dear Mary: Somehow, though would
like to keep this, I can't do it, ard 50 I
bring it back to you; ard you mustn't think
/ mean TO be nasty by making It come to
you On your birthday / quite understand
that things are changed between rs. Wish
ing you all the happiness life can give you,
believe me, sincerely yours always,
RICHARD JERRAM"
mo drivel in that, | think" he
said, with a pang of pride when he
had read it and folded it up. The
ring was in a little box and the let
ter was now wrapped round the box.
The whole was addressed to Miss
Mary Dudley, Devonshire road.
In the darkness he tottered out
Devon hire road 1uav He ccnznd q +