Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-01-18
MAR VS.
An 9 W E z

nerves, reminded hlm OF the ISNtT
which had brought him near to
deaths door. Worst Of all was the
news from Nellerton.
Mary Dudley-his Mary--had inher-
ited 100000 from her unc.e 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 a title. Sir Iarver
Brown was very little other than a
baronet; but the attraction Of
"ladyship" could hardly help tempt
ing 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, ] beg your
pardon, Lieut. Jerram, isn't it, now?'
he said, with a sneering laugh.
Il was offered commission, but
did not feel that ! could accept 1t,
sir" said Dick. 81 want to take up
my work again-for various reasons"
Mr.. Ernest carringfon's eyebrows
rose and subsidized.
I'm 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 itT' he asked,
family.
My dear fello", you really are not
fit for Office work just yet. Take a
holiday after your trying labors-
your noble and-er-patriotic self
sacrifice. dare say, in 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 1890"
With an effort, Dick pulled himself
together, and stood up, like the disci-
pliued 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 little bitter.
Quite so" he said at is some
Thing to be grateful for that you are
ff, Il Il
Good morning"
And then Dick found himself in st.
Paul's ehurehyard, 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
houorably look for help in his time
of trouble.
He found comfort in the recollec-
ton that his mothers oN.p poor lit
tie income was sufficient for her we'll
measured requirements.
LAS 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.
lie 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, buff pressing his
finger: Forever and forever!"
That was Mary's voucher to him
for her lifelong love
AZ 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 again he whispered:
AS for me"
At the Kings Arms inn Of NeIler-
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;
"pear Mary; Somehow, though would
hke TO keep this, l can't do II. and so
brirg IL back 90 you; and you mustn't think
i pas an 70 be- nasty by making Il come TO
you IN you d. hday. I quite understand
that things 2 b, hanged BETWEEN US. Wish
ing you all L. happiness life can give you,
eei4sve me s-Lcerely yours always,
RICHARD JERRAM."