Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-07-11
DICK ARMSTRONG'S SACRIFICE.

with sudden esthusiasm.
Yes. Dick, | will
my own darling girl" he cried.
It SENS SO strange dear. that saint
like you should care for stupid. hum-
drum fellow like me-"
Mgriel. who was by no means calious
at heart. began to feel various quaims
of rcmorse. u YVES very wrong to de-
ceive poor Dick. she reflected and TO
allow him to fancy that she loved him.
when all the affection of her heart and
soul had long since been given to his
friend, Jack Castleton, but, after all,
what could she do? Jack was simply
q bundle clerk. earning clerks wage,
whereas Dick Armstrong; income run
into five figcres yearly. and every one
of those figures meant much 10 Muriel
Carslake. An orphan, brought up in
the home of a relative, where poverty
reigned supreme. she had come to
loathe the mere thought of straitened
means with deadly aversion.
She tripped home and told her aunt
of the episode. and received that lady's
congratulations with much composure.
You are a dear. sensible girl.
Muriel." remarked Mrs. Vinnicombe.
kissing her niece warmly. and you de-
serve 10 be happy. am glad you
have put all that nonsense about young
Castleton out of your head"
Then Muriel went slowly to her room
and wrote the following letter:
My Poor Dear Jack-I have some
news for you, which | hope you wont
take to heart more than you can help.
This afternoon your friend Mr.. Arm
strong asked me to be his wife. and.
like the wicked, mercenary girl that
am, | said yes" to him. You see.
Jack, he is very rich. and the mere
thought OF life of poverty is so horrii
to me that think 1t better to marry
without love than without money. |
know il is very hard on you. dear. but
you must try and forgive me. and for
get me as soon as you can. You and
have had some sweet times together
but, of course, we must put all those
memories out of our heads now and
blot out the golden hours for ever and
4
always hard. especially when love
comes into it, All, why didn't your
uncle buy you that partnership in the
bank which we used TO fancy he would
do? If he had done that. how differ
emit everything would have been.
Then You and | coIld have married
months ago, and this sordsd business
would never have been entered into
by me. If only you knew how hate
myself for what | have done and for
the way in which have deceived poor
Dick, you would. think. pity me with
all your heart AS it is, cannot ask
for your pity. but only for your for
giveness. Good-by and God bless you.
Your faithless but still loving
MURIEL.
And when the letter had been placed
In its envelope. stamped and dis
patched, the writer of It flung herself
upon her couch and sobbed her very
soul from her eyes
"Great Scot. Armstrong. you're we.
through. There, sit down by the fire.
man. and take of your coat. You
shall have one of mise to wear for the
time being"
s-Thanks, Castleton. you're awfully
God. | meant to drive over TO your
,dgings, but couldn't find a convey
lnce and so | walked. Do you know.
l hardly felt the rain az ALL for | was
burning to tell you some wonderful
news"
We'll. slip on this jacket and make
Yourself comfortable, first of ALL
Dick Armstrong obeyed good humor-
eddy. and assumed the lounge coat
which his chum extended 10 him. Then.
seating himself b. the fire, he stretched
his legs toward the blaze and said.
slowly:
"Old chap, l am engaged to be mar
ried"
lack Castleton WINGED as the words
fell upon his ears. The news of the
eng sgement had already been conveyed
to him by Muriel's letter. but naturally
he gave no sign of knowledge. but
merely bowed his head and said
"Inded. You have my congratula-
tons"
Thank You very much. old chap.
The lady who is to be my wife is some
one whom | think you know-Miss
Carslake'
Eyes. know her very we'll. indeed .
Then you know the swestest ana
best woman on earth. | don't deserve
her, Jack, | don't indeed. Such a girl
as Muriel might marry an earl. duke.
prince. and yet confer distinction
sather than receive it.
When we are married, Jack. you
must come and see us very often.
You'll come. won't you. old chap"
'T-I-yes, that is. of course I'll
come
His lips quivered as he spoke. and
to tell the truth. Jack Castleton was
undergoing an agonizing ordeal. His
nature was honesty itself and 1t agi-
tated him beyond measure TO be com
PEELED to play a part and TO allow his
best friend TO go in ignorance of the
genuine condition OF affairs.
Dick continued TO talk in happy
tones. speaking with all the joyousness
of a lover regarding the woman ne
loved. When at length the cloci
pointed to six he rose 10 take hi:
loo-a