The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-05-11


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 hlghroad to a title. Sir Taryer
Brown was very little other than a
baronet, but the attraction Of a 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. Jerram-oh i beg your pardon,
Lieutenant Jerram, isn't 1t, now?" he
said with a slight laugh. -
II was offered commission but /
did not feel that could accept it. sir. !"
said Dick. Il want to take up my
work again-for various reasons
Ernest Carringtons eyebrows rose
and subsidized.
II am very sorry, Mr.. Jerram," he
said. "but just at present there is no
vacancy. We viii, 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 a
holiday after your trying labors-your
noble patriotic self-sacrifice.
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 1899"
With an effort Dick pulled himself
together, and stood up, like the discip-
lined II damaged soldier he had be-
come.
"Yorr words are final. slr?' he asked
provisional, Jerram only provl-
sional. But we can't afford to cheer
you with hopes that may not come to
fruitlon. Anything we can do IN the
way Of recommendations it win give
us the utmost pleasure to do. OF
course, you understand that? Good
heavensl 1t is the least we could dog'
Dick bowed his head. The smile on
his lips was just a little bitter
"Qulte 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. Paups 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
come OF hundred year was sum.
cient for her well measured require
ments.
"As for me-"
He shrugged HIS shoulders and tot
tered down Ludgate HIn On his
way he noticed a jewelers. window.
with watches and chains and pins and
rings OF price beneath his eyes -espe-
ciallv rings. And the rings reminded
him OF what II hurt him most to re.
member.
He looked at his left hand, with
the plain but solid gold circlet, set
with tiny diamond, and the words.
invisible to his eye. but pressing his
anger. Forever and forever9'
That was Mary's voucher to him for
her lifelong love.
His fingernails 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. Yes,
that's what III do,p he murmared.
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 shoul-
ders this time. His despair was too
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 which
was to accompany the returned ring
1t was short and to the point:
Dear Mary Somehow. though l
would like to keep this. l can't do 1t,
and so | bring 1t back TO you; and you
must think I mean to be nasty by
making 1t come to you on your birth
day. quite understand that things
are changed between us. Wishing
you all the happiness life can give
you, believe me. sincerely yours al
ways, 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 hoy and tho 1pffer xvac non,