Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-10-10

JSNAJ nav SSOhoV put SJep away
Just step away-yet 25 years were
to bring it not one inch closerl 1t
might have been different in Major
Black had lived. But one morning the
Majors heart had gone back on him
and he had died without having time
to even make will. And directly
thereafter things began To break badly
for Jones.
Blacks death had left room for a
step up all along the line. What actual
ly happened was that everybody step
ped up except Jones, the second assist
ant being pushed over his head to the
cashiers desk. Again Jones lived over
the disappointment he had felt then.
One day, some three months later,
messenger boy had come into the bank
with word that ho was wanted at homo
at once. When he had arrived there
DR.. Anson had opened the door for him.
He remembered how grave the express
sion on the physician 3 face had been.
"You'd better come right upstairs, "
the other had said. "She 3 been ask.
ing for you.
Upstairs he had found his wife lying
in bed, a pink little object beside her.
She had smiled weakly at him, closed
her eyes, and sighed deeply and then
DR.. Anson had laid hand across his
shoulders
"she's gone, Jones'" ho had said
simply.
The next time someone had been
showed over Jones head ho hadn t
cared 80 much. 1t hadn't seemed TO
matter, somehow. For long time
nothing had seemed TO matter very
much. When ho had finally begun to
take new interest in life, he had real.
lied that an advancement was out Of
the question. A fixture he was and
fixture he would stay. When tho
others moved, it was taken for grant
ed and as matter Of course that ho
should stand still.
And now he was to bo let out This
was the end, then, After S5 years Of
slavery, he was to be-
A clock struck off the hour Of ten.
Jones started and climbed down from
his stool, lie realized, all at once, that
tho place was very cold, HO tried 10
speak cheerful word to the watch
man as ho won't out, but somehow what
he said did not sound cheerful.
Reaching home, Jones went straight
TO his room, Ho had been there but a
few minutes when ho heard tho door
open. Glancng up, he saw Gcrtio com.
ing towards him. Her checks were un.
naturally flushed and hor eyes were
unnaturally bright. She sat down on
the arm Of his chair and put her arm
around him, and then suddenly she
buried her face in his vest front.
"F-fathor," she sobbed, "I--I c.
couldn't, lle-ho asked mo TOTO
marry him, and c--couldn't refuse
h-him, llo only gets s-seyenty.fivo
dollars month, but Ii l-lovo
him.
"why what in the worldl" OK.
claimed Jones, raising her face. 7
ooh, IL know I'm ungrateful and
and s-solfish, b-but when Tom.
my asked me / c--couldn't say no. /
I just c--couldn't, /"
Suddenly Jones saw light. HO nav
what she had donO and why uho was
crying about II, and he saw, too, what
his course must be, He forced smllo
to his face.
"Well, Gertlc, what are you crying
about" ho asked. "You re not sorry
you accepted him already, arc youi"
Gcrtio frightened q little behind her
tears.
"But--but Mr., ouiglcy won ""
"oh, bother Quiglcyl" Jones OK.
claimed lightly--he made II como light.
ly. "1 wouldn't think Of allowing you
TO marry him unless you loved him,
and you know IL. Anyhow, what II
am let out Of the Beardstown Nationali
| can GET" lie paused a moment and
swallowed. le had meant 10 say that
he could get plenty Of other positions,
but those clear gray eyes would not
let him. "rhere's other banks In
town." ne finished. "1 guess there a