The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1924-05-01
THE REWARD.

4 perry crossings, across the great Bridge
with the yawning darkness on either
side, and down the mean strests Of
southern London, YEARLY but steadily
! Mary MacAIlister bent her way
Three years Of hard work as typist
/ in a city Office, three years Of lonely
struggle with fortune had robbed
Mary's. cheek Of the bloom it boosted
when she was nineteen, but still she
strobe on her way, morning and even.
ing, backward and forward, to and
from the city, where her work lay, a
brave, earnest-minded, steady-eyed
| woman, a typical figure Of London's
women workers.
Sometimes for a moment her mind
would stray from the dark, close office
to the glorious fields ard hedgeroWs
which from babyhood she had looked
upon as hers In time to come. Now
and again as she ate her solitary meal
in her poor little room in the shabby
/ house in a third-rate street just be-
yond ''the Elephant" the memory Of
the plenty In the old days brought a
shadow for moment and then the
memory of Dick-her Dick-would
chase the little cloud away. If Dick
could be brave and go away to Africa
to win fortune for her. she would
be brave, too. Dick had faced the
crash, which four years ago had ruin
ed alike his father and hers, quietly
and .uncomplainingly. She had re-
fused his offer to release her from her
engagement to him. and with mutual
protestations of love and fidelity they
had parted--he to seek wealth across
the seas, she to earn her living as best
she could in the great world of Lon
DON
ESany letter from Dick lay care
fully Golded in her little workbox.
They told Of progress, slow but sure,
until-until eighteen months before,
when the black cloud Of war lowered,
and ruin had for the second time in
his young life stopped at Dick Her
ricl's door.
With the first clash of arms his en-
ployment ceased, the land he had in
vested his savings in was seized by
the Beers, while he himself was com.
Wandered and imprisoned as the re.
suit Of his refusing to fight against
his own countrymen. Since then
since she had lived at her present
address-no news had come to tighten
her sorrow, to relieve her anxiety.
>Oniher doorstep she met her land
lady, Mrs. Bird, who had been shop.
ping. round the corner Mrs Bird was
well meaning. but rather massive, and
sometimes more than aggressive.
"You ars late this evening" Mrs.
Bird asserted, tartly
Yes-T-I--am, rather" nervousiy
responded Mary; II was fittle behind
at the office, and I'VE walked"
walked a night like this! Then
you'd no business. S'pose you caught
cold and got laid up?"
'eThe buses were full, and IL
couldn't afford a cab, you know" Mary
answered, smiling gently.
mo, in course, though you might
do that night like this if you didn't
go saddlin' yourself with that foreign
fiddler man upstairs"
Mrs. Bird closed the door with an
angry little bang as she followed Mary
into the passage.
"Oh, hush, please, Mrs. Bird think
how III the poor fellow has BEEN"
"Ill--course he has. and you, with
all you can do to keep yourself, must
go and look after him. Nonsense.
that's what I call it! What do we pay
rates for, and keep up that there pal.
ace round the corner for. if it amt for
such as him?"
"But. you don't understand, Mrs
Bird; he is not a common man; he
is an artist and a gentleman. 1t would
kill him to be sent to such a place
/ know feel it--just as it -would
kill ne to be sent there. Our cruel
fogs have brought him to deaths door,
and as he has lain insensfble-up
there-delirious, raving-his tongue
has told me the tale of his sunny
home away yonder in italy, of the pow
erty which drove him mere TO earn
| his bread, of his music, which IS like
| life to him And now-now he is bet
ter, be patient still for little longer.
4 j Will give hlAAl oil tl4C cAAtCAtAO4 \
can, and save you IS much as posi-
BILE. The money fhat is owing you
will pay, gladly. willingly, q little at
time. See, here is some that have
earned working late. Take it, and
let me have my own way, won't you?
All, you viii! Thank you. Mrs Bird!
AS tend him and help him, poor
fellow. so pray that woman's hand
may help the man love should he
need it."
She turned slowly and mounted the
stairs.
you are better-ah, I'm so glad.
Now, lie still, or shall be angry?"
Angry, you. cara mial All, but no
how can an angel be angry?"
Mary smiled "Your Illness has not
made you forget your compliments"
she said lightly.
Mary MacAllister had stolen into the
sick mans room, after taking OFF her
r.