dear!" he said. And that ended it.

He was found by the workers at the quarry. In Herridon to this day--it all
happened years ago--they speak of the Hudson Bay company's man who made
that terrible leap, and, broken all to pieces himself, had heart enough to
put his horse out of misery. The story went about so quickly, and so much
interest was excited because the Hudson Bay company sent an officer down
to bury him, and the new formed Aurora company was represented by two or
three titled directors, that Mark Telford's body was followed to its grave
by hundreds of people. It was never known to the public that he had
contemplated suicide. Only John Gladney and the Hudson Bay company knew
that for certain.

The will, found in his pocket, left everything he owned to Mildred
Margrave--that is, his interest in the Aurora mines of Lake Superior,
which pays a gallant dividend. The girl did not understand why this was,
but supposed it was because he was a friend of John Gladney, her
stepfather, and perhaps (but this she never said) because she reminded
him of some one. Both she and John Gladney when they are in England go
once a year to Herridon, and they are constantly sending flowers there.

Alpheus Richmond showed respect for him by wearing a silk sash under his
waistcoat, and Baron by purchasing shares in the Aurora company.

When Mark Telford lay dead, George Hagar tried to take from his finger the
ring which carried the tale of his life and death inside it, but the hand
was clinched so that it could not be opened. Two years afterward, when he
had won his fame through two pictures called "The Discovery" and "The
Sequel," he told his newly married wife of this. And he also cleared Mark
Telford's name of cowardice in her sight, for which she was grateful.