Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-02-05


Hon. Miss Shape, niece Of Lord BIimley and
accepted by Major Munge; whom, no doubt,
YOU know by name. She has dealt with us for
some years, is very extrayagant; but always
pays"
lie put the acceptance which was for two
hundred pounds-nto my hands.
! looked at ii as scrutinizingly as usually do
ut such paper. The Majors signature was ia
m'lllar TO me; but having succeeded to great
S ale, he has ong ceased 10 be customer.
[ instantly detected forgery; by whom? was
he question. Could it be the man before me
Experience told me it was not. Perhaps there
was something in the expression Of my coun
fenance Mr.. Administer did not like, for he
said
" 1t is good for the amount, presume ?"
replied. Pray, sir, from whom did you get
this bill? ?"
" From Miss Shape herself"
"l1ave you circulated any other bills made by
Ihe same drawer?"
"Oh, yes said the draper, without hesta-
ion; " haye paid away bill Ior one hundred
pounds to Mr.. Sparkle, the jeweler, to whom
Miss Shape owed twenty pounds. They gave
'ue the difference"
And how long has that bill to run now: /"
About fortnight"
"nid you endorse it p
81 did; MIR Sparkle requested me to do so,
to show that the bill came properly into Ills pos
SESSION."
"This second bill, you say, is urgently re-
Quired to enable the Hon. Miss Snlpe to leave
towr?"
eyes she is now going to Brighton for The
winter"
gave Mr.. Administer steady, piercing look
of inquiry.
PRAY, sir" said, "could you meet that one
hundred pounds bill, supposing it could not be
paid by the acceptor."
"Meet !"
The poor fellow wiped from his forehead the
perspiration which broke out al the bare hint of
a probability that the bill would be- hishonorcd
"Meet it? Oh, no! am married man, with
a family, and have nothing but my salary 10 de-
pend on"
"Then the sooner you get it taken up, and
The less you have to do with Miss Shapes bill
affairs the better"
"She had always been very punctual hith
erto."
'"That may b." Ipointe,t to the cross writ.
ing on the document, and said deliberately
This bill is forgery"
AT these words the poor man turned pale
He snatched up the document, and, with many
incoherent protcstations, was rushing tovt RI
the door, when called to him, in an autholihv,
tone, to stop. He paused. Ills manner indica
ted not only doubt, but fear. | said to him
"Don furry yourself; only want to serv
you. You tell me that you are married maj
with children, dependent on daily labor for dai
y bread; and that you have done little dis
counting for Miss Shape out Of your earnings
Nov, although ain bill discounter, don
like to see such men vctmized. Look at tn
body of this bill; look at the signature of you
lady customer, tue drawer. Don't you detec
the same fine, thin, sharp pointed handwritin
in the words, Accepted, Dymmock Munge.'"
The man, convinced against his will, was O
fist overcome. When he recovered. he raved
he would expose the Honorable Miss Shape,
It cost him his bread: he would 60 at once I
the pol ce office.
stopped hun, by saying roughly,
Dou't be a tool. Any such steps woul
seal your ruin. Take my advice; return tn
bill TO the lady, saing simply that you cannt
get it discounted. Leave the rest to me, and
thlnk the bill you have embossed TO Sparkle WI
be paid
Comfurted by this assurance, Axministe
fearlulIy changed from the nervous, but snu
hopeful mnn OF the morning, departed. 1t no.
bring about the desired result. lost no tin
in writing letter to the Honorable Miss Snap
of which the following is copy:
"MADAM:-A bill, purpurtng to be draw
by you, has been offered to me for discount
There is something wrong about it; an
though a stranger to you, advise you to To-
tune in getting it back into your own hand
ID. D."
I, intended to deal with the affair quietly, Al
without any view to profit. The fact is, thai
, was sorry-you may augh-but really W
f sorry to think that II young girl might have q
: en- way to temptation under pressure of pecul
4 ary difficulties If it had been mans case
doubt whether | should have interfered.
4 the return of post, lady's maid entered
! room, proiousy decorated with rnglets, lac
~ and perfumed with patchOuh She brought
q letter from her mistress. 1t ran thus:
Q "Sr-I cannot sufficiently express my than
for your kindness in writing to me on the su
q iect of the bills; of which had also heard
y few hours previously. As perfect stranger
n YOU, | cannot estimate your kind consideratl
:, a, too hloh a value trust the matter will
:, exnlained but should much like to see yc
# YOU would be kind enough to write note
vou receive this, will order it to be sent to
i, AZ once to Tyburn Square. will wait on y
: >, .nv hour on Friday you may appoint
1oye that am not mistaken in supposing Il
e. YOU transact business for my friend Sir 10
h Markham, and you will therefore know the
- closed to be his handwriting Again thanki
"A YOU most gratefully, allow me to remain yc
I much and deeply obliged
JULIANA SNAPE."
This note was written upon delicate Fren
al paper. embossed With coat of arms. 1t v
Mt in fancy envelope; the whole richly perfum
IN and redolent Of rank and fashion. Its conte
m, were an implied confession Offorgery. Silence
l.oo l;naa of INDIGNATION would have beon