The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1855-01-19
From the Flag Of our Unons
THE FORGED CHECK.
AND
THE STOLEN JEWELS.
ny FRED. HUNTER.

importing nfm, IN New I ork city, one
evening, several years ago, when my steps
were suddenly arrested by feeling the !
pressure Of hand upon my shoulder, as 1
hurried along. 1t was in the busy season
of the year, and / had been detained out
later than customary ; and as the passage
through which washastening homeward,
was none of the pleasentest-though af-
forded shorter cut to my lodgings than
through the more thickly travelled streets
above--I was startled, and turning instant !
1y about, l beheld the face of a young man
whom l did not recognize at the moment,
but whom l subsequently found to be a
person with whom had in previous years
been acquainted, somewhat
'I've been looking for you,' he said,
'and | want your assistance. / am in
trouble
who is ito I asked.
Don't you remember Ned Willetts,
Barclay 2 he said, in low tone.
Hooked at him again, and said:
Yes, to be sure | do. But what in the
world are you doing here in the dark,
alone, Ned, at this time of night? And
where have you been, these five years
back?'
'I'll tell you all about it, Barclay, if
you'll give me the opportunity
'Where are you stopping ?
Nowhere. I've been in town since
noon only, and must leave very shortly
again. i am in trouble, and need aid and
advice. Shall / go home with you?'
Yes, yes--come along replied. And
he took my arm as we fastened on togeth-
er to my rooms. He said little more then,
and not until / had become seated with
him, in my little parlor, where we were
alone, entirely, did he unbosom to me the
details of the dilemma he was in. u.
remembered Ned Willetts as fine
boy, when we were schoolmates together,
and | recollected him as he grew up to
manhood, noble hearted, enterprising
young man of thorough probity, honesty
and business tact. He went his way, how
ever, at seventeen or eighteen years old
and went mine; we had not met, l re-
peat, for some four or five years. He wa:
still a splendid looking fellow, now abou
three and twenty years old, and to all ap
peacances, as far as could judge, had i'm
proved in his person and manners alik'
ainea I lost siaht of him. FIVE years pre-
viously.
AS soon as the gas was let on in m.
room, noticed at once that Ned was ex
cited, and face and eyes showed that h
had been without rest for an unusual time
apparently.
Where do you hail from, Ncd?' ask
ed, at length and what have you beel
about ? You are in a fog, you say. Wha
has happenedT
TO begin at the beginning, Barclay
though must be brief, for you will sool
see that am pressed for tim6-I com
from Baltimore, where have been en-
gagged in book keeping, and was cashier il
large jewelry establishment for thre
years and more. There was youn!
lady &N - '
Halo 7 / exclaimed "a woman at th
bottom oft all, eh p b.s
Don't stop to interrupt me; you shal
see in few words, as fast as can com
towards it, how it happened responde,
Willetts. And l therefore permitted hin
to proceed, without farther serious chec
or queries.
There was beautiful girl came int
the store some months ago, to make som
trihing purchases, and Glanced at tn
moment to be in the front of the establish
ment, while one of the clerks waited upo
her. l had never been struck with an
woman's appearance before in mylife, an
| should scarcely have noticed her, br
for her peculiarly sweet tone Of voic
which, once heard, you nor / could eve
forget, Barclay e PEI
svery likely
well, she went out, and saw nothin
more of her for week, when she agai
called at the store. / saw her then, an
twice-thrice, think afterwards--befol
Ispoke with her. The young clerk ha
learned her name, and took the liberty OF
day (at my suggestion) to introduce n
10 her. / was greatly pleased with h
fine features and musical voice, and ! b
came better acquainted with the lady aft
a time
'Isee; q love affair, said l. X
0 sWell, wait ! called on her at h
fathers residence, and at length, after
years acquaintance, proposed to mari
Cornelia Dufonte-that's her name---at
she accepted my offer. with her father
approval. She had no mother, and the
boarded at very convenient and respe
table house, near my place Of business.
exchanged my lodgings, took room
Mrs. Redlon's, where they dwelt, and SOC
became intimate with Mr.. Dufonte,
course, who, at the proper time, and wh'
Twas ready, was to become my futu
father-in-law,' sasiS
f9sYes.' eaaesHf ss
Il never knew, and never asked VIII
was Dufonte's occupation. ] did not kno
but he had an income that supported y
expenses Of himself and daughter. ] didr
know but he was in some quiet professi'
or business that afforded him the mean
and am certain Cornelia never knew an
thing whatever about. this, except VIII
her father volunteered to tell her, whi
was very little. However, / cared as lit
as / knew about it. Myown position W
n agood one and knew that when ! &
ready 10 marry his daughter, ! should
ready 20 support her. 4 never thoug