The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1862-12-11

signature had been presented and cashed some
six months previously. Now | had never
heard of the thing,nor signed any such check.
swell? said Ellice, her lips apart, and her
eyes fixed earnestly on her husbands grave
face.
"And the name of the man who presented
this check--this forged check, remember-was
Frazer Martini"
Ellice grew pale, and clasped her hands tight
| ly together. "Good heaven, Hugh, can this
thing be possible ?"
"Not merely possible, love, but certain. A
1T winding up of his career OF recklessness and
dissipation" said Irving, bitterly.
"But, Hugh, what measures have you taken ?"
| asked Ellice, who seemed scarcely able TO re-
aize the stupendous fraud.
'None, as yet; but at the earliest practical
| BILE hour tomorrow morning | shall set the
officers of the law upon the track of this UNI
detected felon."
"What is the consequence, llugh?"
Imprisonment for liie" was the stern an
swer.
Ellice trembled, and half opened her lips,
| but there was no CLEAN of encouragement on
the dark brow of her husband.
80, Hugh, dear Hugh, to think that might
| have been the wife of this wretched man!'
Mr.. Irving passed his hand fondly over his
wife's hair, and drew her closer toward him,
as if he would avert the merest thought of
| danger from her.
"If you please, ma am said servant, put
| ting his head in at the door, "woud you step
into the hall minute? The housekeeper wants
to speak word with you.'
Mrs. Irving rose, and passed quietly out of
the room. Hugh remained in his old position,
gazing into the fire with set teeth and corruga-
| ted brow. In a moment his wife returned
with a white, shocked face.
"Hugh-husband-I have sad story to tell
you. The servants have brought in poor,
foot-sore creature, wearied with travel, and, l
| fear, on the verge of fever He fell on the
waysde, a little way below, and Bruce found
| him as he came back from stabling your horses.
| He is worn to a skeleton with fatigue and pr-
vaton-shall we take him imp"
Certainly said Mr.. Irving, rousing himself
with an effort from the train of thought in
which he had been well-nigh absorbed; 'let the
| servants see that he has every care
"But Hugh, dearest" pleaded the wife, look
ing with grieved, terrified eyes into his own,
twill you come and see him? We have laid
| him on the sofa in the ante-room." 49,
eff you wish it, my dear, certainly" said Mr..
Irving. "Why, what is the matter? You
tremble like a leaf'
30, my husband" murmured Ellice, pausing
| as their feet touched the threshold of the door,
"only remember the Bible words, Blessed are
the merciful, for they shall obtain Mercy"
Hugh Irving had not time TO ask an explain
1 ante-room from which the servants had all been
dismissed. There, upon the sofa, lay Wild
| eyed man with dusty garb and bleeding feet,
his clothes in tatters, and his face Swallowed
by beard of several days growth. As Mr..
Irving approached, he gave faint cry, and en-
| deayored to spring from his couch, like one
( who would fee, but weakness and approaching
illness oyerpowered him, and he sank back on
the sofa, covering his face with his skeleton
hands. And, as he did so, Hugh Irving knew
that he stood in the CHASTITY presence of his
deadliest foe, Frazer Martin. s+rr,
Have they come to arrest me?' shrieked
the poor, halfdelirious creature. 81 have fed
long, but was not fast enough for them. L
am weak and i'll. / think am going to die.
But send him away. Don't let him see mel
| knew it would be detected, but thought /
could replace the money before he knew it. /
did not dream that it would all be swallowed
up in that miserable speculation. Is it he, or
only another troubled vision?"
at is | Frazer Martini returned Hugh cold
ly. "What have you to say for YOURSELF"
II can say nothing. i have no excuse to
plead; but for Gods sake do not deliver me
into the hands of the law! / would have fed
beyond its reach, but you see how weak am!
Have mercy on me! Oh, Hugh Irving, for her
sake be charitable to me. l shall soon be be-
yond the reach of earthly aid or pardon"
His piteously imploring voice-amost alb
lect in its entreaty- Jared on lrving's ear.
lie turned to Ellice, who stood silently at his
side.
"Elllee, II pursue the plans had arranged
the officers oil justice VIII be here at noon to-
morrow; IL not
But you will not, dearest Hughr cried
his wife, whose quick eye had detected the re-
renting chanse IN ms iace' ou WIN forgive,
'as We oulselses nope one Jay 10 oe forgiven.
'or E ny SAM uear low.
o a your sa nv, sweet , wne; anu heavehs:
Anu frazer MARTIN knew tiat ne was sale.