Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-03-22
Fauntleroy, the Forger.

My tather had been well acquainted
for many years with Mr.. Fauntleroy,
of the famous London banking firm
of Marsh, Stracey Fauntleroy & Gra-
ham. Thinking it might be of future
service to me to make my position
known to a great man in the CONNER
cial world, my father mentioned to his
highly respected friend that was
about to start in business for myself
in a very small way, and with very
little money. Mr.. Fauntleroy receiv-
ed the information with kind appear
ance of interest, and said that he wo'd
have his eye on me. expected from
this that he would wait to see if | could
keep on my feet at starting, and that
if he found | succeeded pretty well, he
would then help me forward if it lay
in his power. As events turned out,
he proved to be far better friend
than that, and he soon showed me that
had very much underrated the gen
erous and hearty interest which he had
felt in my welfare from the first.
While | was still fighting with the
difficulties Of setting up my Office, and
recommending myself to connection,
&c, got message from Mr.. Faunt-
leroy telling me to call on him at the
banking house the first time | was
passing that way. As you may easily
imagine, | contrived to be passing that
way on a particularly early occasion,
and on presenting myself at the bank,
| was shown at once into Mr.. Faunt,
leroy's private room.
He was as pleasant man to speak
to as ever | met with; bright and gay.
and companionable in his manner ;
with a sort of easy, hearty, iovial
bluntness about him that attracted ev.
erybody. The clerks all liked him
and that Is something to say of a part
ner in a banking house, | can tell
youl
Well, young Irowbrldge, says he,
giving his papers on the table brisk
push away from him, so you are 60
ing to set up in business for yourself
are you? have a great regard for
your father, aad a great wish to see
you succeed. Have you started yet
No? Just on the point Of beginning,
Ell? Very good. You will have your
difficulties, my friend, and | mean to
smooth one of them away from you
at the outset. A word of advice for
your private ear-bank with US"
You are very kind, sir" | answer
ed, and | should ask nothing better
than to profit by your suggestion, if
could. But my expenses are heavy at
starting, and when they are all paid
| am afraid | shall have very little left
to put by for the first year. | doubt
if shall be able to muster much more
than three hundred pounds of surplus
cash in the world after paying what
must pay before | lset up my Office, and
should be ashamed to trouble your
house, sir, to open an account for sucl
trihe as that"
Stuff and nonsense! !! says Mr.
Fauntleroy. Are yoa a banker ?
What business have you to offer al
opinion on the matter? Do as | tel
you; leave it to me; bank with US
and draw for what you like. Stop!
haven't done yet. When you open thu
account. speak to the head cashier
Perhaps you will find he has got some
thing to tell you. There! there! g
away; don't interrupt me; good bye
God bless your'
That was his way-ah, poor fellow
that was his way.
| went to the head cashier the mex
morning when opened my little mod
icum of an account. He had received
orders to pay my drafts without refer
ence to my balance. Ny checks, whe.
| had overdrawn, were to be privatel
shown to Mr.. Fauntleroy. Do man
, young men who start in business fin
, their prosperous superiors ready t
: help them in that way?
Well, got on-got on very fairl
] and steadily, being careful not to foI
:. get that small beginnings may lead i
s time to great ends. A prospect o
b one Of those great endS-great,
\ mean, to such a small! trader as ! wa
/ at that period showed itself to n
! when l had been some little time i
8 business. In plain terms, | had
] chance of joining in first rate col
e nection, which would give me prof
) and position, and everything | wante'
/ provided l could qualify myself fc
: engaging in it by getting good secur
It ty beforehand to a large amount.
d In this emergency, thought of n
f. kind friend, Mr.. Fauntleroy. and wei
, to the bank, and saw him once mo-
G III HIS pIlNdIG IbOiu.
n There he was at the same tabI
!. with the same heaps of paper abo
d him, and the same hearty, easy way {
le speaking his mind to you at once,
e the fewest possible words. Iexplai
it ed the business | came upon with son
" little hesitation and nervousness, for
IS was afraid he might think | was ia
e ing an unfair advantage of his form
a business to me. When | had done,
. just nodded his head, snatched up
le blank sheet of paper, scribbled a fe
Of lines on it in his rapid way, hand
it the writing to me, and pushed me o
ID of the room by the two shoulders /
t. fore could say single word. Hoo
as ed at the paper in the outer Office.
s. was my security from the great ban
a ing house for the whole amount a.
pr for more, if more was wanted.
r. | could not express my gratitu
O. then, and | don't know that I can {
ID scribe it now. l can only say that
1e has outlived the crime, the disgra
us and the awful death on the Scaffold.
in l am grieved to speak Of that dea
m at all but | have no other alter
elf tive. The course of my story MI
now lead me straight on to the lat
time, and to the terrible discoye
= which exposed my benefacto and
ID friend to all England as the fors
~ ~ Fauntleroy.
W. W. | must ask you to suppose o lal
nc ~, of some time after the occurrence
ne m the events that l have just been re
- :, ting. During this interval, thanks