The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-04-26

Close the door" he said, throwing
himself into seat and assuming an air 0
extreme severity
Robert obeyed, inwardly wondering wha
his relatives ominous feeling could signify
II sent for you, Robert, began Mr.
Thorndike. because | wished to see yor
upon a subject Of real Importance to your
self. and one which has caused me consid
cradle grief and annoyance.
why. uncle the nephew interrupt
"a. but MIR Thorndike motioned him t,
preserve silence, as he continued.
Before laying before you how Oh
tanned my information, and with the hope
that YOU will not add falsehood to forgery
| viii ask YOU if You have ever seen that
paper" and the old man drew from hi.
pocket small piece Of paper. evidently a
note or draft. at which Robert did not look
but sIriuging to his feet, his face flushed
with indignation, and his eyes sparkling,
he exclaimed,
''N hat do you mean, sir! You speak i'll
strange riddles to me. Forgery. false
hood These are strange words to apply
IN connection with my name"
Old Eugene Thorndike shook his head
sadly.
1T will not avail you, Robert, to as
sume ignorance Of that which ] have impu-
ted to you, for know you are guilty.
have never refused you single indulgence,
have always allowed you an eXcessof spend
my money, and for what purposeyou need
"a money 80 bad that you became a low
criminal, and forged my name, ! cannot
conceive The note before You is writ
ten request. bearing my forged signature,
70 Mr. Fulbes, my friend, residing In the
village The order was presented to him
10y a hoy. whom you sent, and OF course,
the signature being identical to my own,
the money was paid. From my nephew
Eugene, | learn that you were seen in sew
eral places Of low ressort III Maplegrove
within the past week. What have you to
say for vourselfr
Robert Thurston, with anger, astonish-
ment. and surprise, depicted in every fea-
lures u his face, had listened to his un-
cie's charge without word But now IN
dignatIun gained the masterly over his
sclf-cyutrol, and he burst forth
Say have to say that Is base pub
hcaiion. lie. a malicious SANDER nev-
er forged Your name, ! have never asso-
clatcd in the dens you mention. ! have al
ways done my duty by my maker, 10y you,
ana w myself If my cousin, Eugene, ac-
cuses me of being a hdb,tu, OF the saloons
and billiard halls Of Maplegrove, he lies,
malciously and purposely, and if you, sir,
believe that | would be guilty # the crime
Of which you accuse me, you are guilty OF
wronglug me, deeply.
Old Mr. Thorndyke listened quietly to
the young mans indignation, but it was
apparent that his n,lnd was deeply i'm
pregnated with the idea that he was cor
rect in his surmlse Of his nephew guilt.
Robert, he said calmly, II offer you
one last chance If redeeming yourself.
The proofs Of your guilt are incontruverti-
bic have gwen you access to all my pa
pers. and you alone, are capable Of copy
my IA, name correctly. have given you,
within the past two weeks, only a small
amount Of money, as you have asked for
but little from me Last evening, Eu-
gene, my nephew. Informed me that You
had presented your fiancee, Lilly Nor
daunt, with ring, which, IN value, has
exceeded, by far, what | have gwen you IN
the past month.
Robert Thurston flushed hotly, at the
nj sntion uf the name Of his athanced. lie
had been engaged t. Miss Mordaunt for
but few weeAs. and he had, AS his uncle
had affirmed. presented her with ring of
considerable value lnteuuvely, hls mind
OWNED the origin and cause Of the charge
made against him by his relative, and,
drawing himself proudly up, he sa d:
" Uncle, have but few words to say
to you in regard to the lmputations you
have made relative to the charge Of for
gerry. | know nothing. | have denied
being in any saloon or other drinking place
in Maplegrove, except on one occasion.
Last week I saw friend in the village
tavern. very much inebriated. | entered
to persuade him to 90 home. That is the
only time have ever been in such place
In regard To the ring, | have saved my
spending money for some weeks for the
purchase of the ring t. which You allude
And now, sir, can only say that malice
and jealousy have prompted my cousin
Eugene, to inform pou what you have be
heved. and have divulgad to me, for h,
hates ne because | have been adopted by
you, and is Jealous Of me, for he has beer
All unsuccessful suitOr for the hand Of Mis-
Mordaunt.
Old Mr.. Thorndyke arose to his feet
angry and irritated The fearless declara
ton Of his nephew rendered him extreme
" enrayed. He VAS divided between tw,
opinions now, as 10 Roberts guilt, but h'
disliked this first intimation which haC
reached his ears Of the rivalry nf his tw'
nephews in matter Of love.
i You are endeavoring to lay the blam'
upon some one elses shoulders = exclaim
ed the uncle, excitably. You whom
adopted out Of charity"
"YOu dare to fling that in my face |!
replied Robert, his blood boiling under tn
insult ''You are a man Of little sense Z
believe in everything that your preciou
nephew tells you. You shall not have al
opportunity to again insult me, SIR, for
will leave this house, now and forever.
At this moment a servant entered tn
library to announce a visitor in the draw
ing-room, and caught the angry, excite'
words of the uncle and nephew. The mex
moment the servant Was down in the kitch
en, with the intelligence that, MIR. Thorn
dyke and young Robert Thurston wer
having a quarrel in the library.
An hour later, Robert Thurston wa
nowhere 10 tie IOuHu aOOut HOuSCs
old Eugene Thorndyke, suffering relaps
from his recent excitement, was contne
to his room, peevish, fretful and annoyed
anxiously listening 20 e ~ sound abou
the house, and inquiring # his attendan
if his nephew had yet returned.
Slowly, slowly, the day died, and darl
ness fell over the earth, enveloping tn
Thorndyke villa in sombre shrou6 Of glool
and night-shade A public ball at tn
village Of Maplegrove had called all tn
servants away from the house. Old Euger
Thorndyke, slumbering i'll his room, an
the house-keeper, Mrs. Barry, in the SER
ants room, being the only occupants
the mansion.