The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-04-22
THE FORGED CHECK.


Cleora Duhamel was belle, an
heircss, and motherless. Her father,
wealthy merchant, engrossed in bust
ness, imagined that money would do any
thing, and so left his only daughter to
tutors and governcsscs, masters and mis-
tresses
When Clcora entered society, at the
age of eighteen-thus her father willed
she became at once one OF the queens
of the circle i'll which she moved, and ran
such course of coquetry, extravaganza,
and pleasure, as only girl with her
beauty, temperament, and bringing up
was capable of.
Her fathers attention was first attract
ed by her extravaganza. Miss Cleoras
monthly allowance, though too ridicu-
lousy large to be told here, was not near
ly enough for her. Every month bills
were sent in for her father to settle, and
in spite of rcmonstrance, and even
something sterner, and though the one
creature that this spoiled heiress stood
in awe of was her father, still these bills
grew.
One month, Mr.. Duhamel threatened
to withdraw his extravagant daughter
from society entirely. The next, he de-
clared, in the most solemn manner, that
the next time she overran her allowance,
he would himself notify the various fash
ionable tradospeople with whom she was
most in the habit of making bills, that
they must not trust her. Clara believed
him this time. No more bills were pre-
sented her father for payment.
One day Frank Reeves, young clerk
in the employ of Mr.. Duhamel, astound
ed that gentleman by asking his permis-
sion to marry his daughter. OF course
he received a very abrupt and peremp-
tory "No," for his answer. And the
merchant, not doubling that Cleora her
self was answerablc for the presumption
of which this young gentleman had been
guilty, reached home in a very irate
frame of mind, and summoning his
daughter, reproved her sharply.
Cleora laughed first, pouted after
wards, and ended by crying.
Less than week from that time, Miss
Cleora received another lecture, couched
in much briefer language, but eloquent
beyond anything that young lady had
ever listened to before, Judging from
the impression it made.
"You ought to be proud of your work,
MISS" declared Mr.. Duhanlel, angrily.
"Frank Reeves has got himself into oreal
trouble this time, and there's no doubt
in my mind that he would never have
done so crazy thing, if his head hadn't
been turned about you.'
"What has poor Frank done now2"
asked Cleora, incredulously, but looking
little uneasy.
Ha hoe hna,, foror,not tho MAMA of
Duhamel & Co."
Miss Cleora started, and turned red
and white all in breath.
"Papa, how do you know"
He don't deny it; had the effron-
terry to present it at the bank himself,
even"
Silence some moments. Miss Cleora
grew paler and paler, and twisted her
black curls with nervous white fin
gers.
"Papa, what will you do with him 2"
she asked, presently.
"I2 l do nothing. The law he has
outraged will give him term in prison,
probably. Serve him right, too"
"Do you know where he is now2"
she asked, tremblingly; but the mer-
chant, absorbed in his own reflection,
did not notice that.
In Newgate, of course"
"Oh, papa !"
Cleora Duhamel rose to her feet,
white and palpitating.
Mr.. Duhamel lifted his keen eyes to
her face scrutinizingly.
"It would be easy to imagine that You
had some personal interest in this young
scamp, he said, coldly.
Cleora clasped her hands, and looked
up at him with trembling lips.
"Well?" exclaimed the merchant,
angrily, rising also.
"Papa, what made you let him go to
Newgate ?"
"Really7 Why should I not, pray
Come, come, miss. 1t is n good thing
for you, 1 see, that he is disposed of. >"
"Papa, Frank Reeves never forged
anybody's name in his life"-and
Ceora burst into tears for the second
time that evening.
"He don't deny it himself" repeated
Dir. Duhamel, with added indignation
and amazement at his naughty daugh-
ter's espousal of the young mans cause.
As Cleora made her escape from the
room, he began to pace up and down,
muttering, "She's self-willed enough to
do anything. I'm glad he's where he
is, though 1 always liked the young fel-
low. It's odd too that he wouldn't de
fend himself. Neither denied or owned
it. Some mystery there, but it's not
my business to solve it,"
Frank Reeves was tried for forgery |;
pleaded "Not guilty" but refused to
give any account of the forged check he
had certainly presented at the bank and
received the money on. He was sent to
prison for five years.