Sharp County record., 1879-11-27

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Mrs. Trapier had died, six months ago:
The five hundred dollars he had on hand
now were the first bank deposit Philip
had ever owned in his life. The land
had also reverted to him after his moth
er's death through relative of hers.
He lad wondered once why; he knew
now. Hitherto he had only cared to
make money for his mothers sake.
Some men invariably fancy women
who are their seniors. Helen Lee was
certainly five years older than Philip.
But she had all the charm and freshness
of an immortal beauty, and she had a
strong character and cultivated mind
besides. "This love is of the heart, the
mind, the soul,n Philip said to himself.
In word, she established an influence
YER him. He would gladly have gone
to the stake for her. He sold his honor,
poor wretch, for her sake.
He walked in upon her abruptly one
June afternoon, as she sat on the piazza
reading novel. He could not quite
bring himself to sign his uncle's name
to borrow his uncle's name, he called
it. If he only dared to put the case to
her. But of course this could not be.
Her pure hands must not touch pitch
even in thought.
elbow much should a man be willing
to do for friend?" he asked her sud-
denly.
"There is no limit to a true friends
service,n Helen replied, instantly.
Amy Lees voice fell in: eyes, there
is. Wrong-doing is the limit. You
wouldn't have friend disgrace himself
to serve you, would yOu?"
Sometimes an angel speaks through a
mortal in this way, and we call it pre-
sentiment, foreboding, the shadow Of
a coming event. Philip stared at Amy
curiously. "'I had not loved thee,
dear, so much, loved | not honor
more.'" She repeated, softly, and
moved away.
81 don't agree with Amy" Helen
said, when her sister was out of sight
81 hope [ would be willing to peril my
soul for any one | loved. And if were
guilty of crime for his sake, | believe
the recording angel would wipe it out
with tear, as he did Uncle Toby's
oath"
Philip went home and signed the
check.
The bank where it was to be present
ed was so miles away. The creditor Of
the Lee sisters accepted it with COM
placency. Keith Trapier's signature
was known and respected. His nephew
had apparently embraced prompt meas
ures to communicate with him. The
check was forwarded at once to Firm q
Co.
But an unexpected contingency had
arisen. Mr.. Keith Trapier was dead.
His widow, who diSliked her husbands
nephew, had not seen fit to commune
cate With Philip on the subject, but she
had sent a cable dispatch to the bank,
directing certain business matters to be
seen to. The forged check was dated
some days after Mr.. Keith Trapier's
death. It could not fail to excite imme-
date suspicion on being presented. 1t
was traced back Immediately to Philip.
Firm g. Co., disposed to be on the
best of terms with the powers that be,
consulted the brother of Mrs Trapier,
who lived in the same town with them,
as to what had best be done. Mr..
Stevenson shared his sisters prejudices.
He was overcome with horror at the dis
covery of Philips treachery. Aforgery?
There was only one way to deal with a
forger. The young man must be arrest
ed Immediately.
Meanwhile Philip had lived under that
dark and haunting cloud of dread which
precedes misfortune. He felt it COM
inc so surely that when the officers of
the law walked into his office and ar
rested him one morning it was almost a
relief The worst was over. And his
regret and unhappiness were less for
himself than for the women he had tried
to help, when it was explained to him
that the check had been protested. But
there was still loop-hole of escape for
them. The constables had had a very
tedious trip up the river. The steam
boat had run aground, and thus her
passage had been prolonged. By a
curious coincidence this was the very
| day when Farmer Giles had promised to
pay. The hard creditor would accept
that payment now, perhaps.
But he would not. He availed him
self only too gladly of a legal quibble to
obtain immediate possession of the Lee
place. Philips offense had been all in
vain All that remained for him was to
invest his entire worldly means in the
name of Helen Lee, and to notify her of
the fact through lawyer. She was not
formally instructed as to whom she was
indebted for this benefaction. She
must have guessed, but as she had far
rather not know, she did not pursue any
inquiries on the subject. She was very
keen-witted. She never met Philip af-
]