The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-11-06
A SHADOW ON A WALL.

Philip Trapier laid letter before him
on his writing-table, and studied the
signature carefully. 1t was familiar
signature to him already-his uncle's
He had read many letter before this
signed Keith Trapier. So much the
easier was his task of copying the name.
He did so next on the face of bank
check, which he filed up for the sum of
two thousand dollars, payable to his own
order.
A forgery!
He did this with a white face, but
with a steady hand. His uncle was in
Europe, and he had been intrusted with
the care of his property. He was posi-
tive that there was money enough in
bank to meet this check. He needed it
for an emergency, but not for his own
necessities. Within a week he would be
able to replace the money.
This was the emergency. A distant
cousin, Sydney Lee, had died suddenly,
leaving two daughters to fight the world
two girls who would in any case have
appealed to Philip both as his kins-
women and as women, but who were,
moreover, young and beautiful, and one
VI NiiOlllS I1SlCLl, h1O JOuCuCu l. mn ,
heart.
These girls father had never been a
rich man, but before his death he had
become greatly involved. There was
mortgage on the family place which
would fall due within month after the
death of Mr.. Lee. His daughters had
no means whatever to meet it.
Philip was poor man himself. He,
however, owned small piece of land
which would sell for fifteen hundred
dollars; five hundred dollars he could
contrive to raise. He instantly put his
place in the market and succeeded in
finding a purchaser. But this man
could not make the payment as soon as
he at first expected. 1t would fall sew
eral DAYS behind the time when the Lees
must either pay off the mortgage on
their home or give it up. Their cred
itor was hard man, and anxious to
close bargain so eminently advan-
tageous to himself. At any other time,
perhaps, the girls coUld have borrowed
the money better. But never had there
been such a depression in the money
market as now. Friend after friend to
whom they applied had told them that
it would be impossible TO advance them
such a sum at present.
When Farmer Giles entered Philip
Trapier's office and told him that he
could not pay him the cash down for
his lots until the first of the month,
Philip felt as though he had been dealt
a blow between the eyes. But no, those
girls should not be turned out. Then
he had weighed the risks, and the re-
suit had been he had forged his uncle's
name.
Do you despise hia9 A forger-a
common criminal
| will in eXtenuation aot so much as
URGE, I will simply state, the fact that
he was then hut u years of age. Hekad
ALWAYS been regarded as a prodigy in
the family-an astonishing person, who
was a man before he was a boy. HIS
Uncle Keith had given a proof of his
confidence in him by leaving him in
charge of his property when he sailed
for Europe This had inspired other
people with confidence. Philip had gone
into the real estate business, and was
doing WELL He had had a very indiffer-
.ent education; his father had died in
his.early hldhood, and left his mother
Very poor. 1t had been as Rauch as she
and Philip could do to pay fer food and
raiment, TO say nothing of books, until
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 a relative of hers.
He had 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
strong character and a cultivated mind
besides. "This love is of the heart, the
mind, the SOUL" Philip said to himself.
in word, she established an influence
yer him. He would gladly have gone