Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1881-08-31
THE FORGER.

Forbes, Chatteton 4 Co., colonial
brokers, OF Mincing lane, stood high
In tho city, Tho name Of old Peter
Forbes, tho founder OF tho business,
was proverbial for honesty and stability
and Hugh Chattcrton, the junior part.
nor, who had been in tho service OF the
firm for many years before he was ad-
mitted into partnership, had the rcputa'
tion Of being ono OF the shrewdcst buy
crs, and ono Of the clcverest salesmcn
"in tho lane" In his hands was now
vested the active management OF the
business, for Peter Forbes was growing
an old man, and did not come often to
tho city. James Forbes, his Younger
brother. was dead and Graham Forbes,
Peters son, profcsscd, without disguise,
his detestation of MI trading connec.
tions, and could not be prevailed upon
to take up tho position that was his
birtlright.
Hugh Chat crton was u tall, wiry,
energetic man Of seven and thirty. He
was essentially man of business. His
mind, since he was boy, had been
given up entirely to mercantile pur.
suits, and little of his time had been de.
voted to the cultivation Of those artistic
influences which soften the nature OF
our money. making men, and prepare
them for life outside the walls of n
counting-house. He commenced life
as Junior clerk with fixed purpose
before him, and he had never deviated
from the path he had laid down for him
self. Nothing had ever tempted him to
pause in the pursuit OF the object of his
ambition, which had been, from the first,
high position in the commercial world.
This he had now attained. The manag-
ing partner in such firm as Forbes,
Chatterton & Co. had surely great cause
for self congmtulation.
He was bachelor. As he had work.
ed his way up, step by step, he had
never let the thought of woman come
between him and his desire for mercan-
tile eminence. He had been so en-
crossed in the atf.irs of the busy world
that he had found no time to look
about him to select the woman who
should occupy in his household that
rank which love alone should have had
the right of comforting. His social
circle was of necessity small one, and
the only woman that appeared to him as
suitable to consider the offer of his
hand (he madssno pretense of Offering
his heart) was Mary Forbes, his
partners daughter.
She was handsome girl OF twenty,
who came home year ago from Ger
many, where she had been finishing her
education. He thought to himself she
was just the sort of person who would
look well at the head of the table. Her
queenly bearing, her symmetrical figure
so full of grace, her reposeful face with
its bright blue eyes, surmounted by q
wealth of dark brown hair, which was
always arranged in the simplest fashion,
were all in accord with the characteris-
tics of the ideal Mrs. Chatterton. They
had met OH several occasions, and she
had impressed him satisfactorily.
He had turned these things over for q
fortnight, and he at last made up his
mind. He came down to the city one
morning, with the intention Of going
through his letters and then proceeding
for the rest of the day to Mr.. Forbes's
house, "The Laurels," at Kensington.
He was always welcome, and was sure
of staying to dinner, after which he
could have talk with the old man and
in the course of the evening he would
make his proposal to Mary.
He had barely got through his cores
pondence, when Mr.. Davidson, the
cashier, entered his private room.
ave have some disagreeable business
in the office, sir!"
"Whats the matter, Davidson? Tol-
lerman's bills are not back, I hope"
"No sir it is more of personal
character. A forged check was present.
ed at the bank yesterday"
"Of course it wasn't paid?"
"It was presented over the counter" J"
"And they detained the man who pre-
sented it?'
"Unfortupately, no. The forgery was
not detected until after it had beer
paid.
"What is the amount {"
"Four hundred and sixty pounds. l."
"Dear me What carelessness on the
part of the bank. The idea OF paying
such an amount over the counter with
out close examination of the sigma
ture."
"Under the circumstances, the pay
ment without any suspicion was quite
natural. The check was presented by
one of our own clerks"
Indeed! Which one?'
"Mr. Spencer, sir"
"Tell him to step in to me-"