Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-03-02
MY FORGERY.

! mn FOkGkhh 4.
VIXEN, a. The close Of the yeer 1876.
returned from Texas, having succee'
ded in losing two of the five thou'and
mounds which bad come 10 me at my
tiher's death as my share Of his per
nal property, felt some doubt a. to
how l should dispose OF myself nv
tune, and my talents. OF the latter l
had become a little distrustfal of late,
for they certainly, had not served me
well, wher brough: lace 10 face with
tie exigencies OF agricultural life in tn
far West; and resolved that would
think twice or thrice before committing
M self 10 another venture. As matter
O.. fact, thought great many times
but my thinking did not come to much,
fr | had been idle for six months,
Y ZEN one day, in the coffee room OF au
bo,el in one Of the large towns IN the
north Of England which l will Call
Lopgberough. l came across my fathers
old friend Francis Merrick, the &C
countant Of the well knewn hrm ol
Langton, MerriIk, Gibbs 4 STUART.
You don't mean TO say that it IL
you, Mr.. Richard p said he when | held
out my baud TO hln; you are the yer,
last mau expected 10 see.for though'
YOU we're thousands Of miles away
Did YOU get tIed OF The American
tarm?'
Yes, l did, answered, 'or else the
American farm got tired Of ne. l
know l lost as much mouey as thought
could afford 10 lose at once; SO
came home, thinking l might as "ell
lose nv next thousand in England
A very ssnsible idea. suppose you
have begun already. what are you
doing nowf'
o. am very discreet now. l am
not losing money, only spending it,
'Ah. living lazy life? Very nice
thing fer The time; shouldn't mind a
couple of months Of it myself; but ii
doesn't pay in the long rua. WAT are
you going TO Row-someth!ng, sup
lposes'
! Ns-auld be glad enough to do any
thiug; ous ~Lal is there that can do =
WE'LL you >sn do q great many
things +; the quesuo' is, what you will
de. Just now, Tor ins-ucs. | could
. sive you plenty Of work in u, ofb.s in
helping US With ths winding up stwo
large estates we have got IN hand. a.
TIE experh nee Ssu had some years az
at Welloridge would make 1t fairly eaS.
70 YOU; but OF course you wouldn't con-
Ii YOU will, I'll give you 92oO a yea
, willingly
8 'Dcnt pI replied; it is q bargain
4
n when shall come?
YOU don't mean itP said Merrlc
incredulously.
.Ipd,ed l do; was never mel
serious in Iie.'
1. 'Ver, well, then, cone on Monday
,.id he: and assured him that woul
= and that be might expect to see me
.. 9 o'clock.
Our compact had hardly been mac
when be was called away, and as 500
= as M, own business was concluded
r. went hume aud much surprised nay wi
by telling her what l had done. 81
was not only surprised but little ho'
y. r. tile. for she evidently considered II
clerkship decidedly mira dig.j but
laughed 30 per.isten1y at her scrupl
K that she soon became really. or app
l. rcntly, resigntd. r--
At $3.50 o'clock on Monday morning
got into train at the little roadsl
VI sta,ivn near the suburban villa whl
:, was our temporary home, and before
u [ WAS al the Office of Laagton, Merri
Gibbs s. Stuart. Merrick was the
and he welcomed me with his usu
i,lly lauah. 1t was he said before
usunl time, but he had come down ea'
10 see whether would put in an a
pesrauce, though he confessed that
had not expected me, Iwas taken
lit private room. aud a Junior Gle
,oY brought Ia several baskets appalling
full of papers. Merrick explained
me tart OIL what needed 10 be done; u
III, experience 10 which he had referr
which had been gained in connecti
nith a small estate Of my father
helped me the rest The business
'o' sone hat long and complicated OIL
hut in about fortnight l had [
through 1t. l then took IN hand
similar piece OF work and performed
o. sscond task much more quickly. Al
uut lu,o Merriek's hand tue hual sta
/ .,utI asked him what l was 10
next.
'r" This is all the business OF this kir
A
- he said, 'u,at We have in hahd 'usl Ut n
but | will tell you something Una
An have beeu thinking about ior the y
t~o or three days. You Kno"
shy sioce poor old Marshall oar casa
Se, Of, d SO suddenly elk months lgo,
Iu l,,r STUART Las been keeping The cash ;
fost n. ia anxious 10 give it up, sns We q
the be en looking out Tor . cashier. N
ii YOU will Jake the post IL n tssre
YOU, and ,os shall have faOO a sea
beyin with. What do you ~, =
4. H..