Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-12-23


me. sir. why l have been brought
here?" Mabel asked, in a voice so
gentle and musical, aud with a flush
on her face so far from betokening
guilt that his Honor forget the
prisoner, and remembered only the
lady. tN
You presented a chsck some time
since, Miss Gleason, for five hundred
dollars purporting to be drawn hy Mt.
Wentworth on the 49, Bank, on
which you drew the moneyP'
i did, Mabel answered; it Vas a
Christmas present from Mr.. Went
worth himself. lilo gave Ii to me with
his own hand, said Mabel, astounded
at a charge 50 unacoountable.
Mr.. Wentworth has been sent for,
and will be here presently, THE Judge
answered. All here he comes"
As the little old gentleman hustled
his way to the front, and his eyes
fell on Mabel, he started with aston
ishment.
You herel" be exclaimed. what
. thI mSAuAub VI bnAct
That is the person who presented
the check" said the Judge
"lmp7ssiblel'' cried the little old
gentleman.
she has admitted tn
Nc. Wentworth was dumbfoundedi
The whole affair was involved in mys.
terry. The written part OF the check,
had he not known the contrary, he
wOnld have sworn to be in his own
hand. His check book, too. was mis-
slug, though how il could have been
distracted from the safe in his room,
Of which he kept exclusive possession
Of the key, Was quito past his CON-
prehension.
You gave me the check yourself
sir, said Mabel, ION the steps of my
lodgings. late on Christmas night; you
surely cannot have forgotten it"
Late on Christmas night Why,
the old gentleman was sure be hadn't
stirred cut OF his room after dinner,
aud that he had gone to bed at nine
o'clock.
Whatever conclusion the little old
gentlemsn's mind might have reached
in its bewilderment, Mabel's was fasi
approachingone at the righteousness O
which she would have smiled under
less serious circumstances, which was
that MIR. Wentworth had celebrated
! Christmas indiscreetly. and taken {
drop too much for his memory. wher
her reflections were cut short by the
appearance ola new face upon tn,
scene-a decidedly handsome one, be
longing to a young gentleman who haI
accompanied Mr. Wentworth TO tn,
court. II was, moreover, the sam
face that would keep coming up il
Mabel's dreams-and sometimes WheI
she WAS awake, too.
mabel Gleasonl" cried the youuJ
man. "What-what absurd blnnder
this? Who'll has dared"
A deep flush, succeeded by a deadl.
pallOr% Overspread Mabel S countenanc
as she tottered aud would have fallen
but for the timely support of he
youthful companion.
"Unclel' the latter vehemently ex
claimed, Il know this lady, and woul,
stake my lie upon her ~iunocencel"
80 would |. boy, though I'm puz
zled to nv WITS endl'
See herel' he continued, address
ing the Judge, this ease must go n
further"
The charge can only be withdraw
by those who made it, the judy
answered..
And who arethey, confound them?'
THE officers OF the bank"
"The officers of the bank b
bowed I'm one of them myself
Ill 90 her bail anyhow, and fix it u
with the bank afterwardI'
The proposition was satisfactory.
As Warren Harding eonduote0
Mabel home, he learned for the frs
time her altered circumstance
When last they had met it was in be
native city, in the midst Of a refine
aud fashionable circle Of which sh
was the chief center OF attraction
lie had been absent for a year in Eu
rope, and had returned but a few day
before. How little had he expected
in accompanying his uncle to tn
! Police Court, that the meeting I
which he had looked forward wit
most Impotence should take plaC
there.
/ Whatever explanation passed bt
? tween the two young people, they le
J TO Wsrrens passing a sleepless'nigh
1t was past midnight and he had NJ
yet retired, when bis uncle, whom !
: had believed snug in bed. mufiel
; hated, coated and equipped as if Il
a going out, unceremoni0esly enterC
. his apartment. A strange expressio
: in his eyes arrested the young man
attention. Taking a key from b
/ pocket he opened a secret drawer Of
: secretary in one corner Of the roof
/ from which he took what seemed
be a blank book, which he opened an
taking up a pen began to write.
, Warrendrew nearer. 1t was q chez
book his uncle was writing in. Ha'
/ ing finished the old gentleman neat.
cut out and folded the part on whic
h he had written. and was about leaviI
the room when Warren spoke:
Q Where are you going, uucle?"
\ To make a present TO Mabel" r,
4 piled the other, without turning b
head. "Im4de her one on Christina
and intended making her another @
? New Years, but somehow forgot it..
Warren grasped his u%nele's arm
The latter gave a bound that almo
? lost him his balance.
Why, what's the matter2' he el
! claimed, rubbing his eyes, where a
liz"
"See, see, unclel'' cried the your
man eagerly, the mystery is e1
. planned"
: whats thisY" said the old geutl
man, more and more ast0nished. IN
4 lost check book, as | live, and
: check, too, in my hand regularly file
' up, and dated to-day And here.
1 why ehere's a memorandum. ia Il
! margin, Of that COMPOUNDED check tn.
has caused all the mischief. It's O
d plain now. I've been at my o
pranks again. They used to aecu
me of sleep walking when 1 was
boy, but never more than half b,
lieved III"
: When Mabel called the next d,
: to tender back the FIVE hundred do
y lara-wbiobs har loOo.;t IL -.