The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1883-04-26


mon up courage to retract or qualify
his original statement, and as a mono
syllable was all that was required by
way of answer, he found it easier to say
''NO' TO the question put to him than
to enter into an explanation. 1t was
not until he found himself alone again,
diScOnsolately vending his way back to
his chambers. that it began to dawn
upon him how fatally he had commit
ted himself, and how grave a wrong he
had done Captain Wrake.
While his mind was wavering between
right and wrong an incident happened
which afforded him an excuse for adopt
ing the less compromising alternative.
I In the afternoon he received a visit
from lady who announced she was
Captain Wrake's wife. She was young
and pretty, but shabbily dressed, with a
careworn look upon her pale face.
Godfrey Denver was the more startled
at beholding her, because, like more of
the Captains friends, he was unaware
/ that he was married. He knew Captain
Wrake as a man of pleasure, a gambler
and prohigate, and in the poor wife )
pinched features and threadbeare attire
it was easy to read a tale Of suffering
and neglect But she had come, never
theless, to plead for her husband, who,
it appeared, had already been arrested;
and the sight of her distress and her pitt
full allusion to her young family touched
Godfrey Denyer's heart and aroused his
better nature
What can / do for you?'' he said.
summoning up all his fortitude. "Shall
! 90 at once to the police and acknowl-
edge the signature2''
My lawyer says that would be use
less, IS you have already denied it upon
oath, sobbed the poor lady. ''But if
you would be merciful and not give
evidence against my poor husband
81 will not, | will leave London at
once" he interrupted, eagerly, with a
strange feeling of relief
Heaven bless your cried his friends
wife, impulsively Selling his hand and
kissing it.
But Godfrey Denyer hastily drew his
hand away, for the spot she had kissed
seemed like fire. A tingling sensation
Of shame and unwOrthiness took possess
sion of him so that he fairly fled from
the room. When Mrs Wrake had left
he lost no time in making preparations
for his departure. Having packed up a
portmanteau-le leaving the bulk of his
effects to the mercy Of the landlady-he
went trembling to the bank and drew
out the balance which stood to his
credit. The same night he reached
Liverpool and the next morning sailed
for New York.
Godfrey Denver remained in America
more than five years, and owing to one
of those singular chances which read
like romance and which usually happen
to unworthy persons, he was able to Law
the foundation of a large fortune An
American fellOw-passenger on the voy-
age out took great fancy to him and
offered him employmentin his business.
Godfrey Denver at once entered upon a
prosperous career and developed an I'M
expected capacity for his new duties.
He not only gained the confidence of
his employer but also his atlectiOnate
regard, so that he was afforded OppOr-
tunitieS for advancement which rarely
fall to the lot of young man.
But he was no longer the vain, fool
iSh lad he used to be before he left En-
gland. A great change had come over
him, which dated from the day when,
shortly after his arrival in America, he
learned that Captain Wrake had been
found guilty of forgery and sentenced
to u long term Of penal servitude.
Godfrey Deuyer's absence had availed
no more than the prisoners eager pro-
tcStatiOns of innocence to avert an adj
verse verdict, for independent persons
had sworn to their belief that the sig
nature to She check was not in the hand
writing of the supposed drawer. The
news gave Godfrey Severe and painful
attack and had n SOLDERING effect upon
his character. He conceived II to be
his duty at least to provide for the ne
ccSsities of the poor woman and limo
oh I'll 10 10 L
miserable He had not the courage to
return to England and clear Captain
Wrake's reputation, but short of that
he resolved to make every atonement in
his power. With this object he devoted
himself aSSidUously to business, and
regularly RENTED the larger portion of
his earnings to a trustworthy agent who
applied the money for Mrs. Wrake's
benefit. The poor lady frequently
blessed her unknown benefactOr, but
Godfrey Denver never dared to disclose
his identity, lest the wife of the man he
SO cruelty wronged should spurn his
gifts and thus deprive him of the small
consolation he derived from helping
her
At length he was informed that Cap
tain Wrake would shortly be set at lib
erty, and he then resolved to carry into
execution plan which had been slowly
forming in his mind for years past. In
spite of the pecuniary sacrifices he had /
made he felt that he had by no means |
atoned for his sin. 1t was not a ques- !
ton of money, for he was prepared to |
continue his benefactions and to provide |
Captain Wrake with funds to make |
fresh start in life if hewOuld accept any |
favor of him. But his chief purpose !
was to return to England and to place /
himself unreservedly in Captain /
Wrake's hands. If the Captain would |
accept no apology or compensation, and !
insisted on his publicly acknowledging |
his haSeness, Godfrey Denyer was de |
termined to do SO, regardless of the con- /
sequences.
This resolution had cost him a severe |
with his moral cowardice, but |
nj length he succeeded in SImmoning /.
up the necessary fortitude for his self |.
imposed penance. If he secretly hoped |
that Captain Wrake would be satisfied /
with some smaller sacrifice, he was /
nevertheless perfectly sincere in his |
purpose. He returned to England. /
looking prematurely aged, with streaks /
of gray in his hair, though he was bare /
~ thirty. But his bearing was calm /
and reSolute, and a shrewd observer /
would have guessed At once that he had /
suffered some great trouble which had |.
darkened his young life.
On the day when Captain Wrake was /
released from prison Godfrey Denyer /
sent 10 him a request that he would /
grant him an interview at an inn near /
the gates of the jail. He felt deeply /
agitated at the prospect of finding him /
self face to face with the man who must .
have been curSing him bitterly for years, .
and who would now be the arbiter of his
fate; but his tirmness did not desert