The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1883-05-16
GODFREY DENYER'S PENANCE.

When young Godfrey Dcnycr' rcpu-
dated his signature to Il check for Il
large amount, drawn in favor of his
friend Captain Wrake, he did not for
moment anticipate the serious consc-
qucnccs which cnsucd. His object was
simply to gain time to arrange matters
with the Captain, for the truth was that
he had not the money TO meet his draft.
He was SO extremely inexperienced and
unbuSincss-likc that he did not imagine
TOR an instant that his bankers had
any cause of complaint in the matter
He thought they would simply return
the check to Captain Wrake's agents,
with an intimation that there was an
informaity in it. And he was so stag
gcrcd and Mortified by the amount OF
the check that he eagerly adopted the
the suggestion of the clerk who waited
upon him from he bank, that the sig
nature was a forgery, by way of tempo
rarly cXtricaing himself from embar-
rasSmcnt. TO an ordinary observer
there certainly seemed something wrong
about the signature, but Godfrey Den
yer, bearing in mind the state he was
in when he wrote the check, was not
surprised that his handwriting should
have been eccentric. The transaction
took place at n supper party at Captain
Wrakc's rooms few nights previously,
on which occasion young Dcnycr dimly
rccollcrtcd having played rccklcsSly at
cards for high stakes, but as to what he
had lost. and even how he had found his
way home aftcrward, his memory was n
perfect blank.
| Godfrey Denver was q very foolish
| Young man. He was, in fact, one OF
| those vain, silly, wcak-mindcd youths
| whose chief ambition is TO lead the lie
| of n fast man about town. Unfortu-
natcly he had no near relatives TO inter,
ferc with his tastes and pursuits, while
q small fortune which he had inherited
on attaining his majority enabled hin
for n brief period to indulge in every
folly and extravaganza But he was
not naturally either vicious or proili
gate, though he aspircd to be taken Il
be so, and consequently the idea o
having iHcMrred debt of honor whic
he was unable TO pay filled him with dis
may. When the bank clerk had left
taking the fatal check away
Godfrey Denver at once set forth t
seek Captain Wrakc, feeling deeply dis
trcsscd and humiiated, but by no mean
! conscious of the Nervousness OF the Ii
t he had told.
Captain Wrake was not to be found
either at his chambers or at his clul
> and after rushing about with feveris
anxiety to various places in search {
him, Young Denyer returned to his ow
rooms tired and disheartcned. -.
# hanson cab was at the door, and as h
4. entered he ran against rather POM
!, Gus, elderly gentleman, who at once az
v costcd him: o
e "Mr. Dcnycr, believer"
|. EYES, replied Godfrey.
y "Imust ask you to be good enou%
;, to come with me at once, replied u
5 gentleman, whose tone and mann'
v were unpleasantly peremptory: a. y
d Mr. Grantly, the solicitor ior Me'sr'' {
~ & Co.. Your bankers" ,,,;,
! "What for? What do you wan, VIII
Sc mep', demanded Godfrey, uneasii,y'
re Mr.. Grantly led the way to the cao'
NJ :" lump in. will explain as we
~ along. shan't detain you many III,
," utes,n SAID the solicitor, taking him
+ the arm.
,e Young Denyer entered the cab al
p Mr.. Grantly got in after him, havll
=. first given brief direction to the drive
40 AS they ratified over the stones the
lg icitor briefly explained that he was 2
l. ing to apply for q warrant against Ga
,ss tain Wrako in connection with Z
check, US the bank had determined
prosecute,