The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1883-04-26
GODFREY DENYER's PENANCE.

When young Godfrey Dcnycr repu-
dated his signature to a check for q
large amount, drawn in favor of his
friend Captain Wrake, he did not for q
moment anticipate the serious consc-
qucnccs which cnsued. 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-like that he did not imagine
for an instant that his bankers had
any cause of complaint in the matter.
lie thought they would simply return
the check to Captain Wrakc'S agents
with an intimatiOn that there was an
informality in it. And he was so stag
gered and Mortified bv the amount of
the check that he eagerly adopted the
the suggestion Of the clerk who waited
upon him from the bank, that the sig-
nature was forgery, by way Of tempo
rarily eXtricating himself from embar-
rassment. 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 a supper party at Captain
Wrake S rooms few nights previously,
on which occasion young Dcnyer dimly
recollected having played recklcssly at
cards for high stakes, but as TO what he
had lost, and even how he had found his
way home afterward, his memory was a
perfect blank.
Godfrey Denyer was n very foolish
young man. lie was, in fact, one of
those vain, silly, weak-mindcd youths
whose chief ambition is TO lead the life
of a fast man about town. Unfortu-
nately he had no near relatives to inter
fere with his tastes and pursuits, while
a small fortune which he had inherited
on attaining his majority enabled him
for a brief period to indulge in every
folly and extravaganza. But he was
not naturally either vicious or prOHi-
gate, though he aspired to be taken to
bo So, and consequently the idea of
having incurred debt Of honor which
he was unable to pay filled him with dis
may When the bank clerk had left,
taking the fatal check away,
Godfrey Denyer at once set forth to
seek Captain Wrake, feeling deeply dis
tressed and Inundated, but by no means
conscious of the Nervousness of the lie
he had told.
Captain Wrake was not to be found,
NllIitI 1T Ills ClldilntlS vi 1T Ills CiNDs
and after rushing about with feverish
anxiety TO various places in search of
him, young Denyer returned to his own
rooms tired and diSheartened. A
hanson cab was ut the door, and as he
entered he ran against rather pomp-
Gus, elderly gentleman, who at once ac-
costcd him:
Mr.. Denyer, | believer
Yes replied Godfrey.
i must ask YOU to be good enough
TO come with me at once, 80 replied the
gentleman. whose tone and manner
were uupleasantly poremptory. Sc l am
Mr. GRAVITY, the solicitor for Messrs. \.
" Co, your bankers
"What for? What do YOU want with
me?'' demanded Godfrey, uneasily, rs
Mr. GRAVITY led the way to the cab.
Jump in. will explain rs we 60
along shan't detain YOU many min
utes, said the solicitor, taking him by
the arm.
Young Denyer entered the cab. and
Mr.. GRAVITY got in after him, having
first given a brief direction to the driver.
As they ratified over the stones the So
licitor briefly explained that he was 90
ing to apply for a warrant against Cap
tain Wrake in connection with the
check as the bank had determined to
prosecute.
Prosecute! What forP'' exclaimed
Godfrey Denyer, startled out of his
senses.
'' Forgery. It was a most impudent
attempt" said Mr.. GRAVITY, Curtly.
''But-but Captain Wrake is a friend
of mine" faltered young Denyer. Ev-
crything can be explained.
"a He viii have an opportunity of eN-
planning, said the solicitor. in rather
an ironical tone. Il am sorry to hear
he is a friend of yours. am afraid YOU
have been keeping bad company. young
man"
Godfrey Denyer was too agitated and
confused to continue the conversation.
He was not by any means clear rs to
the purpose of this visit TO the police
court. The ominous words prose
cute" and forgery were ringing in
his ears, but he was too bewildered to
realize their significance, and he felt
less apprehensive on Captain Wrake's
account than on his own. He had
vague suspicion that he had somehow
made himself amenable TO the law in
connection with this wTetched check,
and suspected that the errand on which
taey were bound had an unpleasant per
sonal bearing.
His uneasy meditation lasted until /.