Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-04-18
have been keeping bad company, young

but he was too bewildered to realize
their significance, and he felt less appre-
hensive on Captain Wrake' account than
on his own. He had vague suspicion
that he had somehow made himself
amenable to the law in connection with
this wretched check, and suspected that
the errand on which they were bound
had an unpleasant personal bearing.
His uneasy meditation lasted until
they reached their destination, and in q
dazed state of mind he obeyed Mr..
Grantly's request that he would follow
him. What passed at the police court
happened SO quickly that he hardly
knew what he was doing. TO add to his
agitation and nervousness Mr.. Grantly's
manner was very overbearing, and being
weak-minded lad he helplessly did
what he was told, without reflection.
He was sworn and again confronted with
the signature of the check. For the life
of him he could not summon up courage
to retract or qualify his original state
ment, and as monosyllable was all
that was required by way of answer, he
found it easier TO say 4" No to the ques-
ton put TO him than to enter into an ex-
PLANTATION. 1t was not until he found
himself alone again, dlsconsolately wend-
ing his way back to his chambers, that
it began to dawn upon him how fatally
he had committed himself, and how
grave a wrong he had done to Captain
Wrake.
While his mind was waveling between
right and wrong an incident happened
which afforded him an excuse for adopt
ing the less compromising alternative.
In the afternoon he received visit FROM
q lady who announced that she was Cap
tain Wrake's wife. She was young and
pretty, but shabbily dressed, with care
worn look upon her pale face. Godfrey
Denyer was the more startled at behold
ing her, because, like most of the cap
tain's friends. he was unaware that he
was married. He knew Captain Wrake
as q man of pleasure, a gambler and
profigate, and in the poor wife's punched
features and threadbare attire it was
easy to read tale of suffering and neg
lect. But she had come, nevertheless,
to plead for her husband, who, 1T ap-
pears, had already been arrested; and
the sight of her distress and her pitiful
allusion to her young family touched
Godfrey Denyers heart and aroused his
better nature.
"What can [ do for you ?" he said,
summoning up all his fortitude. "Shall
L go at once to the police and acknowl-
edge the signature?"
s'My lawyer says that would be use
less, as you have already denied it upon
oath, sobbed the poor lady. But if
you would be merciful and not give evil
deBce against my poor husband"
s. will not, I will leave London at
once, !" he interrupted, eagerly, with
strange feeling of relief.
6 Heaven bless you'll" cried his friends
wife, impulsively seizing his hand and
kissing 1t.
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 pos
session of him so that he fairly fed from
the room. When Mrs. Wrake had left
he lost no time In making preparations
for his departure. Having picked up
his portmanteau-leav the bulk of
his effects to the mercy of the landlady
he went trembling 10 the bank and
drew out the balance which stood to his
credit. The same night he reached Liv-
erpool, and the next morning sailed for
New York.
Godfrey Denyer renamed III 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 lay
the foundation of a large fortune. An
American fellow-passenge on voyage
out took great fancy to him and offered
him employment in his business. God
frey Denyer at once entered upon
prosperous career and developed an un-
expected capacity for his duties. He
not only gained the confidence of his
employer but also his affectionate regard,
so that he was offered opportunities for
advancement which rarely fall to the lot
of young men.
But he was no longer the vain, foolish
lad he used to be before he left Eng
land. 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
long term of penal servitude. Godfrey
Denyer's absence had availed no more
than the prisoners eager protestations
of innocence to avert an averse verdict,
for Independent persons had sworn to
their belief that the signature to the
check was not in the handwriting of the
supposed drawer The news gave God
frey a severe and painful attack, and had
a SOLDERING effect upon his character.
He conceived it to be his duty at least
to provide for the necessities of the poor
woman and innocent children whom he
had rendered 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 OBJ
ject he devoted himself assiduously to
business, and regularly RENTED the
larger portion of his earnings to trust
worthy agent, who applied the money
for Mrs. Wrake's benefit. The poor lady
frequently blessed her unknown bene-
factor, but Godfrey Denyer never dared
to disclose his identity, that the wife of
the man he SO cruelty wronged should
spurn his gifts and thus deprive him of
the small consolation he derived from
hn1nIno her