The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1883-05-16

"But-but Captain Wrakc is friend
OF mine" faltered young Dcnyer. "Ev-
erything can be explained"
"He will have an opportunity of cx-
| planning" said the solicitor, in rather
an ironical tone. II am sorry 10 hear
he is friend Of yours. lam afraid YOU
have been keeping bud company, young
! man.
Godfrey Dcnycr was too agitatcd and
confused to continue the conversation.
he was not by any means clear as to
the purpose OF this visit to the police
court. The ominous words "prosc-
QUITE and forgery were ringing in
his ears, but he was too bewildcrcd TO
realize their significance, and he felt
less apprehcnsiyc on Captain Wrakc's
account than on his own. He had n
vague suspicion that he had somehow
made himself amcnablc to the law in
connection with this wrctchcd check,
and suspected that the crrand on which
they were bound had an unpleasant per-
sonal bearing.
His uneasy meditation lasted until
they reached their destination. and in n
dazcd state OF mind he obcycd Mr.
Grantly's request that he would follow
him. What passed at the police court
happened 20 qrickly that be- hardly
knew what he was doing. 10 add 10
his agitation and NERVOUSNESS Mr..
| Grantlys manner was very oycrbcaring,
and being u minded lad he help
lessly did what he was told, without re-
flccting. He was sworn and again con-
fronted with the signature to the check
For the life of him he could not sum-
mon up courage to rctract or qualify
| his original statement, and as Il 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 II began to dawn
upon him how fatally he had commit
ted himself, and how grave Il wrong he
had done Captain Wrake.
While his mind was wavcring between
right and wrong an incident happened
which afforded him an excuse for adopt
Ing the less compromising alternative.
In the afternoon no received n visit
from lady who announced she was
Captain Wrake's wife. She was young
and pretty, but shabbily dressed, with n
carcworn look upon her pale face
Godfrey Denyer was the more startled
at bcholding her, because, like more Of
the Captains friends, he was unaware
that he was married IIckncw Captain
Wrake as man OF pleasure, a gambler
and proiligatc, and in the poor wife's
pinchcd features and thrcadbcarc attire
il was easy 10 read u tale of suffering
and neglect. But she had come. never
thclcss, 10 plead for her husband, who,
it appeared, had already been arrested;
and the sight of her distress and her pitt
iul alluSion 10 her young family touched
Godfrey Dcnycr's heart and aroused his
better nature.
"What can do for youT he said,
summonng up all his fortitudc. "Shall
! 90 at once to the police and acknowl-
edge the signature"
My lawyer says that would be use
less, as you have already denied il upon
OATH Sobbed the poor lady, "But il
you would be mcrciiul and not give
evidence against my poor husband"
81 will not, will leave London n
once" he interrupted, eagerly, with ;
strange feeling of relief.
"Hcaven bless you." cried his friend
wife, impulsiycly seizing his hand ant
kissing it.
But Godfrey Dcnycr hastily drew hi
hand away, for the spot she had kissc,
seemed like fire A tngling sensation
of shame and mworthincss took posses
sion of him so that he fairly fled from
the room. When Mrs. Wrakc had lcf
he lost no time in making preparations
for his departure. Having packed up :
portmantcau-leaving the bulk of hi
Effects to the mercy of the landlady-h
went trembling to the bank and drew
out the balance which stood TO hi
credit. The same night he rcachc,
Liverpool and the next morning sailet
for New York.
Godfrey Denycr remained in Americ;
more than i've years, and owing to on
of those singular chances which rea'
like romance and which usually happc'
to unworthy persons, he was able tola
the foundation OF large fortune. a
| ] American fcllow-passcngcr on the voI
: age out took Il great fancy to him an
5 offered him employment in his busncs
= Godfrey Denver at once entered upon
0 prosperous career and developed an u
II expected capacity for his new dutic
h He not only gained the confidence
j. his employer but also his aifectiona
+, regard, so that he was afforded oppo
: tunties for advancement which rare
o fall to the lot of q young man.
i But he was no longer the vain, TO,
IS ish lad he used to be before he left l.
@ gland. A great change had come ov
him, which dated from the day whe
!. sao.tly after his arrival in America,
}, learned that Captain Wrakc had be
n found guilty of forgery and sentenc
u to a long term of penal scrvitu.
n Godfrey Denycr's absence had avail
A no more than the prisoners eager pi
C tcstations of innocence to avert an
J. verse verdict, for Independent perso
g had sworn to their belief that the 81
nature to the check was not in the han
writing of the supposed drawer, L
news gave Godfrey a severe and pain
n attack and had SOLDERING effect up
lie his character. He conceived it to
FL his duty at least to provide for the
u cessities OF the poor woman and I'M
" cent children whom he had render
:, miserable. He had not the courage
W. y" return to England and clear Capti
10 Wrake's reputation, but short of Il
-. he resolved to make every atonemen
y his power. With this object he devo
II himself assiduously to business, q
BY regularly remitted the larger portion
his earnings to trustworthy agentw "
M applied the money for Mrs. Wrak
ng benefit. The poor lady frequen
FL blessed her unknown benefactor,
o. Godfrey Denyer never dared to discl
o. L;s identify. lest the wife of the man