Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1884-09-16
GODFREY DENYERS PENANCE.

W zen young he1ifel fN"lNf Nf-''
ated his signature 10 cheek for a large
amount. drawn in favor Of friend Cap
,Aia wrAke. be did no, for a momen, an.
tieipa,e the serious consequences which
ensasd. lis objee, was simply 10 gain
time 70 arrange matters With the captain.
for the truth wAs ,hA, he had no, the
money 10 meet his draf, lie Was % ex-
trsmely ineSpcrienoed and unbusinesslike
that be did no, imagine foT an insiAn,
that his banker. had any cause of CON-
plain, ia the matter lie though, they
would simply return the check to Cap
tain Wnke's agents, with an in,imAiion
that there wss an informaliiy in Il. And
be ~As 20 staggered and horfihed by the
amount Of the check. ,hA, be eagerly
adopted the suggestion Of the clerk who
waited upon him from the bank. that the
signature was a forgery, by way Of tenn
poiArly eNiricA,ing himself from embAr.
rAssment. To an ordinary observer there
certainly seemed something wrong Aboa,
The signature. bat Godfrey Denyer. bear
ing in mind ,ha, the state be was in ~hea
be wrote the check. was no, surprised
that hi. handwriting should have been
eccentric. The transaction took place a,
a suPper-Par,y a, Captain wrAke'' rooms
a few night. previously. on which oceA-
son young Dsnyer dimly recollec,ed hav-
ing played reekles.ly a, cards for high
stakes. bat A. 10 wha, be had ls,. aud
even bow be had found his way home
Afterwards. his memory was a perfect
blank
Godfrey DenyeF was a very foolish
young man. IIewAs. in fact. one Of those
vain. silly. weak-minded youths, whose
chief ambition Is 10 lead the life Of fast
man about town. Unfortunately, be bad
no near relations 10 ia,eifere with his
tastes aud pursuits. while small fortune
which he bad inherited on attaining his
majority enabled him for brief period to
indulge in every folly and eH,ravAssnee.
Bat be was no, naturally either vicious
or prOaigais, though he AsPired to be
taken 10 be 20. and consequently, the idea
Of having Incurred deb, Of honor which
he was unable to pay, filed him with dis
may. When the bank clerk had leh.
taking the fatal check away. Godfrey
Dsnyer a, once sc, forth to seek Captain
wnke, feeling deeply distressed and hu-
inflated. bu, by no means conscious Of
the Nervousness Of the lie he had told
Captain wrake was no, to be found,
either At bis chambers or a, bis club, and,
after rushing abou, with feverish anxiety
to various places in search Of him, young
Denyer returned 10 his rooms tired and
dishesr,ened. A hanson cab was q,
the door, and. as he entered, he ran
agAins, rather POmPus elderly gentle
man, who A. once Acoos,ed him;
"Mr. Denyer. believe :"
"Ye.." replied Godfrey.
IL must ask you TO be good enough to
come with me a, once" replied the gen.
,leman. whose tone and manner were un-
pleasantly peremp,Ory. "IAm Mr.. Grant.
ly, the solicitor for Messrs. y * Co,
your bankers"
What for T., wha, do you wan; with
me ?" demanded Godfrey. uneasily. As
Mr.. GrAnily led the way to the cab.
"Jump in | will explain As we go
along. | shan, detain you many min
ute.." said the solicitor. taking him by
the arm.
Young Denysr entered the cab, and
Mr.. Granily 20, in after him. having frs,
given a brief direction to the driver. As
they ratified over the stones, the solicitor
briefly explained ,hs, he was going to ap-
ply for a wanan, against Captain wrake
in connection with the check. as the bank
had determined 10 prosecute.
Prosecute What for ;" exclaimed
Godfrey Denyer. startled out Of his SEN
ses.
Forgery. I, was = mos, imPaden,
attempt" said Mr.. Granily eurtly.
"But-bu, Captain Wake Is friend
Of nine" fAl,sred young Denyer "Ev-
ery,hing can be explained"
"He will have an opportunity Of ex-
planning" said the solicitor. in rather an
ironical tone. "rm sorry to hear he's .