The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-07-10
A FEARFUL DANGER.

The master of Briar Hedge Farm
stood thoughtfully apart from the
| place where his young cousin was
Iaving his face and hands at the hy-
drant, which had been placed in the
summer kitchen for the convenience of
| the men in the busy season.
Some unpleasant thing had happen
ed, or Guy Fellows frank face would
not have worn such a perplexed un-
easy look. At last he said quietly:
Il wish to speak to you Louis"
Eyes, Guy" answered Louis in a
startled tone of voice; for Guys man.
ner was so unlike his usual one that it
foreboded trouble OF some kind,
though what it could be was a puzzle
Had he hurt himself, or had his pet
colt gone lame?
Something unpleasant has happen
| ed. HermiOne's bank book is gone,
and they tell me at the bank that the
money was drawn yesterday by man
who had an order purporting to be
signed by me-"
Either the officials at the bank are
very careless, or the handwriting must
have been good imitation Banks
cant be much protection to the people
depositing in them, if it is SO easy to
get another persons money out 1t
strikes me | won't patronize them
much when my ship comes in"
Forgery is difficult to be guarded
against, Louis, and the name append
ed to the order is such perfect fac
sinaite of my autograph, that | myself
could not detect the difference Is this
your work?'
As Louis looked at the page of fools
cap which was scribbled over with va
rious names, among which was that of
Guy Fellows, he first turned red and
| then pale. For Louis was very expert
with his pen, and was always copying
specimens of peculiar handwriting g
which fell in his way.
'1es, 1t Is mine, he said with a
brave effort TO tell the truth, no matter
what might be tho consequences.
For, like lightning flash, he real
lied what danger was hanging over
him-a worse one than was the tabled
sword which had threatened Damocles
in olden time, for that only menaced
life, and this, at what did it not strike
blow?
For an instant he stood as though
dazed, looking blankly into Guy Eel
lows troubled face; then he threw
himsely impulsively upon his knees be-
fore him.
Il see now. 1t looks badly Cousin
Guy, but don't judge me by appear
| ances; judge me by what you know of
me since we have been together. Do
you think any one who knew her
would hora ~,
moine? No, not even if he were an
accomplished thief. far less a man
whose only wealth lies in his good
name"
Il boliove you, Louis, even in the
face of evidence which would convict
you in court OF justice. | have felt
all along that you were innocent; and,
see here.
AS Guy Fellows spoke he held up the
paper which had been given as an order
for the money, and let Louis compare
the brief form signed with his name
with the prsctice-sheet, which he had
acknowledged as his work.
Then he turned, and lifting lid
from the cook-stove, put the danger
Gus document in and watched it catch
fire, and then burn to ashes.
Guy Fellows, although scarcely
thirty-tivc, had already come into a
fine Inheritance by the death of his
father.
He was a practical farmer, and also
what some people consider, visionary
one. That is, he was always trying
any new experiment which might COM
mend itself as an improvement upon
old-fashioned ways.
Louis Carmichael was q second cous-
in, who had been taken under his pro-
lection after the death of his parents.
He had been with him now about
four years, and although somewhat
dreamy and impractical, had grown
very dear to his generous kinsman.
Another inmate of the family was
Hermione Alleyne, the orphan ward of
Guy Fellows.
She was two years younger than
Louis, but looked to be his equal in
age. az he was slender ard boyish-
looking, while Hermione was of tall
and stately proportions. But her play
full ways, and merry laughing face
were still essentially cnild-like.
In his secret heart Louis cherished
the hope that, some time in the far
future, he might win her love when he
should have attained to fortune and to
fame
But Hermione was quite an heiress
for a country bred girl, and he was too
proud to let her know of his love un-
less he could meet her upon equal
grounds.
Now, had Guy been less noble in his
trusting generosity, Louis would have
been crushed TO the earth with shame.
As it was, 1t caused him to elevate his
cousin into the hero of his life. and de-
termined to repay him.
1t was quite long time before he
had the desired chance. but it came at
last.
Guy, although wealthy, did not dis
dain to put his own shoulder to tho
wheel day after day, and set his men
good example.
One day in the height of the harvest
ting one of the men fell i'll, and it
CHANGED that stranger came to the
place and asked to be employed about
the farm.
He was dark unprepossessing man,