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


Godfrey Dsnyer was too agi,a,ed and
confused 10 eOntine the conversation. Tie
was no, by any means clear az to the
purpose Of this visit to the police. court.
The ominoas words prosecute and
forgery" were ringing in his ears, bu, be
was too bewildered 10 realize their signif-
icAnce. and he fel, less apprehensiye on
Captain Wakes soeoun, than his own.
lie had vague suspicion tina, he had
somehow made himself Amenable TO tie
law in connection with this wre,ched
check. and suspected iha, the errand on
which they were bound had an unpleas-
An,ly personal bearing
Hi. uneasy meditation lasted until they
reached their destination. and in dared
state Of mind he obeyed Mr. GrAn,lys
rqaes, ,ha, he would follow him. wha,
passed a, the police eour, happened 20
quickly ihA, he hardly knew whA, he was
doing. TO add to his agitation and ner-
,ousnes.. Mr.. GrAn,ly'' manner was very
overbearing. and. being weAk-minded
lad. he hslPle..ly did wha, he W. told,
without, rejecting lie Was sworn. and
again confronted with the signature to the
check. For the life Of him he could no,
summon up courage to reiraei or qualify
hi. original statement. and. 1 mono
syllable was all ,hs, was required by way
Of answer. he found !, easier TO say "No
to the question pa, to him than to eater
into an explanation. !, was no, until
he found himself alone again. disoon'o'
lately vending hi. way back to his cham
ber.. ,h., /, began to dawn upon him how
fatally he had committed himself. and
how grave a wrong he had done TO Cap
tain WrAke.
Words would no, describe bis bitter
remor.e and mental anguish when he re-
aec,ed that. by false statement. re-
pea,ed upon oath, be bad pa, the law IN
motion sgsins, an innocent man lie
could no, even sAlve bis conscience With
the reflection ,hA, he remembered nothing
Of the transaction. for he had complete
faith ia Captain Wakes integrity, and
firmly believed iha, be had voluntarily
signed the check ior money Justly due from
him. The wors, feature in the case was
,h., he mus, either deliberately peuurc
himself again or render himself liable -
punishment, for what he had already done
In ,hi. predieamen, his moral oowArdics
naturally suggested to him 10 seek safety
in flight. Tie eel, thA, In leaving Cap
tain Wake 10 his fate be would be CON-
mn,ing a despieAble act. which would
agsrava,e hi. .in bu, on the other land
/ he vaguely hoped ,ha, hi' presence would
render the prosecution aboriive MI
/ Gran,ly had laid such stress upon the ne
ee..isy Of hi. holding himself in readiness
to give evidence in supper, Of the charge
a, soon a. Captain wnse should be aP-
pretended. ihA, be htd some ground for
bis belief.
While bis mind was wAyering between
,hi, ignoble purpose and the manly course
Of avowing hi. deceit. an incident hap
pened which afforded him An excuse fo'
adopting the less compromising alternative
Ia the afternoon he received visi, from
a lady, who announced that she was Cap
tain Wakes wife. She was young and
pretty. ba, .hAbbily dressed, with a care
worn look upon her face Godfrey Den
YER was the more startled At beholdins
her. because, like mos, Of the captain
friends. he was unaware thA, he was mar
RED. lie knew Captain Wrake as man
Of pleasure. a gambler, and Profiiga,e'
and ia the poor wife's Pinehsd features
and ,hreAdbare attire j, was easy to read
a tale Of suffering and neglect. Ba, sh'
had come nevertheless, to plead for her
husband, who. i, appeared, had alread,
been arrested and the sigh, Of her dis
ress and her pi,ifal AllasiOn to her yOuns
family touched Godfrey Denyef' heart
and arousel his better nature.
"whA, can do for you ," he said
.ummOning up all his fOr,i,ude. "shAlI
10 a, once to the police and seknow'
ledge my signature ,"
"My lawyer says ,ha, would be use
less. as you have already denied !, uPO'
oath :" sObbed the poor lady. But ifyoc
would be merciful and no, give evidence
asains, my poor husband"
81 will not. will leave London Al
once" be interrupted eagerly with
strange feeling Of relief.
Heaven bless you! :" cried his friend
wife. impalsively seizing hi. hand anc
kissing il.
Bu, Godfrey Denyer hastily drew hi
hand away, for the spot she had kissed
seemed to burn like fire. A tingling sen
sa,ion Of shame and unworthi ness tool
possession Of him. so that he fairly flee
from the room, When Mrs. Wrake ha'
lef,, he los, no time in making prepare
tons for his departure. Having paekec
up a pOr,mAn,eau-leaving the bulk o
his effects TO the mercy ofthe landlady-
he wen, tremblinaly to the bank and drew
out the balance which 81 God to his credit
The same nigh, be reached Liverpool
and next morning sailed for New York
Godfrey Denyer remained In Americl