The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1885-10-10

future" said the poor captain, the
afternoon OF the day his wife was ex-
pected home. By this time the poor
mans anxiety and forebodings were
truly painful to witness.
Now Jonathan, that's downright
naughty OF you" said Miss Cynthy,
''as if Maria would desert in trouble Of
all times"
At last the stage coach stopped at
the cottage door, but somehow, the
captain could not 90 out, as expected
to greet his wife, lOnged for as she had
been.
He stood peeping through the blinds
as the stage driver helped her alight,
then rolled her little trunk into the
gravelly path. All at once he turned
to his sister, his face fairly working
with emotion.
"Oh, Cynthy, she doesn't know any
thing about it. | know she doesn't.
She's a smilin' and a noddin' to the
driver, an her face 3 as peaceful as
the coral isles, and poor Miss Forbes
don't know, / know she don't"
But he could hold off no longer; his
wife was at the door, and the next
moment had entered the room, given
him a loving embrace, and receiving
his sounding smack, went over and
kissed Sister Cynthy" affectionately.
The little maid of all work soon an
nOunced supper, and although the
captain sat with the most lugubrious
face imaginable, yet throughout the
meal Mrs. Forbes Nas as bright and
Joyous as a young girl, her round,
dumpling-like face and figure shaking
with laughter at the queer stories she
had to tell, and the amusing remipis-
cences Of her Journey.
After tea, when they were sitting CO.
silly together, the husband, wife and
sister, Capt. Forbes felt that at last
his time had come, so summoning all
courage, he said with a gigantic effort
at calmness:
"My dear. there's awful news"
Now, the little black kitty AIM
dead, or any OF the chickens, hope, :"
said Mrs Forbes.
"Mercy, no" Then as gently as pos
sible, the captain broke the disastrous
tidings, how the bank had broke and
they had lost all.
Law, yes. l knew if bad broke"
said Mrs. Forbes CON- -,.,ently. "But
thank a kind, merciful Heavenly Faith
er it amt hurt us any"
"Why, what do you mean ?" gasped
the captain, fearing her senses had de-
serted her at the news; "all we had
was there, wife"
"NO, 'twasn' t, " she answered, placid
ly. ~ drawed it all out three days
afOre the smash came. Brother Will
lam has it all safely invested in his
business"
"Why, but Maria, you couldn't
draw it. deposited that money, no
one could draw it without my order"
''AIrs. Forbes broke into ripping
laugh.
''Well, now, do you think, Johnny
Forbes that I've lived with you all
these years without bein' able to write
exactly like you? | never did approve
OF all your money bein' in that bank,
and William didn't, so Just writ out
an order an endorsed it. | had your
book along, had an idee once in the
city | might want it, so Just got the
money as slick as could be, an it's all
safe and sound. | didn't tell William
that"
Bnt Capt. Forbes was regarding his
wife with distended eyes. Finally he
rOared in true sailor fashion.
Honolulu and all the Gulf states
Why, Miss Forbes, that's forgery"
whats forgery ~ asked his sleek,
COntented wife.
'Why, cOppin' my hand writin'.
Didn't you know that?"
''Sakes, no; | wouldn't a done wrong
for all the money in the world But
how long since you and [ have been
two, Jack Forbes, | should like to
know"
When at last she became convinced
OF her innocent wrong doings, Mrs.
Forbes at once wrote to her old &C
quaintance, the president of the bank,
COnfessing the whole transaction and
asking what she should do.
But the cOnscienCe-striCken man re-
piled that grave as the mistake might
have been under other circumstances,
he was yet only too glad they were
saved from the engulfing ruin of the
banks collapse.
Mrs. Forbes always speaks regretful-
ly OF having done a wrong deed, al
though unwittingly and for the best.
But with generous hands both she and
the captain help to their utmost abili-
ty those who did suffer from the burst
ing OF the bank, while thecaptain often
declares with characteristic ehemence,
that "wOmen are amaZin' cute and GU
riOps when they take business matters
into their hands. Heavens and earth
if they amt"