Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1891-06-19
HERMIONE.
BY MARY e. MoFFAT.

The master of Briar Hedge Farm stood
thoughtfully apart from the place where
his young cousin was laving his face and
hands at the hydrant, which had been
placed in the summer kitchen for the
convenience of the men in the busy sea-
son.
Some unpleasant thing had happened,
or Guy Fellows's. frank face would not
have worn such perplexed, uneasy
look. At last he said, quietly:
II wish to speak to you, Louis"
eyes, Guy" answered Louis, in a
startled voice; for Guys manner was so
unlike his usual one that it foreboded
trouble of some kind, though what it
could be was q puzzle. Had he hurt
himself2 or had his pet colt gone lame
Something unpleasant has happened.
Hermlone's bauk-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 arc
very careless, or the handwriting must
have been good imitation. Banks
can't 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, aud the name appended to
the order IS such perfect facsimile of my
autograph that | myself could not detect
the difference. Is this your work2"
AS Louis looked at the page of foolscap
which was held toward him, and which
was scribbled over with various names.
among which was that of Guy Fellows,
he first turn red and then pale. For
Louis was very expert with his pen, and
was always copying specimens of
peculiar handwriting which fell in his
way.
"Yes, it is mine," he said, with a
brave effort to tell the truth, no matter
what might be the consequences. For
like lightning flash he realized what
danger was hanging over hlm-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 a blow2 For an
instant he stood as though dazed, look
ing blankly into Guy Fellowss troubled
face; then he threw himself impulsively
upon his knees before him.
81 see now. 1t looks badly, Cousin
Guy, but don't judge me by appearances
Judge me by what you know of me
since we have been together. Do you
think any one who knew her would
have hald in robbing Hermoine2 No,
not even If he were an accomplished
thlef, far less man whose only wealth
lies in his good name!"
81 believe you, Louis, even in the
lace of efidence which would convict
you IN court of justice. l 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 m mpney, and let Louis compare the
brief form signed with his name with
the practice-sheet which he had ac
knowled aed as his work. Then he turned
and lifting lid from the cook stove, put
the dangerous document in and watched
it catch fire and then burn to ashes.
Guy Fellows, although scarcely thirty
five, had already come into a fine inher-
ltance blythe death of his father. He was
practical farmer, and also what some
people consider visionary one. That
is, he was always trying any new expert
ment whith might commend itself as an
improveme ment upon old-fashicned ways.
Louis Carmichael was a second cousin,
who had been taken under his protec-
ton aftei the death of lis parents. He
had been with him now about four years,
and although somewhat dreamy and un-
,practical had grown very dear to his
generous kinsman.
Another inmate of the family was
Hermoine Alleyne, the orphan ward of
Guy Fellows. She was two years
younger than Louis, but looked to be
his equal in age, as he was slender and
ooyish-laoking, while Hermione was of