Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1892-06-16
REJECTED BY HER MOTHER.
The Story Of a Blank Check.

The story OF q Dl0nk Cneck.
whats the matter, Tom? Has any
thing happened ? cried Vernon. az hi
entered his friends room.
Matter enough, groaned Tom Hold
en-, dropping bis head on bis arm as ii
lay on the table. 4 feel as if l ought
to put an end to myself. OF course
won't. I'm not brave enough
sand you're not quite wicked enough,
put in Vernon; but it 1t is any relief
to you. tell me what you have done, for
l suppose you've done s'methng.'
Yes, have. 1t will be IL relief te
tell some one all about it. You know
that is. you don't know-my mother
Vernon how good she is, and how fond
she is OF NE. Well, practically have
cheated her out oil $?O,00O.'
Nonsense
L have gwen her check for that
amount which comes to the salne thing.
you don't mean to say Vernon
stopped, afraid to utter the words.
That l forged her Lame? Not ex-
actly. But the last time l saw her she
gave me blank check, which was to
fill up for 81 900 or $4,000, as l might
require 1t. Last night l went
you know where and had this check
in my pocket. played
With whom {?
Major Clay and one or two others.
drank. We all drank. What | did |
don't know. l fancy must have been
doubling my stakes over and over again
and losing every time to run it up to
such figure, but the fact is gave the
Major my mothers blank check filled
up for $4,000
Whew"
And what I m to do, | don't know.
Ny mother hasn't half that amount Of
ready cash. In fact, we are not half as
rich-as the fellows say we are. She
could raise the money, of course, but 1t
would cripple her tor some time to
come.
Vernon said nothing, but his look
was eloquent.
Then there's my sister. 1t would
literally rob her. And that isn't all.
I'm engaged-that is, | want to be en-
gaged-to Mile Victorne-'
What! Mile victorine Of Thea
ter?'
Yes; and here's a note from my
mother to say that she is coming TO
town this afternoon. She will expect
me to go 10 see her.
60, then, and tell her the whole sto
~
i suppose must. but she will never
trust me again.
When Vernon left Tom gloomily
opened a drawer of his desk and took
from it "a dainty little scented note,
which lie read and reread with devout
attention, although he already knew its
contents by heart.
Finally he laid it down and took up
his pen. He had meant to telegraph
TO Victor!ne to say that he could not
see her that afternoon
Now it occurred to him to telegraph
to his mother instead and keep his en-
gagement-for he Thought it might
fairly be called an engagemeLt-with
Eictor;ne.
Major Clay was at breakfast on the
second day after this interview between
Tom Holden and Vernon, when the girl
who attended his wants entered the
room and informed HIM.
'Ah he said. stretching out bis hand
for the card which the handmalden held
out to him. Exactly. Tell the ladies'
to walk in
The card bore the name of Mrs. J.
Holden
An elderly lady dressed in black,
and deeply veiled. came in, followed by
younger lady, attired after the fas hion
of the day. Major Clay bowed to them
and begged them to be seated and wait
ed for his visitors to begin.
I have called on you. sir began the
widow, about that check which my un'
fortunate boy has given to you. He
tells me that he has given you check
for very large sum, which you won
from him at cards. 1t was madness for
him to do such a thing for he cannot
pay it,
SO I understand. But, madam, you
are laboring under mistake. 1t was
not his own check your son gave me,
but yours. lie filled out a blank check
which you had given him.
81? Never that is, I may have