The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1895-11-23

said. slowly. Can it be that you have
forgotten why. ran away from home five
years ago?
II have not forgotten the miserable
story than was told at that time, she re-
piled, firmly; but | have heard differ
ent story since Mr., CRANKY, my unhappy
brother has told me everything.
The man started.
He has told me, continued the wom
an. her face white with suppressed excite
ment that it was he and not You who
forged the check for $l5, 600 !!
'He told you that? Good heavens !
does your father know?
My father and mother have both gone
to another world, Mr. CRANKY. Robert
and | have been orphans for three years.
1t was not until after their death that he
made his confession to me. He told me
of his youthful infatuation for gambling
and horse races; how he became so deeply
involved that in moment of desperation.
to avert the disgrace he saw staring him
in the face, he forged the signature Of
depositor in father bank, hoping thus to
retrieve his losses and replace the money
before its withdrawal was discovered. You,
as teller of the bank, cashed the check
without suspicion. Afterward, when the
money was squandered, and Robert real
lied that he could not hope to conceal his
crime, he confded in you and begged yon
to help him out of his trouble. He said
that his exposure would kill his mother,
bring disgrace upon his family, and cause
his father to forever disown him. Then
it was that you sacrificed yourself to save
him aud his family, You told him you
would divert suspicion from him if he would
keep his own counsel and promise on his
oath to never gamble again. You kept
your word by suddenly disappearing, thus
bringing suspicion upon yourself, 40 that
when the forgery was discovered nobody
could doubt that you were the criminal,
and that you had fled to escape the conse-
quences of your crime. Oh, it was noble
thing to do Not one man in million
could have made such a sacrifice Miss
kingsley's voice betrayed her agitation
But you do not know what a shock it
was to-to-tather and the rest of lis to
be forced to believe you guilty. We lad
such faith in you. Thank heaven. the
story never got into the papers, Robert
and have tried hard for two years to find
some trace Of you, that we might make
such reparation as lay in our power. And
Robert says that in some mysterious way
the bank has recovered the amount that
was lost on the forged check, including
the interest.
Maurice CRANKY, by this time, was smil-
ing with the air Of u man who has had a
great burden lifted from his mind
II am glad you know the truth, he
said, with an expression Of profound relief.
when left New York went west and
enlisted in the regular army under an as
sltmed name. | served five years But
was in communication with an intimate
friend-a young lawyer-and when my
aunt in Vermont died last spring, making
ME her sole heir, | had my friend convert
the property into cash and turn it over to
the bank There was just enough with
what | had been able to save from my pay
as soldier, to replace the sla, GOO with
the accrued interest. had assumed the
debt, you know, and thought I ought to
pay it. On leaving the army | started
back to New York, where [ still have 4
few friends. | had not money enough to
take me clear through, SO [ concluded that
tramp of u hundred miles OF so would do
me no harm. am accustomed to march
ING
You have outdone Don Quixote him
self p exclaimed Miss Kingsley. "Of
course, every dollar of that money will be
returned to you, and my fortune and Rob
ert' s are at your disposal. .
But, after all, said CRANKY, seriousl y,
''you must not give me too much credit
for what have done, Perhaps [ should
have hesitated if your answer to that auda-
cious note of mine had not made me
wretched Do you remember it? [ felt
that | had nothing to live for after that.
OF course, don't blame you; it was the
worst kind of presumption on my part, a
poor man, to offer myse! If
s'Dont say that T. she interrupted,
with note of entreaty in her voice, II
could go down upon my knees to you now,
in your rags, and beg your forgiveness for
wounding you. was young then, and
scarcely knew my own mind but II found
out-afterward-'
'tVictorla r.
but we are wasting precious time,
she said, hastily, glancing at her watch.
'Do you know this is Thanksgiving day?
| am to have some guests for dinner. You
are to stay and dine with us. y
Il? In these clothes?,'
'sMy brother has a room and Il ward
robe here, and | am sure his clothes will
just fit you. You will find everything you
need. No; [ will hear no excuses [
will call servant to show you upstairs,
and will send up a luncheon at once. To-
night you will stop at the village hotel,
and tomorrow you will come and see me
before resuming your journey to New
York. -
And 80 it came about that Maurice
CRANKY, transformed from tramp into
conventional gentleman in evening dress,
sat at the right hand of the hostess at the
grand turkey dinner that evening, having
been introduced to the other guests as an
old friend of the family At least two
persons at that table were in harmony with
the spirit of the occasion, for their hearts
throbbed with gratitude and JOY during the
whole of that Thanksgiving feast.
It was only two months later that King
ley hall was the scene of a brilliant we'd
ding reception, and Maurice CRANKY had
come there to stay,
why He Was Soured